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Trip from Roanoke, VA to Wattsville, VA

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

7h 25m

Distance

371.4 mi

598 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$58

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
7h 15m ★
6 AM
7h 26m
8 AM
7h 46m
10 AM
7h 33m
12 PM
7h 31m
3 PM
7h 34m
5 PM
7h 45m
8 PM
7h 20m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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independent city in Virginia, United States

Roanoke, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Wattsville, VA, VA

Wattsville, VA

Faruk Tokluoğlu

Trip Overview

The drive from Roanoke, VA to Wattsville, VA covers 371.4 miles and takes about 7h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 64, Lankford Highway, I 81 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 156.9 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $58.08 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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

185.7 miles from Roanoke, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 26m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 7h 25m highway drive covering 371.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and Lankford Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 156.9 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 24 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 156.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Lankford Highway. 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.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 371.4 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 174.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 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
8
174.5 mi into trip | ~3h 14m in

Take the exit toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 177 Toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
8
198.6 mi into trip | ~3h 40m in

Take the exit toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 28A Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
8
280.5 mi into trip | ~5h 16m in

Take the exit toward US 13: Northamption Boulevard, Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Tunnel

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Exit 282 Toward US 13: Northamption Boulevard, Chesapeak...

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Roanoke, VA and Wattsville, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

Norfolk

174.5 mi in | ~3h 14m

Virginia Beach

198.6 mi in | ~3h 40m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 64 156.9 mi 2h 53m
Lankford Highway 65.1 mi 1h 32m
I 81 64.7 mi 1h 9m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway 22.9 mi 25m
Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel 17.7 mi 24m
US 220 13.1 mi 15m
Hampton Roads Beltway 10.2 mi 13m
I 581 5.6 mi 7m
Longest stretch: I 64 — 156.9 mi, about 2h 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Roanoke, VA and Wattsville, 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, Bristol Use 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 1N Toward I 81 North, US 220 North: Lexington Use 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

90 mi · 1 hr 38 min · I 64
Toward I 64 East: Richmond Use the straight lane.
11

Take the exit

1.2 mi · 1 min
Exit 177 Toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk Use the slight right lane.
12

Continue on I 295

23 mi · 25 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

1.3 mi · 2 min
Exit 28A Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Merge onto I 64

67 mi · 1 hr 15 min · I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork onto I 64; US 60

342 ft · 5 sec · Hampton Roads Beltway
16

Continue on I 64; US 60

3.5 mi · 4 min · Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
17

Continue on I 64; US 60

10 mi · 12 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 43 sec
Exit 282 Toward US 13: Northamption Boulevard, Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Tunnel Use the right lane.
19

Turn right onto US 13; VA 166

5.1 mi · 7 min · Northampton Boulevard
Use the right lane.
20

Merge onto US 13

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Northampton Boulevard
21

Continue on US 13

18 mi · 24 min · Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
22

Continue on US 13

65 mi · 1 hr 32 min · Lankford Highway
23

Turn right onto VA 175

2.4 mi · 3 min · Chincoteague Road
24

Arrive at destination

VA 175

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 185.7 miles from Roanoke, VA, or about 3h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.9 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 82 miles or 1h 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 185.7 miles or 3h 26m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wattsville, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Roanoke, VA

This is one driving day of about 371.4 miles and 7h 25m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Roanoke, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 156.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 185.7 mi from Roanoke, VA · 3h 26m into the drive

Downtown Middletown, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Middletown, MD

186 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

Oakland, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Middletown, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 185.7 miles from Roanoke, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Wattsville, VA

The final approach into Wattsville, 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 Wattsville, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Colonial National Historical Park

Colonial National Historical Park

National Historical Park

On May 13, 1607, Jamestown was established as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Three cultures came together – European, Virginia Indian and African–to create a new society that...

0 mi from route ~1 min detour $15 near mile 243.3
Park Closure: Rehabilitation of Colonial Parkway Continues
View on nps.gov
Fort Monroe National Monument

Fort Monroe National Monument

National Monument

Fort Monroe's story spans from prehistory to the 2000s. Kecoughtan Indians occupied Old Point Comfort before the arrival of English colonists. The first enslaved Africans arrived in 1619. Those escapi...

2 mi from route ~6 min detour Free near mile 268.9
View on nps.gov
Assateague Island National Seashore

Assateague Island National Seashore

National Seashore

Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime for...

16 mi from route ~41 min detour $25 near mile 371.4
View on nps.gov
Booker T Washington National Monument

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...

16 mi from route ~39 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Petersburg National Battlefield

Petersburg National Battlefield

National Battlefield

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...

28 mi from route ~70 min detour Free near mile 204.9
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$58.08 one way

$116.16 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 130 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $63.50 $127.01
premium $4.70 $68.74 $137.48
diesel $5.61 $82.00 $164.00

Estimated Tolls: $4.00

Chesapeake Bay Bridge $4.00

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

$58

Tolls

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$87–$112

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 129.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 111.4 1 $39.00 $17.83
Efficient EV 92.9 1 $32.50 $14.86
EV Truck/SUV 148.6 1 $52.00 $23.77

Gas CO2

130 kg

EV CO2

43 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Roanoke, VA

Evening in Roanoke on Tuesday

Local time

8:51 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Wattsville, VA

Evening in Wattsville on Tuesday

Local time

8:51 PM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

86°F

Middletown, MD

186 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

36 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

7h 25m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 Wattsville, VA covers 371.4 miles and takes about 7h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, Lankford Highway, I 81. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 185.7 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 $58.08 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 371.4 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 174.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Roanoke, VA and Wattsville, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

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