How far is Virginia Beach, VA from Roanoke, VA?

The driving distance from Virginia Beach, VA to Roanoke, VA is about 294.9 miles (474.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 220.4 miles (354.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 53m 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
294.91 mi
04h 26m
Flight
220.41 mi
354.71 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Virginia Beach.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
220.41 mi
Kilometers
354.71 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
294.91 mi
Kilometers
474.61 km
Drive Time
04h 26m

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 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Roanoke
Tue, May 5, 3:15 AM EDT
Return by in Virginia Beach
Tue, May 5, 7:42 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Virginia Beach
2026-05-04T22:48
Arrive Roanoke
Tue, May 5, 3:15 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:27 AM to 12:27 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
8:06 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Virginia Beach
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
Louisa
VA

County in Virginia, United States

From Virginia Beach
147.3 mi
02h 13m
To Roanoke
147.6 mi
02h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Monday

Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 14 mph SW
Destination
76°F
Monday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Virginia Beach and Roanoke.

  1. 1

    Start on 25th Street

    37 m · 8 sec · 25th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Pacific Avenue

    1213 ft · 34 sec · Pacific Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 22nd Street

    2796 ft · 46 sec · 22nd Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway

    10.6 mi · 14 min · Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 64 West, US 13: Newtown Road, Richmond, Military Highway

    2141 ft · 52 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 64 West, US 13: Richmond, Military Highway

    1.4 km · 2 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West: Norfolk International Airport, Hampton, Richmond

    2025 ft · 49 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    11.9 mi · 17 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  9. 9

    Continue on Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel

  10. 10

    Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    61.1 mi · 1 hr 8 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC

    2434 ft · 32 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 295 North: Washington

    1.3 mi · 3 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    22.6 mi · 25 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West: Charlottesville

    2936 ft · 55 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto I 64 West: Charlottesville

    120.3 mi · 2 hr 11 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left

    47.7 mi · 52 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight left toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke

    5.9 mi · 8 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward US 11 South, US 220 Business South: Downtown

    587 ft · 17 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight left

    1668 ft · 56 sec

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast

    849 ft · 31 sec · Salem Avenue Southeast

  22. 22

    Turn left onto South Jefferson Street

    145 m · 20 sec · South Jefferson Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest

    115 m · 22 sec · Kirk Avenue Southwest

  24. 24

    Turn left

    35 m · 14 sec

  25. 25

    Turn left

    40 m · 10 sec

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
26 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 64 West
170 mi · 58%
Hampton Roads Beltway
78.8 mi · 27%
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.6 mi · 8%
Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
10.6 mi · 4%
I 581
5.88 mi · 2%
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
3.5 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 64 West

Merge slight left onto I 64 West: Charlottesville

120 mi · 02h 11m

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 26m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+74.5 mi
220.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Louisa
02h 13m from Virginia Beach
Leave By
8:06 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Virginia Beach and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Roanoke.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Virginia Beach to Roanoke?

The road trip is about 294.9 miles (474.6 km) and usually takes 04h 26m 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?

Louisa is a useful midpoint, sitting about 147.3 miles from Virginia Beach and 147.6 miles from Roanoke.

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

The direct path is about 220.4 miles (354.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 74.5 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 8:06 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.23 one way or $82.47 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 92.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Virginia Beach and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Roanoke.

Stop Ideas Near Louisa

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

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

RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

43 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Culpeper station

50 mi away
109 South Commerce Street
RAIL

Ashland

55 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Fredericksburg

57 mi away
200 Lafayette Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Virginia Beach and Roanoke. Straight-line distance: 220.41 mi (354.71 km).

Virginia Beach

#1 Virginia Beach

The most populous city in Virginia, Virginia Beach is a major center for tourism, military, and business.

Population451,231
Coordinates36.8529300, -75.9779900
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Roanoke

#2 Roanoke

The most populous city in Roanoke County, Virginia.

Population99,058
Coordinates37.2709700, -79.9414300
Altitude285
CountryUnited States
Start: 25th Street (-75.978051, 36.853145)
End: Kirk Avenue Southwest (-79.941424, 37.271173)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 475 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 40m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.41 gal
39.39 L · about $41.23
Round trip
$82.47
20.82 gal · 78.78 L
Estimated CO2
92.5 kg one way
Round trip: 185 kg / 408 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $41.23 $82.47
Mid-grade $4.43 $46.11 $92.21
Premium $4.78 $49.74 $99.48
Diesel $5.62 $58.55 $117.09

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 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Virginia Beach and Roanoke. The current time is 22:48:47.

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.