Origin
Blacksburg, VA
Late night in Blacksburg on Tuesday
Local time
4:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blacksburg, 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
59m
Distance
41.5 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blacksburg, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Roanoke, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 41.9-mile journey from Blacksburg, VA, to Roanoke, VA, is a straightforward drive that typically takes about 47 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, this route is ideal for a quick transfer or a short excursion within the Southeast region. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $7, it's an economical choice for travelers. The drive primarily utilizes local roads, indicated by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile and zero highway share, meaning you'll be navigating through communities rather than on high-speed interstates. This makes it a relaxed, manageable trip for anyone looking to travel between these two Virginia towns.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 24.4 mi | 28m |
| I 581 | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| US 460 | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| North Main Street | 2.6 mi | 7m |
| Roanoke Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| US 220 BUS | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Salem Avenue Southeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Jefferson Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 24.4 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blacksburg, VA and Roanoke, VA.
1
Start on US 460 BUS
2.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Take the ramp
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 460 East: Roanoke
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Merge onto US 460
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
US 460
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 2
Toward US 11, US 460 Business: Christiansburg
5
Turn left onto US 11; US 460 BUS
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Roanoke Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Take the ramp
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 81 North, US 460 East: Salem, Roanoke
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 81
24 mi
·
28 min
·
I 81
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 143
Toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 581; US 220
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I 581; US 220
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto US 220 BUS
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
US 220 BUS
Toward US 11 South, US 220 Business South: Downtown
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 220 BUS
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
US 220 BUS
12
Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Salem Avenue Southeast
13
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
477 ft
·
20 sec
·
South Jefferson Street
14
Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
379 ft
·
22 sec
·
Kirk Avenue Southwest
15
Turn left
115 ft
·
13 sec
16
Turn left
132 ft
·
9 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.8 miles from Blacksburg, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 34.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward US 460 East: Roanoke
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 460 East: Roanoke
5
3.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 460
Merge onto US 460
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
8.2 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward US 11, US 460 Business: Christiansburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 2
Toward US 11, US 460 Business: Christiansburg
6
9.5 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the ramp toward I 81 North, US 460 East: Salem, Roanoke
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 81 North, US 460 East: Salem, Roanoke
8
34.9 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke
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 143
Toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.49 one way
$12.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.10 | $14.19 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.68 | $15.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.16 | $18.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.36 | $1.99 |
| Efficient EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.81 | $2.66 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
4:59 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
22 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
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' on this route, with no highway miles contributing to the total 41.9-mile distance. This means your journey will be characterized by frequent turns and a more intimate connection with the towns and areas you pass through. Without significant stretches of high-speed highway, the drive offers a consistent pace, allowing you to observe the local landscape. The absence of a 'longest stretch' metric further emphasizes the continuous, local road nature of this trip, where you'll likely experience a variety of road conditions and speed limits as you navigate from Blacksburg to Roanoke.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.4 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 581. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 41.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (US 460): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Blacksburg, VA
Full guide →Blacksburg is a moderate-sized town in Southwest Virginia and is home of Virginia Tech (full name: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University).
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 59m. Total distance: 41.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.4 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Roanoke, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (US 460): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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