Origin
Bedford, VA
Late night in Bedford on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bedford, VA to Roanoke, VA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
28.2 mi
45 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bedford, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Roanoke, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick transit between Bedford and Roanoke, this 28.2-mile connection is a straightforward journey that takes roughly 43 minutes. Because of the short distance, it is perfect for a one-day trip, allowing you to arrive at your destination in under an hour without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via the West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike, Blue Ridge Boulevard, and Orange Avenue Northeast as you transition through the Southeast region. Budgeting about $5 for fuel makes this an incredibly economical drive for your travel planning. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a day of exploration, this route offers a practical and efficient link between these two Virginia locales.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike | 14.6 mi | 18m |
| Blue Ridge Boulevard | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| Orange Avenue Northeast | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| Challenger Avenue Northeast | 2 mi | 3m |
| Blue Ridge Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Williamson Road Northeast | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Salem Avenue Southeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
— 14.6 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bedford, VA and Roanoke, VA.
1
Start on US 460 BUS; VA 43; VA 122 BUS
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
2
Continue on US 221; US 460 BUS
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Blue Ridge Avenue
3
Continue on US 221; US 460
15 mi
·
18 min
·
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
4
Continue on US 221; US 460
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Blue Ridge Boulevard
5
Continue on US 221; US 460
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Challenger Avenue Northeast
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 221; US 460; US 220 Alternate
3.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Orange Avenue Northeast
7
Turn left onto US 11; US 221
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Williamson Road Northeast
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Salem Avenue Southeast
9
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
477 ft
·
20 sec
·
South Jefferson Street
10
Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
379 ft
·
22 sec
·
Kirk Avenue Southwest
11
Turn left
115 ft
·
13 sec
12
Turn left
132 ft
·
9 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 27.1 and 28.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
27.1 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
US 11; US 221 / Williamson Road Northeast
Turn left onto US 11; US 221 / Williamson Road Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
28 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
South Jefferson Street
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
5
28.1 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
Kirk Avenue Southwest
Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
Navigation decision point
5
28.2 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
28.2 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.41 one way
$8.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.82 | $9.64 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.22 | $10.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.23 | $12.45 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.02
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
(14.6 mi)
$1.02
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.96 | $1.35 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.47 | $1.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.95 | $1.80 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Roanoke, VA
Late night in Roanoke on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
43m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience that blends highway travel with local road navigation. About 52% of your journey consists of highway driving, providing a balanced pace throughout the 28.2-mile trip. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 14.6 miles along the West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike. As you move from the turnpike onto Blue Ridge Boulevard and Orange Avenue Northeast, the character of the road shifts, requiring you to adjust to changing traffic flows. This combination of segments ensures the drive remains engaging without becoming an exhausting interstate grind.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.6 mi on West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 27.1 miles in near US 11; US 221 / Williamson Road Northeast.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 43m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 27.1 miles (US 11; US 221 / Williamson Road Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 28 miles (South Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.1 miles (Kirk Avenue Southwest): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,288 ft
920 ft
Total Climb
423 ft
Total Descent
509 ft
Highest Point
1,288 ft
~16.1 mi in
Elevation Range
368 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Bedford, VA
Full guide →Bedford is a town and former independent city in the county of the same name in Central Virginia of the Southern United States of America. With an estimated population of 6,585 as of 2018, the town – which is the county seat of Bedford County – is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town, despite its seemingly unremarkable size, is home to a plethora of historical sites, notably those devoted to the World War II history of the citizens in the town. Bedford is known as "the place that sells itself," boasting multiple cultural and natural sites in the immediate vicinity, including the Blue Ridge Mountains to the north, with the Peaks of Otter overlooking the town. Smith Mountain Lake, a reservoir and the largest lake fully in Virginia, is roughly 14 miles (25 km) to the south, and boasts a variety of fishing activities and water sports.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 43m. Total distance: 28.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.6 miles on West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.02 in tolls one way, starting with West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 27.1 miles (US 11; US 221 / Williamson Road Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 28 miles (South Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.1 miles (Kirk Avenue Southwest): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Booker T Washington National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Roanoke, VA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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