Traveling from Danville to Roanoke is a straightforward journey covering 81.3 miles through the heart of Virginia. You can comfortably complete this trip in about 1 hour and 56 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. Budget roughly $13 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast locations. Because the drive is relatively short, there is no need to plan for overnight stays or complex logistics. It serves as a practical, efficient connection across the region, allowing you to transition between these cities with ease.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.6 miles from Danville, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Old Franklin Turnpike
15.6 mi
21m
West Gretna Road
13.7 mi
18m
US 29
12.4 mi
15m
Danville Expressway
12.4 mi
15m
Jubal Early Highway
9.5 mi
12m
VA 122
7.1 mi
10m
JAE Valley Road
3.2 mi
4m
Patton Street
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Old Franklin Turnpike
— 15.6 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Danville, VA and Roanoke, VA.
1
Start on VA 293
415 ft·15 sec·South Ridge Street
2
Turn left onto VA 293
1.2 mi·2 min·Patton Street
3
Turn slight right onto VA 360
0.8 mi·1 min·Justin Lane
4
Turn straight onto VA 360
0.6 mi·59 sec·Richmond Boulevard
5
Continue on VA 360
0.5 mi·49 sec·Old Richmond Road
6
Turn left onto VA 41
349 ft·11 sec·Franklin Turnpike
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
8
Merge onto US 29
12 mi·15 min·Danville Expressway
9
Continue on US 29
11 mi·13 min·US 29
Use the left lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29
1.8 mi·2 min·US 29
Toward US 29 North
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·39 sec
Toward VA 40
12
Turn left onto VA 40
14 mi·18 min·West Gretna Road
13
Continue on VA 40
16 mi·21 min·Old Franklin Turnpike
14
Turn right onto VA 122
7.1 mi·10 min·VA 122
15
Turn left onto VA 116
9.5 mi·12 min·Jubal Early Highway
16
Continue on VA 116
3.2 mi·4 min·JAE Valley Road
17
Continue on VA 116
0.6 mi·1 min·Mount Pleasant Boulevard Southeast
18
Continue on VA 116
0.2 mi·27 sec·Riverland Road Southeast
19
Enter roundabout onto VA 116
184 ft·6 sec·Riverland Road Southeast
20
Continue on VA 116
0.6 mi·1 min·Riverland Road Southeast
21
Turn right onto 9th Street Southeast
1.2 mi·3 min·9th Street Southeast
22
Turn left onto VA 24
0.4 mi·34 sec·Jamison Avenue Southeast
23
Continue on VA 24
0.3 mi·41 sec·Elm Avenue Southeast
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn right onto VA 116
0.3 mi·1 min·South Jefferson Street
25
Turn left onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
379 ft·22 sec·Kirk Avenue Southwest
26
Turn left
115 ft·13 sec
27
Turn left
132 ft·9 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak local traffic. You will not need to plan for formal stops, as the entire 81.3-mile distance is manageable in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before setting out, ensuring you have the $13 estimated cost accounted for before leaving Danville. Because the route relies on a mix of US 29 and secondary roads like the Old Franklin Turnpike, stay alert for transitions between highway speeds and slower local zones. Taking advantage of the short duration allows you to arrive in Roanoke with plenty of time left in your day.
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 40.6 miles from Danville, VA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.6 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.6 miles or 53m 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 33m
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 Danville, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Danville, VA
This is one driving day of about 81.3 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Danville, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Old Franklin Turnpike for about 15.6 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 26.7 and 81.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
26.7 mi into trip|~34m in|US 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29 toward US 29 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 29 North
4
28.4 mi into trip|~36m in
Take the exit toward VA 40
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward VA 40
5
78.4 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|VA 116 / Riverland Road Southeast
Enter roundabout onto VA 116 / Riverland Road Southeast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
81.3 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
81.3 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.71 one way
$25.43 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.90
$27.80
premium
$4.70
$15.05
$30.09
diesel
$5.61
$17.95
$35.90
Estimated Tolls: $1.09
Old Franklin Turnpike
(15.6 mi)$1.09
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.4
0
$8.54
$3.90
Efficient EV
20.3
0
$7.11
$3.25
EV Truck/SUV
32.5
0
$11.38
$5.20
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Danville, VA
Late night
in Danville on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Roanoke, VA
Late night
in Roanoke on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
W 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
11 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
1h 56m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving experience, balancing 59% highway travel with stretches of local roads. You will navigate a variety of surfaces, including US 29, the Old Franklin Turnpike, and West Gretna Road. The longest uninterrupted section you will encounter is a 15.6-mile segment along the Old Franklin Turnpike. Expect the road's personality to shift as you move from the main highways onto these smaller connectors. It is a functional route that demands your attention as the environment transitions throughout the nearly two-hour duration.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.6 mi on Old Franklin Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 26.7 miles in near US 29.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 56m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 26.7 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 28.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 78.4 miles (VA 116 / Riverland Road Southeast): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Danville is a city of 40,000 people (2018) in the state of Virginia on the Banks of the Dan River close to the border with North Carolina. Founded in 1793 , Danville is perhaps best known for its role in the Civil War, when it was an important railroad stop for the Confederacy and became the last Confederate capital after Richmond fell to the North.
The longest stretch is about 15.6 miles on Old Franklin Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.09 in tolls one way, starting with Old Franklin 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 26.7 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 28.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 78.4 miles (VA 116 / Riverland Road Southeast): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Roanoke, VA before heading back.
