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Trip from Glasgow, 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

59m

Distance

46.6 mi

75 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 54m ★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m

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

Downtown Glasgow, VA, VA

Glasgow, VA

Sinitta Leunen

independent city in Virginia, United States

Roanoke, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Glasgow, VA to Roanoke, VA is 46.6 miles and takes about 59m via US 11 and I-81, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive connecting two points within the Southeast region, specifically within Virginia. Expect a highway-focused experience that makes for a quick and efficient trip. It’s a practical choice if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss. Given its short length, it's easily manageable as a single-day journey.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 11 19.4 mi 21m
I 81 12.8 mi 15m
US 220 5.9 mi 8m
Wert Faulkner Highway 4.4 mi 6m
South Lee Highway 1.7 mi 2m
Rockbridge Road 1.4 mi 2m
US 220 BUS 0.4 mi 1m
Blue Ridge Road 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 11 — 19.4 mi, about 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

248 ft · 20 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto Anderson Street

213 ft · 9 sec · Anderson Street
3

Turn left onto SR 684

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Blue Ridge Road
4

Turn right onto VA 130

1.4 mi · 2 min · Rockbridge Road
5

Continue on VA 130

4.4 mi · 6 min · Wert Faulkner Highway
6

Continue on VA 130

124 ft · 2 sec · Wert Faulkner Highway
7

Turn left onto US 11

1.7 mi · 2 min · South Lee Highway
8

Turn right onto US 11

0.2 mi · 22 sec · US 11
9

Take the ramp onto US 11

19 mi · 20 min · US 11
10

Continue on I 81

13 mi · 15 min · I 81
Use the straight lane.
11

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.
12

Take the exit onto US 220 BUS

0.1 mi · 17 sec · US 220 BUS
Toward US 11 South, US 220 Business South: Downtown
13

Keep slight left at fork onto US 220 BUS

0.3 mi · 56 sec · US 220 BUS
14

Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Salem Avenue Southeast
15

Turn left onto South Jefferson Street

477 ft · 20 sec · South Jefferson Street
16

Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest

379 ft · 22 sec · Kirk Avenue Southwest
17

Turn left

115 ft · 13 sec
18

Turn left

132 ft · 9 sec
19

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Buchanan, VA, VA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Buchanan, VA

23 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.

Popular next leg

Buchanan, VA to Roanoke, VA

29.5 mi · 38m

Pacing Suggestions

Buchanan, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Buchanan, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23.3 miles from Glasgow, 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 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 39.9 and 46.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
39.9 mi into trip | ~48m 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
45.8 mi into trip | ~56m 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
46.4 mi into trip | ~58m in | South Jefferson Street

Turn left onto South Jefferson Street

Navigation decision point

5
46.5 mi into trip | ~58m in | Kirk Avenue Southwest

Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest

Navigation decision point

5
46.6 mi into trip | ~58m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.29 one way

$14.57 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $7.97 $15.94
premium $4.70 $8.62 $17.25
diesel $5.61 $10.29 $20.58

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.3 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 14 0 $4.89 $2.24
Efficient EV 11.7 0 $4.08 $1.86
EV Truck/SUV 18.6 0 $6.52 $2.98

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.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Glasgow, VA

Morning in Glasgow on Sunday

Local time

7:51 AM

EDT

Current temp

87°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Roanoke, VA

Morning in Roanoke on Sunday

Local time

7:51 AM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Buchanan, VA

23 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

28 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

59m 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 drive leans heavily towards highway travel, with 83% of the route utilizing major roadways like US 11 and I-81. You'll experience a predominantly fast-paced journey, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 19.4 miles on US 11. The profile suggests a highway-focused experience, meaning you'll likely encounter consistent speeds and limited opportunities for leisurely cruising. The roads are designed for efficient travel between these two Virginia locations.

83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.4 mi on US 11.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 11 and I 81. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 39.9 miles in near US 220.

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 46.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 39.9 miles (US 220): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.8 miles (US 220 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.4 miles (South Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 46.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

59m 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 19.4 miles on US 11. 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 39.9 miles (US 220): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.8 miles (US 220 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.4 miles (South Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point.

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.

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

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