Origin
Roanoke, VA
Afternoon in Roanoke on Monday
Local time
3:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Roanoke, VA to Virginia Beach, VA
Drive Time
4h 28m
Distance
295.8 mi
476 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 15m
★
6 AM
4h 28m
8 AM
4h 55m
10 AM
4h 38m
12 PM
4h 35m
3 PM
4h 39m
5 PM
4h 54m
8 PM
4h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Roanoke, VA
Kelly
Virginia Beach, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Roanoke, VA to Virginia Beach, VA covers 295.8 miles and takes about 4h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 1st Street Southwest, Franklin Road Southwest, Williamson Road Southeast for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.34 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
147.9 miles from Roanoke, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 28m drive with frequent turns across 295.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
1st Street Southwest is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 28m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Roanoke, VA to Virginia Beach, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Franklin Road Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Williamson Road Southeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Williamson Road Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 581 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 81 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 64 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 295 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
1st Street Southwest
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Roanoke, VA and Virginia Beach, VA.
1
Start on the route
285 ft
·
26 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto 1st Street Southwest
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
1st Street Southwest
3
Turn sharp left onto Franklin Road Southwest
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Franklin Road Southwest
4
Turn left onto Williamson Road Southeast
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Williamson Road Southeast
5
Continue on Williamson Road Northeast
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Williamson Road Northeast
6
Take the ramp slight right toward I 581 North, US 220 North: Lexington, Bristol
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 581 North, US 220 North: Lexington, Bristol
7
Merge slight left
5.6 mi
·
7 min
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 81 North, US 220 North: Lexington
13 mi
·
15 min
·
I 81 North, US 220 North: Lexington
9
Continue straight
65 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
10
Keep slight right to continue on I 64 East: Richmond
90 mi
·
1 hr 38 min
·
I 64 East: Richmond
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
12
Continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
23 mi
·
25 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
14
Merge slight left
67 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
15
Keep slight left to continue on Hampton Roads Beltway
341 ft
·
5 sec
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
16
Continue on Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
17
Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
18
Take the exit slight right toward I 264 East, I 264 West: Va Beach, Downtown Norfolk, Portsmouth
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
I 264 East, I 264 West: Va Beach, Downtown Norfolk, Portsmouth
19
Keep slight left to continue on I 264 East: Va Beach
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 264 East: Va Beach
20
Merge slight right onto Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
21
Continue on 21st Street
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
21st Street
22
Turn left onto Arctic Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Arctic Avenue
23
Turn right onto 25th Street
456 ft
·
12 sec
·
25th Street
24
Arrive at your destination
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 147.9 miles from Roanoke, VA, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
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 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.9 miles or 2h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Virginia Beach, 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 295.8 miles and 4h 28m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 147.9 mi from Roanoke, VA · 2h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
148 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 147.9 miles from Roanoke, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Virginia Beach, VA
The final approach into Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach, 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
$47.34 one way
$94.68 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
104 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $51.58 | $103.16 |
| premium | $4.78 | $55.64 | $111.29 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $65.72 | $131.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 88.7 | 1 | $31.06 | $14.20 |
| Efficient EV | 74 | 0 | $25.88 | $11.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 118.3 | 1 | $41.41 | $18.93 |
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Virginia Beach, VA
Afternoon in Virginia Beach on Monday
Local time
3:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
86°F
Middletown, MD
148 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
8 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
4h 28m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Virginia Beach, VA covers 295.8 miles and takes about 4h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 1st Street Southwest, Franklin Road Southwest, Williamson Road Southeast. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 147.9 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 $47.34 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 28m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Roanoke, VA to Virginia Beach, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Roanoke, VA to Virginia Beach, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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