How far is Roanoke, VA from Big Stone Gap, VA?

The driving distance from Roanoke, VA to Big Stone Gap, VA is about 192.7 miles (310.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 157 miles (252.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 53m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
192.75 mi
03h 56m
Flight
156.98 mi
252.63 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Roanoke.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
156.98 mi
Kilometers
252.63 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
192.75 mi
Kilometers
310.2 km
Drive Time
03h 56m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Big Stone Gap
Thu, Apr 23, 7:36 AM EDT
Return by in Roanoke
Thu, Apr 23, 11:33 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Roanoke
2026-04-23T03:40
Arrive Big Stone Gap
Thu, Apr 23, 7:36 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:57 AM to 11:57 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:06 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Roanoke
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Rural Retreat
VA

Town of the United States

From Roanoke
96.3 mi
01h 58m
To Big Stone Gap
96.5 mi
01h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph NW
Destination
73°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Roanoke and Big Stone Gap.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Roanoke and Big Stone Gap.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    87 m · 26 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto 1st Street Southwest

    602 ft · 34 sec · 1st Street Southwest

  3. 3

    Turn sharp left onto Franklin Road Southwest

    1304 ft · 27 sec · Franklin Road Southwest

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Williamson Road Southeast

    990 ft · 36 sec · Williamson Road Southeast

  5. 5

    Continue on Williamson Road Northeast

    1625 ft · 49 sec · Williamson Road Northeast

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 581 North, US 220 North: Lexington, Bristol

    878 ft · 36 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    5.6 mi · 8 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 81 South: Salem, Bristol

    2487 ft · 39 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight right

    69.1 mi · 1 hr 17 min

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    1.3 mi · 1 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    55.8 mi · 1 hr

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 58 Alternate, VA 75: Abingdon, South Holston Dam

    890 ft · 25 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Cummings Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · Cummings Street

  14. 14

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Valley Street Northwest

    1323 ft · 49 sec · Valley Street Northwest

  15. 15

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Russell Road Northwest

    1.5 km · 2 min · Russell Road Northwest

  16. 16

    Turn slight right onto Porterfield Highway

    10.3 mi · 15 min · Porterfield Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on US 19

    1.9 mi · 3 min · US 19

  18. 18

    Turn left onto US Highway 58

    14.7 mi · 21 min · US Highway 58

  19. 19

    Continue on Trail of the Lonesome Pine

    106 m · 7 sec · Trail of the Lonesome Pine

  20. 20

    Continue on Castlewood Drive

    12.5 mi · 18 min · Castlewood Drive

  21. 21

    Continue on Norton Coeburn Road

    8 mi · 11 min · Norton Coeburn Road

  22. 22

    Take the exit straight toward VA 23 South, VA 58 West Alternate

    1354 ft · 33 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left onto Orby Cantrell Highway

    8.5 mi · 11 min · Orby Cantrell Highway

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 610: Big Stone Gap

    1211 ft · 30 sec

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Powell Valley Road

    1300 ft · 36 sec · Powell Valley Road

  26. 26

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Powell Valley Road

    21 m · 1 sec · Powell Valley Road

  27. 27

    Exit the roundabout onto Powell Valley Road

    1344 ft · 33 sec · Powell Valley Road

  28. 28

    Continue on 4th Avenue East

    1213 ft · 30 sec · 4th Avenue East

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 4th Avenue East

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Roanoke and Big Stone Gap.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
29 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 81 South
127 mi · 66%
US Highway 58
14.7 mi · 8%
Castlewood Drive
12.5 mi · 6%
Porterfield Highway
10.3 mi · 5%
Orby Cantrell Highway
8.46 mi · 4%
Norton Coeburn Road
7.96 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 81 South

Merge slight right

69.1 mi · 01h 17m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 56m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+35.7 mi
157 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rural Retreat
01h 58m from Roanoke
Leave By
9:06 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Roanoke and Sunny near Big Stone Gap.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Roanoke to Big Stone Gap?

The road trip is about 192.7 miles (310.2 km) and usually takes 03h 56m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Rural Retreat is a useful midpoint, sitting about 96.3 miles from Roanoke and 96.5 miles from Big Stone Gap.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 157 miles (252.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.7 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:06 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.93 one way or $53.87 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 60.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Roanoke and Sunny near Big Stone Gap.

Stop Ideas Near Rural Retreat

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Rural Retreat, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Rural Retreat.

BUS

Blacksburg, VA

85 mi away
291 Alumni Mall -- Transit Concourse
RAIL

Hinton

94 mi away
Front St. and Fifth Ave.
RAIL

Alderson

108 mi away
1 C&O Plaza on Railroad Plaza
RAIL

Prince

109 mi away
Hwy 41 and County Road 25

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Roanoke and Big Stone Gap. Straight-line distance: 156.98 mi (252.63 km).

Roanoke

#1 Roanoke

The most populous city in Roanoke County, Virginia.

Population99,058
Coordinates37.2709700, -79.9414300
Altitude285
CountryUnited States
Big Stone Gap

#2 Big Stone Gap

Town of the United States

Population5,104
Coordinates36.8817600, -82.7471000
Altitude468
CountryUnited States
Start: Roanoke (-79.94143, 37.27097)
End: Big Stone Gap (-82.7471, 36.88176)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 310 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.8 gal
25.75 L · about $26.93
Round trip
$53.87
13.6 gal · 51.5 L
Estimated CO2
60.4 kg one way
Round trip: 120.9 kg / 267 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $26.93 $53.87
Mid-grade $4.43 $30.12 $60.23
Premium $4.78 $32.49 $64.98
Diesel $5.62 $38.24 $76.49

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Virginia · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Roanoke and Big Stone Gap. The current time is 03:40:23.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.