How far is Roanoke, VA from Gretna, VA?

The driving distance from Roanoke, VA to Gretna, VA is about 53.7 miles (86.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 38.8 miles (62.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
53.77 mi
01h 20m
Flight
38.87 mi
62.55 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Roanoke.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
38.87 mi
Kilometers
62.55 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
53.77 mi
Kilometers
86.53 km
Drive Time
01h 20m

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 01h 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gretna
Fri, Apr 17, 3:57 AM EDT
Return by in Roanoke
Fri, Apr 17, 5:18 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Roanoke
2026-04-17T02:36
Arrive Gretna
Fri, Apr 17, 3:57 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:21 AM to 11:21 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:48 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Roanoke
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Rocky Mount
VA

Town in Virginia

From Roanoke
26.8 mi
00h 40m
To Gretna
26.9 mi
00h 40m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Friday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 mph NW
Destination
87°F
Friday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    566 ft · 14 sec · Franklin Road Southwest

  4. 4

    Turn right onto South Jefferson Street

    870 ft · 39 sec · South Jefferson Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Elm Avenue Southeast

    1850 ft · 37 sec · Elm Avenue Southeast

  6. 6

    Continue on Jamison Avenue Southeast

    130 m · 7 sec · Jamison Avenue Southeast

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Bullitt Avenue Southeast

    1425 ft · 28 sec · Bullitt Avenue Southeast

  8. 8

    Turn right onto 9th Street Southeast

    1.1 mi · 3 min · 9th Street Southeast

  9. 9

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Riverland Road Southeast

    2663 ft · 2 min · Riverland Road Southeast

  10. 10

    Turn slight right

    13.5 mi · 20 min

  11. 11

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Booker T Washington Highway

    7.1 mi · 10 min · Booker T Washington Highway

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Old Franklin Turnpike

    15.6 mi · 22 min · Old Franklin Turnpike

  13. 13

    Continue on West Gretna Road

    13.7 mi · 19 min · West Gretna Road

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Leftwich Street

    1080 ft · 27 sec · Leftwich Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Henry Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Henry Street

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Main Street

    88 m · 13 sec · Main Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Northside Drive

    772 ft · 19 sec · Northside Drive

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Northside Drive

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
18 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
33.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Old Franklin Turnpike
15.6 mi · 29%
West Gretna Road
13.7 mi · 26%
Booker T Washington Highway
7.06 mi · 13%
9th Street Southeast
1.14 mi · 2%
Henry Street
0.7 mi · 1%
Riverland Road Southeast
0.5 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Old Franklin Turnpike

Turn left onto Old Franklin Turnpike

15.6 mi · 00h 22m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 20m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14.9 mi
38.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rocky Mount
00h 40m from Roanoke
Leave By
3:48 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving Roanoke and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny near Gretna.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 53.7 miles (86.5 km) and usually takes 01h 20m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Rocky Mount is a useful midpoint, sitting about 26.8 miles from Roanoke and 26.9 miles from Gretna.

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

The direct path is about 38.8 miles (62.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:48 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.53 one way or $15.05 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny around Roanoke and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny near Gretna.

Stop Ideas Near Rocky Mount

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

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

BUS

Roanoke

31 mi away
710 Williamson Road NE
BUS

Blacksburg, VA

53 mi away
291 Alumni Mall -- Transit Concourse
RAIL

Danville

65 mi away
677 Craghead St.
RAIL

Kemper Street station

79 mi away
825 Kemper St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Roanoke and Gretna. Straight-line distance: 38.87 mi (62.55 km).

Roanoke

#1 Roanoke

The most populous city in Roanoke County, Virginia.

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

#2 Gretna

Town of the United States

Population1,179
Coordinates36.9537500, -79.3589100
Altitude256
CountryUnited States
Start: Roanoke (-79.94143, 37.27097)
End: Gretna (-79.35891, 36.95375)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 87 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 46m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 40m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.9 gal
7.18 L · about $7.53
Round trip
$15.05
3.8 gal · 14.36 L
Estimated CO2
16.9 kg one way
Round trip: 33.8 kg / 75 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $7.53 $15.05
Mid-grade $4.43 $8.42 $16.83
Premium $4.78 $9.08 $18.16
Diesel $5.62 $10.69 $21.37

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Roanoke and Gretna. The current time is 02:36:43.

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.