Origin
Buchanan, VA
Late night in Buchanan on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buchanan, 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
38m
Distance
29.5 mi
48 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buchanan, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Roanoke, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick transition from Buchanan to Roanoke, you will cover 29.5 miles in roughly 38 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as the short travel time leaves you plenty of flexibility to explore once you arrive. You can expect to spend about $5 on fuel for the journey, making this an incredibly budget-friendly transit. Since both Buchanan and Roanoke are located within the Southeast, the transition is seamless and familiar. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a change of scenery, this drive is straightforward and efficient. It is an ideal choice for those who prefer a fast, no-fuss connection between these two Virginia locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 18.1 mi | 20m |
| US 220 | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| Main Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Lee Highway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| 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
— 18.1 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buchanan, VA and Roanoke, VA.
1
Start on this road
110 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto US 11
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
3
Continue on US 11
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Lee Highway
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
5
Merge onto I 81
18 mi
·
20 min
·
I 81
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit onto US 220
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
US 220
Exit 143
Toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke
Use the slight left lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 220 BUS
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
US 220 BUS
Toward US 11 South, US 220 Business South: Downtown
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 220 BUS
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
US 220 BUS
9
Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Salem Avenue Southeast
10
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
477 ft
·
20 sec
·
South Jefferson Street
11
Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
379 ft
·
22 sec
·
Kirk Avenue Southwest
12
Turn left
115 ft
·
13 sec
13
Turn left
132 ft
·
9 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 29.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 81
Merge onto I 81
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
22.8 mi into trip
|
~28m 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
28.7 mi into trip
|
~36m 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
29.3 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
South Jefferson Street
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
5
29.4 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
Kirk Avenue Southwest
Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.61 one way
$9.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.04 | $10.09 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.46 | $10.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.51 | $13.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.3 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 | 8.9 | 0 | $3.10 | $1.42 |
| Efficient EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.58 | $1.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.13 | $1.89 |
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
4:48 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
16 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
38m 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?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 83% of your travel taking place on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-81, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 18.1 miles. Outside of this interstate segment, the route transitions onto US-220 and local Main Street roads to finalize your arrival. Expect a functional, high-speed experience rather than a slow, winding backroad journey. The shift from the open interstate to the local streets of Roanoke provides a clear change in pace as you reach your destination.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.1 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and US 220. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in near I 81.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 29.5 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.8 miles (US 220): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.7 miles (US 220 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 29.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.1 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 4.8 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.8 miles (US 220): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.7 miles (US 220 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Roanoke, VA
More trips to Roanoke, VA
Explore more options from Buchanan, VA or browse trips ending in Roanoke, VA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VA road trips.