Origin
Danville, VA
Evening in Danville on Sunday
Local time
5:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Danville, VA to Roanoke, VA
Drive Time
1h 56m
Distance
81.3 mi
131 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 48m
★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 13m
10 AM
2h 2m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 3m
5 PM
2h 12m
8 PM
1h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Danville, VA
Eric Joseph
Roanoke, VA
Kelly
Trip Overview
Traveling from Danville to Roanoke is a straightforward journey covering 81.3 miles through the heart of Virginia. You can comfortably complete this trip in about 1 hour and 56 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. Budget roughly $13 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast locations. Because the drive is relatively short, there is no need to plan for overnight stays or complex logistics. It serves as a practical, efficient connection across the region, allowing you to transition between these cities with ease.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
40.6 miles from Danville, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip offers a mixed driving experience, balancing 59% highway travel with stretches of local roads. You will navigate a variety of surfaces, including US 29, the Old Franklin Turnpike, and West Gretna Road. The longest uninterrupted section you will encounter is a 15.6-mile segment along the Old Franklin Turnpike. Expect the road's personality to shift as you move from the main highways onto these smaller connectors. It is a functional route that demands your attention as the environment transitions throughout the nearly two-hour duration.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Old Franklin Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 15.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 26.7 miles in near US 29.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 56m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 26.7 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 28.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 78.4 miles (VA 116 / Riverland Road Southeast): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
26.7 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
US 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29 toward US 29 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 29 North
4
28.4 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward VA 40
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward VA 40
5
78.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
|
VA 116 / Riverland Road Southeast
Enter roundabout onto VA 116 / Riverland Road Southeast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
81.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 55m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
81.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 55m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Old Franklin Turnpike | 15.6 mi | 21m |
| West Gretna Road | 13.7 mi | 18m |
| US 29 | 12.4 mi | 15m |
| Danville Expressway | 12.4 mi | 15m |
| Jubal Early Highway | 9.5 mi | 12m |
| VA 122 | 7.1 mi | 10m |
| JAE Valley Road | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Patton Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Old Franklin Turnpike
— 15.6 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Danville, VA and Roanoke, VA.
1
Start on VA 293
415 ft
·
15 sec
·
South Ridge Street
2
Turn left onto VA 293
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Patton Street
3
Turn slight right onto VA 360
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Justin Lane
4
Turn straight onto VA 360
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
Richmond Boulevard
5
Continue on VA 360
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Old Richmond Road
6
Turn left onto VA 41
349 ft
·
11 sec
·
Franklin Turnpike
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
8
Merge onto US 29
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Danville Expressway
9
Continue on US 29
11 mi
·
13 min
·
US 29
Use the left / none lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
US 29
Toward US 29 North
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
Toward VA 40
12
Turn left onto VA 40
14 mi
·
18 min
·
West Gretna Road
13
Continue on VA 40
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Old Franklin Turnpike
14
Turn right onto VA 122
7.1 mi
·
10 min
·
VA 122
15
Turn left onto VA 116
9.5 mi
·
12 min
·
Jubal Early Highway
16
Continue on VA 116
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
JAE Valley Road
17
Continue on VA 116
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Mount Pleasant Boulevard Southeast
18
Continue on VA 116
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Riverland Road Southeast
19
Enter roundabout onto VA 116
184 ft
·
6 sec
·
Riverland Road Southeast
20
Continue on VA 116
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Riverland Road Southeast
21
Turn right onto 9th Street Southeast
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
9th Street Southeast
22
Turn left onto VA 24
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Jamison Avenue Southeast
23
Continue on VA 24
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Elm Avenue Southeast
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn right onto VA 116
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jefferson Street
25
Turn left onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
379 ft
·
22 sec
·
Kirk Avenue Southwest
26
Turn left
115 ft
·
13 sec
27
Turn left
132 ft
·
9 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak local traffic. You will not need to plan for formal stops, as the entire 81.3-mile distance is manageable in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before setting out, ensuring you have the $13 estimated cost accounted for before leaving Danville. Because the route relies on a mix of US 29 and secondary roads like the Old Franklin Turnpike, stay alert for transitions between highway speeds and slower local zones. Taking advantage of the short duration allows you to arrive in Roanoke with plenty of time left in your day.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.6 miles from Danville, VA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.6 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Roanoke, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Danville, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Danville, VA
This is one driving day of about 81.3 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Danville, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Old Franklin Turnpike for about 15.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.6 mi from Danville, VA · 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.6 miles from Danville, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Roanoke, VA
The final approach into Roanoke, VA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Roanoke, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.01 one way
$26.02 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $14.18 | $28.35 |
| premium | $4.78 | $15.29 | $30.59 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $18.06 | $36.12 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.09
Old Franklin Turnpike
(15.6 mi)
$1.09
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.54 | $3.90 |
| Efficient EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.11 | $3.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.5 | 0 | $11.38 | $5.20 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (64% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Roanoke, VA
Evening in Roanoke on Sunday
Local time
5:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
25 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 56m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Danville, VA to Roanoke, VA covers 81.3 miles and takes about 1h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Old Franklin Turnpike, West Gretna Road, US 29. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.6 miles from Danville, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.01 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 56m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 26.7 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 28.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 78.4 miles (VA 116 / Riverland Road Southeast): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Danville, VA to Roanoke, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Roanoke, VA
More trips to Roanoke, VA
Explore more options from Danville, VA or browse trips ending in Roanoke, VA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VA road trips.
Explore maps for Danville, VA or Roanoke, VA on MapSof.net.