Origin
Forest, VA
Late night in Forest on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Forest, VA to Roanoke, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
44.5 mi
72 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forest, VA
Alexa Kei
Roanoke, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 44.5-mile drive from Forest, VA to Roanoke, VA is easily manageable as a day trip, taking about 1 hour and 5 minutes. The route primarily utilizes West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike, Forest Road, and Blue Ridge Boulevard, offering a mixed driving experience. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $7, this journey is budget-friendly. Given its short distance and lack of designated stops, you'll have plenty of flexibility in your schedule. Both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, so you won't be crossing any major regional boundaries on this short hop within Virginia.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike | 14.6 mi | 18m |
| Forest Road | 12.9 mi | 18m |
| Blue Ridge Boulevard | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| VA 122 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Orange Avenue Northeast | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| Challenger Avenue Northeast | 2 mi | 3m |
| Independence Boulevard | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Williamson Road Northeast | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
— 14.6 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forest, VA and Roanoke, VA.
1
Start on this road
94 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
105 ft
·
14 sec
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 221
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Forest Road
4
Turn left onto VA 122
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Independence Boulevard
5
Turn left onto US 460 BUS; VA 122
336 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Main Street
6
Take the ramp onto VA 122
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
VA 122
Toward US 460 West, VA 122 South
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 221; US 460
15 mi
·
18 min
·
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
8
Continue on US 221; US 460
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Blue Ridge Boulevard
9
Continue on US 221; US 460
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Challenger Avenue Northeast
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 221; US 460; US 220 Alternate
3.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Orange Avenue Northeast
11
Turn left onto US 11; US 221
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Williamson Road Northeast
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Salem Avenue Southeast
13
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
477 ft
·
20 sec
·
South Jefferson Street
14
Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
379 ft
·
22 sec
·
Kirk Avenue Southwest
15
Turn left
115 ft
·
13 sec
16
Turn left
132 ft
·
9 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.3 miles from Forest, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 44.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 221 / Forest Road
At end of road, turn left onto US 221 / Forest Road
Navigation decision point
7
14.7 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
VA 122
Take the ramp onto VA 122 toward US 460 West, VA 122 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 460 West, VA 122 South
5
44.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
South Jefferson Street
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
5
44.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
Kirk Avenue Southwest
Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.96 one way
$13.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.61 | $15.22 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.24 | $16.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.83 | $19.65 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.02
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
(14.6 mi)
$1.02
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.67 | $2.14 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.89 | $1.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.23 | $2.85 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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 Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Bedford, VA
22 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
20 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 5m 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 mixed drive on this route, with 41% of the journey on highway portions. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 14.6 miles along the West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike. The road's personality shifts between faster highway segments and more local road conditions as you progress. This variation means you'll experience different driving dynamics, from cruising at higher speeds to navigating through more community-focused areas.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.6 mi on West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 44.5 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 221 / Forest Road): Navigation decision point; at 14.7 miles (VA 122): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 44.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.6 miles on West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.02 in tolls one way, starting with West Lynchburg Salem 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 221 / Forest Road): Navigation decision point; at 14.7 miles (VA 122): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. 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 Forest, VA or browse trips ending in Roanoke, VA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VA road trips.