How far is Roanoke, VA from Pennington Gap, VA?

The driving distance from Roanoke, VA to Pennington Gap, VA is about 205.7 miles (331 km), with a travel time of about 04h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 173.9 miles (279.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 07m 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
205.68 mi
04h 03m
Flight
173.87 mi
279.82 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
173.87 mi
Kilometers
279.82 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
205.68 mi
Kilometers
331.01 km
Drive Time
04h 03m

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 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Pennington Gap
Sun, May 17, 9:55 PM EDT
Return by in Roanoke
Mon, May 18, 1:59 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Roanoke
2026-05-17T17:52
Arrive Pennington Gap
Sun, May 17, 9:55 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:04 AM to 12:04 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
8:52 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
Marion
VA

Town in Smyth County, Virginia, United States

From Roanoke
102.7 mi
02h 01m
To Pennington Gap
103 mi
02h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
89°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 17 5:00 PM EDT
Wind
7 mph S
Destination
86°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Roanoke and Pennington 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

    73.9 mi · 1 hr 19 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 11W South: Kingsport

    1616 ft · 46 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    9.5 mi · 11 min

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Ollis Bowers Hill Road

    109 m · 22 sec · Ollis Bowers Hill Road

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Bloomingdale Pike

    5.1 mi · 9 min · Bloomingdale Pike

  16. 16

    Turn right onto North John B Dennis Highway

    778 ft · 14 sec · North John B Dennis Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Wadlow Gap Highway

    4.7 mi · 5 min · Wadlow Gap Highway

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1352 ft · 27 sec · Main Street

  19. 19

    Continue on US Highway 23

    11.4 mi · 15 min · US Highway 23

  20. 20

    Continue on Orby Cantrell Highway

    2 mi · 3 min · Orby Cantrell Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on US Highway 23

    4.2 mi · 5 min · US Highway 23

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Duff Patt Highway

    4.7 mi · 7 min · Duff Patt Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on Wilderness Road

    6 mi · 8 min · Wilderness Road

  24. 24

    Turn right

    5.2 mi · 8 min

  25. 25

    Turn left onto East Morgan Avenue

    1.2 km · 2 min · East Morgan Avenue

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Joslyn Avenue

    29 m · 4 sec · Joslyn Avenue

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Joslyn Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Roanoke and Pennington 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
27 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 81 South
145 mi · 70%
US Highway 23
15.6 mi · 8%
US 11W South
9.8 mi · 5%
Wilderness Road
5.99 mi · 3%
I 581 North
5.76 mi · 3%
Bloomingdale Pike
5.06 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 81 South

Keep slight left

73.9 mi · 01h 19m

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 03m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.8 mi
173.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Marion
02h 01m from Roanoke
Leave By
8:52 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Roanoke and Sunny near Pennington Gap.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Roanoke to Pennington Gap?

The road trip is about 205.7 miles (331 km) and usually takes 04h 03m 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?

Marion is a useful midpoint, sitting about 102.7 miles from Roanoke and 103 miles from Pennington Gap.

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

The direct path is about 173.9 miles (279.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.8 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 8:52 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.76 one way or $57.51 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 64.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Roanoke and Sunny near Pennington Gap.

Stop Ideas Near Marion

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

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

BUS

Blacksburg, VA

107 mi away
291 Alumni Mall -- Transit Concourse
RAIL

Hinton

109 mi away
Front St. and Fifth Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Roanoke and Pennington Gap. Straight-line distance: 173.87 mi (279.82 km).

Roanoke

#1 Roanoke

The most populous city in Roanoke County, Virginia.

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

#2 Pennington Gap

Town of the United States

Population1,708
Coordinates36.7584200, -83.0271100
Altitude423
CountryUnited States
Start: Roanoke (-79.94143, 37.27097)
End: Pennington Gap (-83.02711, 36.75842)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 331 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.26 gal
27.47 L · about $28.76
Round trip
$57.51
14.52 gal · 54.94 L
Estimated CO2
64.5 kg one way
Round trip: 129 kg / 284 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $28.76 $57.51
Mid-grade $4.43 $32.15 $64.31
Premium $4.78 $34.69 $69.38
Diesel $5.62 $40.83 $81.66

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 · May 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Roanoke and Pennington Gap. The current time is 17:52:04.

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.