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Trip from Ferrum, VA to Roanoke, VA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

53m

Distance

33.8 mi

54 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Good

7 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 49m ★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

census designated place in Franklin County, Virginia, United States

Ferrum, VA

Wikimedia Commons

independent city in Virginia, United States

Roanoke, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick excursion from Ferrum to Roanoke, you are looking at a 33.8-mile journey that typically takes about 53 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, as it is short enough to complete without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $5 for fuel, making this an incredibly economical way to travel between these two Virginia locations. Both the origin and destination are situated within the Southeast region, ensuring a consistent regional feel throughout your drive. Because there are no designated stops on this specific route, you can expect a direct and straightforward trip. It is a practical choice for those who prefer a compact drive over a long-haul haul across the state.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Ferrum Mountain Road 8.4 mi 13m
Wades Gap Road 5.6 mi 7m
Bethany Road 3.7 mi 4m
Roy L. Webber Expressway 3.4 mi 4m
Merriman Road 2.3 mi 3m
Dillons Mill Road 2.1 mi 2m
Starkey Road 2 mi 4m
Naff Road 1.8 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Ferrum Mountain Road — 8.4 mi, about 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ferrum, VA and Roanoke, VA.

1

Start on VA 40

0.3 mi · 34 sec · Franklin Street
2

Turn right onto SR 602

5.0 mi · 8 min · Ferrum Mountain Road
3

At end of road, turn right onto SR 602

3.4 mi · 5 min · Ferrum Mountain Road
4

At end of road, turn right onto SR 641

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Callaway Road
5

Turn left onto SR 742

3.7 mi · 4 min · Bethany Road
6

Continue on SR 739

0.9 mi · 1 min · Dugspur Road
7

Turn left onto SR 743

0.4 mi · 34 sec · London Ridge Road
8

Turn right onto SR 742

0.8 mi · 1 min · Dugspur Road
9

Turn left onto SR 643

2.1 mi · 2 min · Dillons Mill Road
10

Continue on SR 726

5.6 mi · 7 min · Wades Gap Road
11

At end of road, turn left onto SR 613

1.8 mi · 2 min · Naff Road
12

Continue on SR 613

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Token Road
13

Continue on SR 613

1.8 mi · 2 min · Merriman Road
14

At end of road, turn left onto SR 613

0.5 mi · 51 sec · Merriman Road
15

Turn right onto SR 904

0.5 mi · 58 sec · Starkey Road
16

Enter roundabout onto SR 904

140 ft · 3 sec · Starkey Road
17

Continue on SR 904

1.5 mi · 3 min · Starkey Road
18

Turn right onto VA 419

0.9 mi · 1 min · Electric Road
19

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Toward US 220 North
20

Merge onto US 220

3.4 mi · 4 min · Roy L. Webber Expressway
21

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 23 sec
Toward VA 24: Elm Avenue, Vinton Use the slight right lane.
22

Turn left onto VA 24

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Elm Avenue Southeast
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
23

Turn right onto VA 116

0.3 mi · 1 min · South Jefferson Street
24

Turn left onto Kirk Avenue Southwest

379 ft · 22 sec · Kirk Avenue Southwest
25

Turn left

115 ft · 13 sec
26

Turn left

132 ft · 9 sec
27

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Cave Spring, VA, VA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cave Spring, VA

17 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

Cedar Bluff, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cave Spring, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 16.9 miles from Ferrum, 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 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 22.3 and 33.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
22.3 mi into trip | ~32m in | SR 613 / Naff Road

At end of road, turn left onto SR 613 / Naff Road

Navigation decision point

7
33 mi into trip | ~50m in

Take the exit toward VA 24: Elm Avenue, Vinton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward VA 24: Elm Avenue, Vinton
5
33.1 mi into trip | ~50m in | VA 24 / Elm Avenue Southeast

Turn left onto VA 24 / Elm Avenue Southeast

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
33.8 mi into trip | ~52m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

5
33.8 mi into trip | ~52m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.29 one way

$10.57 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $5.78 $11.56
premium $4.70 $6.26 $12.51
diesel $5.61 $7.46 $14.93

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.8 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 10.1 0 $3.55 $1.62
Efficient EV 8.5 0 $2.96 $1.35
EV Truck/SUV 13.5 0 $4.73 $2.16

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 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.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Ferrum, VA

Afternoon in Ferrum on Tuesday

Local time

1:08 PM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Roanoke, VA

Afternoon in Roanoke on Tuesday

Local time

1:08 PM

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

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?

Expect a turn-heavy, local experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise on this 53-minute trek. With only 10% of the route consisting of highways, you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating local roads like Ferrum Mountain Road, Wades Gap Road, and Bethany Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is an 8.4-mile segment on Ferrum Mountain Road, which dictates the technical pace of the drive. Because the road profile is consistently winding, you should be prepared for a more active driving experience than what you might find on a major expressway. The character of this route is defined by its intimacy with the local landscape rather than speed.

Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.4 mi on Ferrum Mountain Road.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 22.3 miles in near SR 613 / Naff Road.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 53m drive. You will face about 20 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 22.3 miles (SR 613 / Naff Road): Navigation decision point; at 33 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.1 miles (VA 24 / Elm Avenue Southeast): Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,096 ft 924 ft

Total Climb

983 ft

Total Descent

1,349 ft

Highest Point

2,096 ft

~19.3 mi in

Elevation Range

1,173 ft

Notable High Points

2,096 ft at ~19.3 miles +534 ft prominence

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 33.8 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 (10%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 8.4 miles on Ferrum Mountain 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 22.3 miles (SR 613 / Naff Road): Navigation decision point; at 33 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.1 miles (VA 24 / Elm Avenue Southeast): Lane positioning matters here.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Ferrum, VA or browse trips ending in Roanoke, VA.

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