How far is Roanoke, VA from Franconia, VA?

The driving distance from Roanoke, VA to Franconia, VA is about 238.9 miles (384.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 31m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 184.5 miles (296.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 02m 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
238.86 mi
04h 31m
Flight
184.49 mi
296.91 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
184.49 mi
Kilometers
296.91 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
238.86 mi
Kilometers
384.4 km
Drive Time
04h 31m

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 04h 31m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Franconia
Thu, Apr 23, 5:08 AM EDT
Return by in Roanoke
Thu, Apr 23, 9:40 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Roanoke
2026-04-23T00:37
Arrive Franconia
Thu, Apr 23, 5:08 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 31m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:31 AM to 12:31 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:58 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
Broadway
VA

Road in Manhattan, New York City

From Roanoke
119.4 mi
02h 15m
To Franconia
119.5 mi
02h 15m

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
78°F
Thursday

Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 left

    78.9 mi · 1 hr 26 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 66 East: Front Royal, Washington

    1920 ft · 47 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    42.8 mi · 46 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right

    21.4 mi · 26 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria

    2186 ft · 42 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway

    6.8 mi · 9 min · Capital Beltway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Richmond

    2615 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on SR 644 West: Springfield

    1.6 km · 1 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on SR 644 East: Franconia Road, Franconia

    1787 ft · 34 sec

  19. 19

    Turn slight right onto Franconia Road

    2 mi · 4 min · Franconia Road

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Franconia Road

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 81 North
157 mi · 66%
I 66 East
64.5 mi · 27%
Capital Beltway
6.79 mi · 3%
I 581 North
5.76 mi · 2%
Franconia Road
1.95 mi · 1%
SR 644 West
1 mi
Longest Stretch

I 81 North

Keep slight left

78.9 mi · 01h 26m

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
04h 31m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+54.4 mi
184.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Broadway
02h 15m from Roanoke
Leave By
7:58 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Roanoke and Sunny near Franconia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 238.9 miles (384.4 km) and usually takes 04h 31m 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?

Broadway is a useful midpoint, sitting about 119.4 miles from Roanoke and 119.5 miles from Franconia.

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

The direct path is about 184.5 miles (296.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 54.4 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:58 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.39 one way or $66.78 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 74.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Broadway

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

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

RAIL

Staunton station

57 mi away
1 Middlebrook Avenue
RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

70 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Culpeper station

72 mi away
109 South Commerce Street
RAIL

Cumberland station

115 mi away
East Harrison and Queen City Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Roanoke and Franconia. Straight-line distance: 184.49 mi (296.91 km).

Roanoke

#1 Roanoke

The most populous city in Roanoke County, Virginia.

Population99,058
Coordinates37.2709700, -79.9414300
Altitude285
CountryUnited States
Franconia

#2 Franconia

Census designated place

Population18,245
Coordinates38.7820600, -77.1463700
Altitude76
CountryUnited States
Start: Roanoke (-79.94143, 37.27097)
End: Franconia (-77.14637, 38.78206)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 384 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.43 gal
31.91 L · about $33.39
Round trip
$66.78
16.86 gal · 63.82 L
Estimated CO2
74.9 kg one way
Round trip: 149.8 kg / 330 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $33.39 $66.78
Mid-grade $4.43 $37.34 $74.67
Premium $4.78 $40.28 $80.56
Diesel $5.62 $47.41 $94.82

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 Franconia. The current time is 00:37:24.

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.