If you are planning a trip from Broadway to Roanoke, you are looking at a straightforward 125.5-mile journey through the heart of Virginia. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 23 minutes behind the wheel for this Southeast regional transit. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $20, it is an economical route for a quick getaway. Whether you are heading south for business or a visit, the trip is efficient and easy to navigate.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
62.7 miles from Broadway, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
113.8 mi
2h 4m
US 220
5.9 mi
8m
Mayland Road
4 mi
6m
Broadway Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
US 220 BUS
0.4 mi
1m
Salem Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi
<1m
South Jefferson Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Kirk Avenue Southwest
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 113.8 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Broadway, VA and Roanoke, VA.
1
Start on this road
5 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto VA 259 ALT
0.7 mi·1 min·Broadway Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto VA 259
207 ft·3 sec·Timber Way
4
Continue on VA 259
4.0 mi·6 min·Mayland Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
6
Merge onto I 81
66 mi·1 hr 12 min·I 81
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
48 mi·52 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit onto US 220
5.9 mi·8 min·US 220
Exit 143Toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, RoanokeUse the slight left lane.
9
Take the exit onto US 220 BUS
0.1 mi·17 sec·US 220 BUS
Toward US 11 South, US 220 Business South: Downtown
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 220 BUS
0.3 mi·56 sec·US 220 BUS
11
Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi·30 sec·Salem Avenue Southeast
12
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
477 ft·20 sec·South Jefferson Street
13
Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
379 ft·22 sec·Kirk Avenue Southwest
14
Turn left
115 ft·13 sec
15
Turn left
132 ft·9 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled for this 125.5-mile route, you have the flexibility to make the drive in one go or pull over whenever you prefer. Leaving at off-peak hours can help you avoid potential congestion on the long I-81 corridor, which makes up the bulk of your journey. Keep your $20 fuel budget in mind when planning your departure, as filling up near Broadway before you merge onto the highway is a smart way to ensure a seamless trip. Because this is a relatively quick drive, you can easily adapt your departure time to fit your own schedule without needing to worry about complex pacing or overnight logistics.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 62.7 miles from Broadway, VA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.8 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 28 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.7 miles or 1h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Roanoke, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Broadway, 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 Broadway, VA
This is one driving day of about 125.5 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Broadway, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 113.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 125.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|VA 259 / Timber Way
At end of road, turn right onto VA 259 / Timber Way
Navigation decision point
6
71.1 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
118.8 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|US 220
Take the exit onto US 220 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 slight left lane.
Exit 143
Toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke
5
124.7 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|US 220 BUS
Take the exit onto US 220 BUS toward US 11 South, US 220 Business South: Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 11 South, US 220 Business South: Down...
5
125.3 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|South Jefferson Street
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.63 one way
$39.25 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$21.46
$42.92
premium
$4.70
$23.23
$46.45
diesel
$5.61
$27.71
$55.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.7
0
$13.18
$6.02
Efficient EV
31.4
0
$10.98
$5.02
EV Truck/SUV
50.2
0
$17.57
$8.03
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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 14, 2026
Origin
Broadway, VA
Late night
in Broadway on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Roanoke, VA
Late night
in Roanoke on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
W 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
72°F
Buena Vista, VA
63 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
38 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
2h 23m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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
near mile 125.5
Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 96% of your time spent on major roads like I-81, US-220, and Mayland Road. You will spend the vast majority of your time—specifically 113.8 miles—cruising along I-81. Because the route relies so heavily on interstate travel, expect a consistent, high-speed pace rather than a winding backroad experience. The transition from local roads onto the highway happens quickly, setting you up for a long, uninterrupted stretch of driving. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that prioritizes speed and directness over technical maneuvers.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113.8 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and US 220. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near VA 259 / Timber Way.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 23m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (VA 259 / Timber Way): Navigation decision point; at 71.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.8 miles (US 220): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,685 ft1,042 ft
Total Climb
643 ft
Total Descent
0 ft
Highest Point
1,685 ft
~52.3 mi in
Elevation Range
643 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 125.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 113.8 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (VA 259 / Timber Way): Navigation decision point; at 71.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.8 miles (US 220): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Booker T Washington National Monument and Shenandoah National Park. 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.
