Origin
Roanoke, VA
Afternoon in Roanoke on Sunday
Local time
3:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Roanoke, VA to Danville, VA
Drive Time
1h 55m
Distance
81.4 mi
131 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
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.
Roanoke, VA
Kelly
Danville, VA
Eric Joseph
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Roanoke to Danville, you are looking at an 81.4-mile journey through the heart of Southeast Virginia. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 55 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budget approximately $13 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Because this is a straightforward trek, you can easily complete the entire drive in a single day without feeling rushed. It serves as a practical connection between these two Virginia cities, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination rather than on the road.
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
40.7 miles from Roanoke, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Drive Character
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with about 67% of your time spent on main thoroughfares. You will navigate a combination of US 29, Old Franklin Turnpike, and West Gretna Road to reach your destination. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 25.1-mile segment on US 29, which provides a steady rhythm to the commute. While the route transitions between different road types, the overall character remains functional and efficient. You should be prepared for a mix of fast-paced highway travel and the varied pacing of secondary roads as you move through the region.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 29 is the longest continuous segment at about 25.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 29 and Old Franklin Turnpike. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 1st Street Southwest.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 (1st Street Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 221; US 220 BUS / Franklin Road Southwest): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.3 miles (VA 116 / South Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
1st Street Southwest
Turn left onto 1st Street Southwest
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 221; US 220 BUS / Franklin Road Southwest
Turn sharp left onto US 221; US 220 BUS / Franklin Road Southwest
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
VA 116 / South Jefferson Street
Turn right onto VA 116 / South Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
VA 24 / Elm Avenue Southeast
Turn left onto VA 24 / Elm Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
52.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
US 29
Merge onto US 29 toward US 29 South
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Toward US 29 South
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 29 | 25.1 mi | 30m |
| Old Franklin Turnpike | 15.6 mi | 21m |
| West Gretna Road | 13.5 mi | 18m |
| VA 116 | 13.5 mi | 20m |
| Booker T Washington Highway | 7.1 mi | 10m |
| 9th Street Southeast | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Justin Lane | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 29
— 25.1 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Roanoke, VA and Danville, VA.
1
Start on this road
285 ft
·
26 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto 1st Street Southwest
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
1st Street Southwest
3
Turn sharp left onto US 221; US 220 BUS
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Franklin Road Southwest
4
Turn right onto VA 116
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
South Jefferson Street
5
Turn left onto VA 24
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Elm Avenue Southeast
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on VA 24
426 ft
·
7 sec
·
Jamison Avenue Southeast
7
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 24
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Bullitt Avenue Southeast
8
Turn right onto 9th Street Southeast
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
9th Street Southeast
9
At end of road, turn left onto VA 116
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Riverland Road Southeast
10
Turn slight right onto VA 116
13 mi
·
20 min
·
VA 116
11
At end of road, turn right onto VA 122
7.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Booker T Washington Highway
12
Turn left onto VA 40
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Old Franklin Turnpike
13
Continue on VA 40
14 mi
·
18 min
·
West Gretna Road
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward US 29 South
15
Merge onto US 29
12 mi
·
15 min
·
US 29
Toward US 29 South
Use the none lane.
16
Continue on US 29
13 mi
·
15 min
·
US 29
Use the left / none lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward VA 41: Halifax
18
Turn straight onto VA 41
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Franklin Turnpike
19
At end of road, turn right onto VA 360
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Old Richmond Road
20
Continue on VA 360
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
Richmond Boulevard
21
Continue on VA 360
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Justin Lane
22
Turn straight onto VA 293; VA 360
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
23
Continue on VA 293
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
24
Turn left onto VA 293
105 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Ridge Street
25
Arrive at destination
VA 293
Trip Plan
Since the trip is under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. Because there are zero formal stops designated on this 81.4-mile route, make sure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave; the $13 estimated cost is a modest expense for such a direct connection. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between US 29 and the local turnpikes, as the road quality and speed limits will fluctuate. Use the lack of scheduled stops to your advantage by planning your own breaks along the secondary roads if you need to stretch your legs. This route is short enough that you do not need to worry about splitting the drive, allowing you to focus on a smooth, continuous transit.
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 40.7 miles from Roanoke, VA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.1 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 80 miles or 1h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.7 miles or 1h 2m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Danville, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Roanoke, 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 Roanoke, VA
This is one driving day of about 81.4 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Roanoke, 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 US 29 for about 25.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.7 mi from Roanoke, VA · 1h 2m 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 40.7 miles from Roanoke, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Danville, VA
The final approach into Danville, 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 Danville, 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
$13.03 one way
$26.05 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $14.19 | $28.39 |
| premium | $4.78 | $15.31 | $30.62 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $18.08 | $36.17 |
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: 28.5 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 | $8.55 | $3.91 |
| Efficient EV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.12 | $3.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.6 | 0 | $11.40 | $5.21 |
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
Danville, VA
Afternoon in Danville on Sunday
Local time
3:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 55m 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 Roanoke, VA to Danville, VA covers 81.4 miles and takes about 1h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 29, Old Franklin Turnpike, West Gretna Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.7 miles from Roanoke, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.03 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 (1st Street Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 221; US 220 BUS / Franklin Road Southwest): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.3 miles (VA 116 / South Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Roanoke, VA to Danville, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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