How far is Roanoke, VA from Petersburg, VA?

The driving distance from Roanoke, VA to Petersburg, VA is about 167 miles (268.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 139.7 miles (224.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 15m 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
166.97 mi
03h 37m
Flight
139.7 mi
224.82 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
139.7 mi
Kilometers
224.82 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
166.97 mi
Kilometers
268.71 km
Drive Time
03h 37m

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 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Petersburg
Sat, Oct 17, 12:20 PM EDT
Return by in Roanoke
Sat, Oct 17, 3:58 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Roanoke
2026-10-17T08:42
Arrive Petersburg
Sat, Oct 17, 12:20 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:38 AM to 11:38 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
9:44 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
Appomattox
VA

Town in Virginia, United States

From Roanoke
83.4 mi
01h 48m
To Petersburg
83.6 mi
01h 48m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
57°F
Today

Rain Showers then Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Oct 17 7:00 AM EDT
Wind
12 to 15 mph N
Destination
55°F
Saturday

Rain

Starts
Sat, Oct 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
12 to 15 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1009 ft · 37 sec · Williamson Road Northeast

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Kimball Avenue Northeast

    1.2 km · 1 min · Kimball Avenue Northeast

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Orange Avenue Northeast

    2.9 mi · 6 min · Orange Avenue Northeast

  8. 8

    Continue on Challenger Avenue Northeast

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Challenger Avenue Northeast

  9. 9

    Continue on Blue Ridge Boulevard

    5.5 mi · 7 min · Blue Ridge Boulevard

  10. 10

    Continue on West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

    14.6 mi · 19 min · West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

  11. 11

    Continue on Blue Ridge Avenue

    2951 ft · 42 sec · Blue Ridge Avenue

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on US 460 East

    89 mi · 1 hr 52 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right

    42.9 mi · 55 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 85 North, I 95 North, US 460 East: Petersburg, Norfolk

    7.1 mi · 9 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Wythe Street, Washigton Street, Historic Old Towne Petersburg

    1601 ft · 39 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on US 301 North: Washington Street

    1195 ft · 30 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight right onto East Washington Street

    2029 ft · 44 sec · East Washington Street

  18. 18

    Turn left

    11 m · 3 sec

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 460 East
132 mi · 79%
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
14.6 mi · 9%
I 85 North
7.12 mi · 4%
Blue Ridge Boulevard
5.49 mi · 3%
Orange Avenue Northeast
2.93 mi · 2%
Challenger Avenue Northeast
1.94 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US 460 East

Keep slight right to continue on US 460 East

89 mi · 01h 52m

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 37m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.3 mi
139.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Appomattox
01h 48m from Roanoke
Leave By
9:44 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain Showers then Partly Sunny leaving Roanoke and Rain near Petersburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 167 miles (268.7 km) and usually takes 03h 37m 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?

Appomattox is a useful midpoint, sitting about 83.4 miles from Roanoke and 83.6 miles from Petersburg.

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

The direct path is about 139.7 miles (224.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.3 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 9:44 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.27 one way or $48.55 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers then Partly Sunny around Roanoke and Rain near Petersburg.

Stop Ideas Near Appomattox

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

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

RAIL

Kemper Street station

30 mi away
825 Kemper St
RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

81 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Staunton station

91 mi away
1 Middlebrook Avenue
RAIL

Danville

99 mi away
677 Craghead St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Roanoke and Petersburg. Straight-line distance: 139.7 mi (224.82 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 Petersburg

Petersburg is a place in Virginia, United States.

Population0
Coordinates37.2279300, -77.4019300
Altitude22
CountryUnited States
Start: Roanoke (-79.94143, 37.27097)
End: Petersburg (-77.40193, 37.22793)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 269 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.89 gal
22.3 L · about $24.27
Round trip
$48.55
11.78 gal · 44.6 L
Estimated CO2
52.3 kg one way
Round trip: 104.7 kg / 231 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.12 $24.27 $48.55
Mid-grade $4.61 $27.18 $54.35
Premium $5.00 $29.43 $58.86
Diesel $6.21 $36.57 $73.14

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 · Oct 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Roanoke and Petersburg. The current time is 08:42:40.

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.