Matoaca, VA to Roanoke, VA is 162.1 miles and takes about 3h 30m via Richmond Highway and US 460, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily stays within Virginia's Southeast region, offering a mixed driving experience. It's a manageable drive, perfect for a single day if you're looking to get from point A to point B without a significant time commitment. Consider this route for its straightforward path and reasonable duration, fitting well into a busy travel schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
81.1 miles from Matoaca, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 162.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route presents a mixed drive, with 37% of it being highway travel. You'll encounter some faster-paced sections interspersed with more local road driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is about 31.1 miles on Richmond Highway, giving you a solid period of consistent travel. As you progress, expect the road character to shift, moving from what might feel like more urban or suburban approaches to potentially more rural or open landscapes as you head west. It's not an all-highway grind, nor is it exclusively winding backroads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Richmond Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 31.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near VA 36 / River Road.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 162.1 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (VA 36 / River Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (SR 600 / Pickett Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 88.8 miles (US 460 / Richmond Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|VA 36 / River Road
Turn left onto VA 36 / River Road
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 600 / Pickett Avenue
Turn left onto SR 600 / Pickett Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
88.8 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|US 460 / Richmond Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460 / Richmond Highway toward US 460 West: Lynchburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 460 West: Lynchburg
5
161.9 mi into trip|~3h 29m in|South Jefferson Street
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
5
162 mi into trip|~3h 29m in|Kirk Avenue Southwest
Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Richmond Highway
31.1 mi
38m
US 460
29.2 mi
34m
New Cox Road
23 mi
26m
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
16 mi
20m
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
14.6 mi
18m
West Colonial Trail Highway
13.1 mi
16m
East Colonial Trail
7.5 mi
11m
East Colonial Trail Road
6.9 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Richmond Highway
— 31.1 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Matoaca, VA and Roanoke, VA.
1
Start on Fitzhugh Street
287 ft·17 sec·Fitzhugh Street
2
Turn left onto SR 1304
163 ft·12 sec·Wilcox Street
3
Turn left onto VA 36
0.1 mi·14 sec·River Road
4
Turn left onto SR 600
0.4 mi·47 sec·Pickett Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on SR 600
1.0 mi·1 min·Ferndale Road
6
Turn right onto SR 1310
0.2 mi·51 sec·Cedar Heart Lane
7
Turn right onto VA 226
2.9 mi·5 min·Cox Road
8
Turn right onto US 460
23 mi·26 min·New Cox Road
9
Continue on US 460
4.3 mi·5 min·East Colonial Trail Highway
10
Continue on US 460
6.9 mi·7 min·East Colonial Trail Road
11
Continue on US 460
7.5 mi·11 min·East Colonial Trail
12
Merge onto US 360; US 460
1.5 mi·2 min·West Colonial Trail Highway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
12 mi·14 min·West Colonial Trail Highway
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 460
29 mi·34 min·US 460
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
31 mi·38 min·Richmond Highway
Toward US 460 West: Lynchburg
16
Continue on US 460
16 mi·20 min·East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 221; US 460
15 mi·18 min·West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
18
Continue on US 221; US 460
5.5 mi·7 min·Blue Ridge Boulevard
19
Continue on US 221; US 460
2.0 mi·3 min·Challenger Avenue Northeast
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 221; US 460; US 220 Alternate
3.1 mi·6 min·Orange Avenue Northeast
21
Turn left onto US 11; US 221
0.8 mi·1 min·Williamson Road Northeast
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi·30 sec·Salem Avenue Southeast
23
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
477 ft·20 sec·South Jefferson Street
24
Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
379 ft·22 sec·Kirk Avenue Southwest
25
Turn left
115 ft·13 sec
26
Turn left
132 ft·9 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3.5-hour duration, this trip is easily accomplished in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to allow for any unforeseen delays and to make the most of daylight. With only one suggested stop, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself; however, it's wise to fuel up before leaving Matoaca, as the $25 estimated fuel cost suggests it's not an excessively expensive trip but you don't want to be caught searching for a station. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 31.1-mile stretch on Richmond Highway, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination or a convenient refueling point.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 81.1 miles from Matoaca, VA, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.1 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 36 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.1 miles or 1h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 47m
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 Matoaca, 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 Matoaca, VA
This is one driving day of about 162.1 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Matoaca, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Richmond Highway for about 31.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 81.1 mi from Matoaca, VA
· 1h 43m into the drive
The midpoint is around 80.7 miles from Matoaca, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the effective end of the nation's largest war. Question...
Two hundred ninety-two days, eight offensives, over 70,000 casualties, U. S. Colored Troops, and the decline of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. U.S. forces c...
Booker T. Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 162.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.35 one way
$50.70 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$27.72
$55.43
premium
$4.70
$30.00
$60.00
diesel
$5.61
$35.79
$71.58
Estimated Tolls: $2.14
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
(16 mi)$1.12
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
(14.6 mi)$1.02
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
$25
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.6
0
$17.02
$7.78
Efficient EV
40.5
0
$14.18
$6.48
EV Truck/SUV
64.8
0
$22.69
$10.37
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Matoaca, VA
Evening
in Matoaca on Friday
Local time
8:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Roanoke, VA
Evening
in Roanoke on Friday
Local time
8:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 30m 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 Matoaca, VA to Roanoke, VA covers 162.1 miles and takes about 3h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Richmond Highway, US 460, New Cox Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 81.1 miles from Matoaca, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.35 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 162.1 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (VA 36 / River Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (SR 600 / Pickett Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 88.8 miles (US 460 / Richmond Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Matoaca, VA to Roanoke, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
