Origin
Buena Vista, VA
Morning in Buena Vista on Sunday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buena Vista, VA to Lynchburg, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
39.6 mi
64 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buena Vista, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Lynchburg, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Buena Vista to Lynchburg is 39.6 miles and takes about 53 minutes via Elon Road, Glasgow Highway, and South Amherst Highway, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within Virginia, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a short trip that leans towards local roads, making it a good option if you're looking for a quick, uncomplicated transit between these two towns. You won't be spending a huge chunk of your day on this particular leg, so consider it an easy addition to a larger itinerary or a simple point-to-point journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Elon Road | 23.4 mi | 31m |
| Glasgow Highway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| South Amherst Highway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Sycamore Avenue | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Dillard Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Church Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Lynchburg Expressway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 21st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Elon Road
— 23.4 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buena Vista, VA and Lynchburg, VA.
1
Start on East 21st Street
444 ft
·
26 sec
·
East 21st Street
2
Turn left onto US 501
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Sycamore Avenue
3
Continue on US 501
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Glasgow Highway
4
Continue on US 501; VA 130
23 mi
·
31 min
·
Elon Road
5
Turn right onto SR 766
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Dillard Road
6
Turn right onto US 29 BUS
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
South Amherst Highway
7
Continue on US 29 BUS
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Lynchburg Expressway
8
Take the exit
494 ft
·
28 sec
Toward Downtown, Riverfront
9
Keep slight left at fork
119 ft
·
10 sec
Toward Downtown, Riverfront
10
Turn left onto Main Street
37 ft
·
5 sec
·
Main Street
11
Turn left onto Pearl Street
337 ft
·
7 sec
·
Pearl Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto Church Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Church Street
13
Turn right onto 10th Street
98 ft
·
4 sec
·
10th Street
14
Arrive at destination
10th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.8 miles from Buena Vista, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 33.9 and 39.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
33.9 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
SR 766 / Dillard Road
Turn right onto SR 766 / Dillard Road
Navigation decision point
4
35.5 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
US 29 BUS / South Amherst Highway
Turn right onto US 29 BUS / South Amherst Highway
Navigation decision point
6
39 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Riverfront
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Downtown, Riverfront
7
39.1 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Downtown, Riverfront
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Downtown, Riverfront
6
39.1 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
Pearl Street
Turn left onto Pearl Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.19 one way
$12.39 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.77 | $13.54 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.33 | $14.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.74 | $17.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.16 | $1.90 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.47 | $1.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.54 | $2.53 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Lynchburg, VA
Morning in Lynchburg on Sunday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
87°F
Glasgow, VA
20 mi in
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
40 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
53m 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 route offers a turn-heavy local drive experience, with a substantial 100% share of highway driving, meaning you'll be navigating a series of connected roads rather than a single, long interstate. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 23.4 miles on Elon Road. Expect a dynamic drive that requires attention as you transition between different local roads like Elon Road, Glasgow Highway, and South Amherst Highway. It's not a route for setting cruise control for hours, but rather a more engaged, connected-to-the-landscape kind of journey.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.4 mi on Elon Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 33.9 miles in near SR 766 / Dillard Road.
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 39.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 33.9 miles (SR 766 / Dillard Road): Navigation decision point; at 35.5 miles (US 29 BUS / South Amherst Highway): Navigation decision point; at 39 miles: 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 53m. Total distance: 39.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.4 miles on Elon Road. 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 33.9 miles (SR 766 / Dillard Road): Navigation decision point; at 35.5 miles (US 29 BUS / South Amherst Highway): Navigation decision point; at 39 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Appomattox Court House National Historical 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 Lynchburg, 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 Lynchburg, VA
More trips to Lynchburg, VA
Explore more options from Buena Vista, VA or browse trips ending in Lynchburg, VA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VA road trips.