The drive from Roanoke, VA to Highland Springs, VA covers 194.9 miles and takes about 3h 42m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, I 81, US 220 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 106.1 miles on I 64.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.48 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
97.4 miles from Roanoke, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 42m. Total distance: 194.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 42m highway drive covering 194.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 106.1 miles on I 64.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 106.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near US 220 BUS.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 194.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (US 220 BUS): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.7 miles (US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.5 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|US 220 BUS
Take the ramp onto US 220 BUS toward I 581 North, US 220 North: Lexington, Bristol
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 581 North, US 220 North: Lexington, Br...
9
6.7 mi into trip|~11m in|US 220
Keep slight right at fork onto US 220 toward I 81 North, US 220 North: Lexington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Exit 1N
Toward I 81 North, US 220 North: Lexington
7
84.5 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 East: Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 64 East: Richmond
9
187.6 mi into trip|~3h 30m in|I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 East: Williamsburg, Norfolk
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 75
Toward I 64 East: Williamsburg, Norfolk
7
190.6 mi into trip|~3h 35m in
Take the exit toward VA 33 West: Nine Mile Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 193A
Toward VA 33 West: Nine Mile Road
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
106.1 mi
1h 59m
I 81
64.7 mi
1h 9m
US 220
13.1 mi
15m
I 581
5.6 mi
7m
Nine Mile Road
4.1 mi
6m
Williamson Road Northeast
0.3 mi
<1m
Franklin Road Southwest
0.2 mi
<1m
Williamson Road Southeast
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 106.1 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Roanoke, VA and Highland Springs, 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
0.2 mi·26 sec·Franklin Road Southwest
4
Turn left onto US 221; US 220 BUS; VA 116
0.2 mi·35 sec·Williamson Road Southeast
5
Continue on US 11; US 221; US 220 BUS; VA 116
0.3 mi·48 sec·Williamson Road Northeast
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the ramp onto US 220 BUS
0.2 mi·35 sec·US 220 BUS
Toward I 581 North, US 220 North: Lexington, BristolUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 581; US 220
5.6 mi·7 min·I 581; US 220
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 220
13 mi·15 min·US 220
Exit 1NToward I 81 North, US 220 North: LexingtonUse the straight lane.
9
Continue on I 81
65 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 81
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
103 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 64
Toward I 64 East: RichmondUse the straight lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
3.1 mi·4 min·I 64
Exit 75Toward I 64 East: Williamsburg, NorfolkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Exit 193AToward VA 33 West: Nine Mile RoadUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn right onto VA 33
17 ft·0 sec·Nine Mile Road
14
Continue on VA 33
4.1 mi·6 min·Nine Mile Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto South Holly Avenue
30 ft·0 sec·South Holly Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
South Holly Avenue
Trip Plan
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 97.4 miles from Roanoke, VA, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.1 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 43 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.4 miles or 1h 50m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Highland Springs, 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 194.9 miles and 3h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Roanoke, 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 I 64 for about 106.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 97.4 mi from Roanoke, VA
· 1h 50m into the drive
The midpoint is around 97.4 miles from Roanoke, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Highland Springs, VA
The final approach into Highland Springs, 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 Highland Springs, VA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Booker T Washington National Monument
National Monument
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...
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 188.1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.5
0
$20.46
$9.36
Efficient EV
48.7
0
$17.05
$7.80
EV Truck/SUV
78
0
$27.29
$12.47
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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
Roanoke, VA
Night
in Roanoke on Friday
Local time
9:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Highland Springs, VA
Night
in Highland Springs on Friday
Local time
9:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°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
7 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 42m 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 Highland Springs, VA covers 194.9 miles and takes about 3h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, I 81, US 220. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 97.4 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 $30.48 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 is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 194.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (US 220 BUS): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.7 miles (US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.5 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Roanoke, VA to Highland Springs, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
