How far is Roanoke, VA from Brightwood, VA?

The driving distance from Roanoke, VA to Brightwood, VA is about 150.5 miles (242.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 124.1 miles (199.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 04m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EST.
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
150.5 mi
03h 02m
Flight
124.14 mi
199.79 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
124.14 mi
Kilometers
199.79 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
150.5 mi
Kilometers
242.21 km
Drive Time
03h 02m

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 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Brightwood
Tue, Nov 10, 11:51 AM EST
Return by in Roanoke
Tue, Nov 10, 2:54 PM EST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Roanoke
2026-11-10T08:49
Arrive Brightwood
Tue, Nov 10, 11:51 AM EST
Route Timing
03h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EST
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:02 AM to 11:02 AM EST

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

Leave by
10:56 AM EST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Roanoke
9:00 PM EST
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
Stuarts Draft
VA

Census designated place

From Roanoke
75.2 mi
01h 31m
To Brightwood
75.2 mi
01h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Nov 10 6:00 AM EST
Wind
5 to 9 mph W
Destination
72°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Nov 10 6:00 AM EST
Wind
0 to 3 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Roanoke and Brightwood.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Roanoke and Brightwood.

  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 right to continue on I 81 North, US 220 North: Lexington

    13.1 mi · 15 min

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    64.7 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 East: Richmond

    31.1 mi · 34 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 29 North: Charlottesville, Culpeper

    1389 ft · 34 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    3.8 mi · 5 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right

    882 ft · 26 sec

  14. 14

    Turn slight right onto Emmet Street North

    44 m · 11 sec · Emmet Street North

  15. 15

    Continue on Emmet Street North

    2610 ft · 1 min · Emmet Street North

  16. 16

    Continue on Seminole Trail

    29.9 mi · 44 min · Seminole Trail

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Ridgeview Road

    1437 ft · 39 sec · Ridgeview Road

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Ridgeview Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Roanoke and Brightwood.

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
18 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 81 North
77.8 mi · 52%
I 64 East
31.1 mi · 21%
Seminole Trail
29.9 mi · 20%
I 581 North
5.76 mi · 4%
US 29 North
4.27 mi · 3%
Emmet Street North
0.52 mi
Longest Stretch

I 81 North

Continue straight

64.7 mi · 01h 10m

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 02m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.4 mi
124.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Stuarts Draft
01h 31m from Roanoke
Leave By
10:56 AM EST
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Roanoke and Sunny near Brightwood.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Roanoke to Brightwood?

The road trip is about 150.5 miles (242.2 km) and usually takes 03h 02m 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?

Stuarts Draft is a useful midpoint, sitting about 75.2 miles from Roanoke and 75.2 miles from Brightwood.

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

The direct path is about 124.1 miles (199.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.4 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 EST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:56 AM EST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.50 one way or $41.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 47.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Roanoke and Sunny near Brightwood.

Stop Ideas Near Stuarts Draft

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Stuarts Draft, 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 Stuarts Draft.

RAIL

Staunton station

14 mi away
1 Middlebrook Avenue
RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

47 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Kemper Street station

70 mi away
825 Kemper St
RAIL

Clifton Forge

74 mi away
400 Ridgeway Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Roanoke and Brightwood. Straight-line distance: 124.14 mi (199.79 km).

Roanoke

#1 Roanoke

The most populous city in Roanoke County, Virginia.

Population99,058
Coordinates37.2709700, -79.9414300
Altitude285
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Brightwood

Brightwood is a place in Virginia, United States.

Population0
Coordinates38.4215200, -78.1936100
Altitude179
CountryUnited States
Start: Roanoke (-79.94143, 37.27097)
End: Brightwood (-78.19361, 38.42152)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 242 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 00m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.31 gal
20.1 L · about $20.50
Round trip
$41.00
10.62 gal · 40.2 L
Estimated CO2
47.2 kg one way
Round trip: 94.4 kg / 208 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.86 $20.50 $41.00
Mid-grade $4.35 $23.10 $46.21
Premium $4.77 $25.32 $50.65
Diesel $6.16 $32.69 $65.39

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 · Nov 09, 2026

There is no time difference between Roanoke and Brightwood. The current time is 08:49:40.

Distance to Other Cities

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