Drive Time
3h 32m
Distance
206.3 mi
332 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
Photo: Kelly
The drive from Pennington Gap, VA to Roanoke, VA covers 206.3 miles and takes about 3h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Morgan Avenue, Wilderness Road, Duff Patt Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.17 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
103.1 miles from Pennington Gap, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 32m drive with frequent turns across 206.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Morgan Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Wilderness Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Duff Patt Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 23 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Orby Cantrell Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Wadlow Gap Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North John B Dennis Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Pennington Gap, VA and Roanoke, VA.
Start on Joslyn Avenue
Turn right onto West Morgan Avenue
Take the exit slight right
At the end of the road, turn left onto Wilderness Road
Continue on Duff Patt Highway
Turn right onto US Highway 23
Continue on Orby Cantrell Highway
Continue on US Highway 23
Continue on Main Street
Turn left onto Wadlow Gap Highway
Continue on North John B Dennis Highway
Turn left onto Bloomingdale Pike
Turn right onto Ollis Bowers Hill Road
Turn left onto East Stone Drive
Take the exit straight
Merge slight left
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
Take the exit slight right toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward US 11 South, US 220 Business South: Downtown
Keep slight left
Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
Turn left
Turn left
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.1 miles or 1h 46m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Roanoke, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Pennington Gap, 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 Pennington Gap, VA
This is one driving day of about 206.3 miles and 3h 32m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 103.1 mi from Pennington Gap, VA · 1h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 103.1 miles from Pennington Gap, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$32.17 one way
$64.34 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $35.97 | $71.95 |
| premium | $4.78 | $38.81 | $77.61 |
| diesel | $5.62 | $45.68 | $91.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.9 | 0 | $21.66 | $9.90 |
| Efficient EV | 51.6 | 0 | $18.05 | $8.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.5 | 1 | $28.88 | $13.20 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Pennington Gap on Saturday
Local time
10:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Roanoke on Saturday
Local time
10:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
57°F
Johnson City, TN
103 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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