The drive from Staunton, VA to Danville, VA covers 141.8 miles and takes about 2h 59m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Wards Road, I 64, US 29 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32 miles on Wards Road.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.17 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
70.9 miles from Staunton, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 59m. Total distance: 141.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Staunton, VA to Danville, VA covers 141.8 miles and takes about 2h 59m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Wards Road is the longest continuous segment at about 32 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 11 BUS; US 250 / North Augusta Street.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 141.8 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: near the start (US 11 BUS; US 250 / North Augusta Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.6 miles (US 501 / Lee Jackson Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 11 BUS; US 250 / North Augusta Street
Turn right onto US 11 BUS; US 250 / North Augusta Street
Navigation decision point
6
3.3 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 64 West, I 81 South: Roanoke, Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 64 West, I 81 South: Roanoke, Charlest...
5
55.6 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|US 501 / Lee Jackson Highway
Turn right onto US 501 / Lee Jackson Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
78.1 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward US 29 Business South: Lynchburg Regional Airport, Central Virginia Community College, Liberty University, Danville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 29 Business South: Lynchburg Regional...
7
110.6 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|US 29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29 toward US 29 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 29 South
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Staunton, VA and Danville, VA, road signs point toward Virginia Community College and Liberty University.
Virginia Community College
78.1 mi in|~1h 36m
Liberty University
78.1 mi in|~1h 36m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Wards Road
32 mi
41m
I 64
28.8 mi
31m
US 29
27.6 mi
33m
Lee Jackson Highway
14.5 mi
20m
Glasgow Highway
7.8 mi
9m
Lynchburg Expressway
6.7 mi
9m
Elon Road
5.3 mi
6m
East Midland Trail
3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Wards Road
— 32 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Staunton, VA and Danville, VA.
1
Start on this road
150 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto US 11 BUS; US 250
0.1 mi·18 sec·North Augusta Street
3
Turn left onto US 11 BUS; US 250
308 ft·12 sec·East Johnson Street
4
Continue on US 11 BUS; US 250
0.2 mi·16 sec·Greenville Avenue
5
Turn slight right onto US 11 Bus
158 ft·5 sec·US 11 Bus
6
Turn slight right onto US 11; US 250
1.5 mi·2 min·Greenville Avenue
7
Continue on US 11
0.7 mi·1 min·Lee Jackson Highway
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
9
Merge onto VA 262
0.5 mi·38 sec·Woodrow Wilson Parkway
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward I 64 West, I 81 South: Roanoke, Charleston
11
Merge onto I 64; I 81
29 mi·31 min·I 64; I 81
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
2.9 mi·3 min·I 81
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward US 60 East: Buena Vista
14
Continue on US 60
3.0 mi·3 min·East Midland Trail
15
Continue on US 60
0.6 mi·39 sec·29th Street
16
Take the exit
302 ft·8 sec
17
Merge onto US 501
0.4 mi·30 sec·Beech Avenue
18
Continue on US 501
2.7 mi·3 min·Sycamore Avenue
19
Continue on US 501
7.8 mi·9 min·Glasgow Highway
20
Continue on US 501; VA 130
5.3 mi·6 min·Elon Road
21
Turn right onto US 501
14 mi·19 min·Lee Jackson Highway
Use the right lane.
22
Continue on US 501
1.8 mi·2 min·Boonsboro Road
23
Turn right onto US 501
3.1 mi·4 min·Lynchburg Expressway
Use the right lane.
24
Turn right onto US 501
0.3 mi·30 sec·Old Forest Road
25
Continue on US 501
3.6 mi·5 min·Lynchburg Expressway
26
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward US 29 Business South: Lynchburg Regional Airport, Central Virginia Community College, Liberty University, Danville
27
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29 BUS
525 ft·13 sec·US 29 BUS
28
Merge onto US 29 BUS
32 mi·41 min·Wards Road
Use the straight lane.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29
15 mi·18 min·US 29
Toward US 29 SouthUse the left lane.
30
Continue on US 29
13 mi·15 min·US 29
Use the left lane.
31
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward VA 41: Halifax
32
Turn straight onto VA 41
0.2 mi·25 sec·Franklin Turnpike
33
At end of road, turn right onto VA 360
0.5 mi·49 sec·Old Richmond Road
34
Continue on VA 360
0.6 mi·59 sec·Richmond Boulevard
35
Continue on VA 360
0.8 mi·1 min·Justin Lane
36
Turn straight onto VA 293; VA 360
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
37
Continue on VA 293
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
38
Turn left onto VA 293
105 ft·2 sec·South Ridge Street
39
Arrive at destination
VA 293
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.9 miles from Staunton, VA, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32 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 31 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.9 miles or 1h 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 2h 26m
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 Staunton, 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 Staunton, VA
This is one driving day of about 141.8 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Staunton, 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 Wards Road for about 32 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 70.9 mi from Staunton, VA
· 1h 26m into the drive
The midpoint is around 70.9 miles from Staunton, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the effective end of the nation's largest war. Question...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 78.2
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 107.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.17 one way
$44.35 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$24.25
$48.49
premium
$4.70
$26.24
$52.49
diesel
$5.61
$31.31
$62.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
5 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
EVgo Charging Station
Lynchburg, Virginia
EVgo
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Lexington, Virginia
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Lynchburg, Virginia
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Rustburg, Virginia
Tesla
1 DCFC
EvGateway Charging Station
Lexington, Virginia
Other
1 DCFC
Tesla: 3
EVgo: 1
Other: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.5
0
$14.89
$6.81
Efficient EV
35.5
0
$12.41
$5.67
EV Truck/SUV
56.7
0
$19.85
$9.08
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Staunton, VA
Morning
in Staunton on Friday
Local time
11:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Danville, VA
Morning
in Danville on Friday
Local time
11:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 59m 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 Staunton, VA to Danville, VA covers 141.8 miles and takes about 2h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Wards Road, I 64, US 29. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70.9 miles from Staunton, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.17 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.
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 20 significant decision points across 141.8 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: near the start (US 11 BUS; US 250 / North Augusta Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.6 miles (US 501 / Lee Jackson Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Staunton, VA and Danville, VA, road signs point toward Virginia Community College and Liberty University.
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.
