Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 31m
Distance
156.3 mi
251 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lawrenceville, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Roanoke, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Lawrenceville, VA to Roanoke, VA is 156.3 miles and takes about 3h 31m via Richmond Highway and US 460, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within Virginia's Southeast region for its entirety, offering a mixed driving experience. It’s a manageable one-day trip, ideal if you're looking for a straightforward journey without needing an overnight stay. Plan for a straightforward drive that balances highway speeds with local road navigation.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
78.1 miles from Lawrenceville, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond Highway | 31.1 mi | 38m |
| US 460 | 29.2 mi | 34m |
| Christanna Highway | 18.8 mi | 26m |
| East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike | 16 mi | 20m |
| West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike | 14.6 mi | 18m |
| West Colonial Trail Highway | 13.1 mi | 16m |
| East Colonial Trail | 7.4 mi | 11m |
| Brunswick Road | 5.6 mi | 7m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lawrenceville, VA and Roanoke, VA.
Start on US 58 Business; VA 46
Turn left onto US 58 Business; VA 46
Turn left onto VA 46
Turn straight onto VA 46
Continue on VA 46
Continue on VA 46
At end of road, turn right onto VA 40
Turn left onto 4th Street
Turn right onto South Amelia Avenue
Turn left onto US 460 Business
Continue on US 460 Business
Take the ramp onto US 460 Business
Merge onto US 460
Merge onto US 360; US 460
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
Keep slight left at fork onto US 460
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
Continue on US 460
Continue on US 221; US 460
Continue on US 221; US 460
Continue on US 221; US 460
Continue on US 221; US 460; US 220 Alternate
Turn left onto US 11; US 221
Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
Turn left
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Given the 3h 31m duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete the 156.3 miles without feeling rushed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 31.1-mile stretch on Richmond Highway, as services might be spaced out in certain areas. The estimated fuel cost of $24 is a helpful budget marker for this journey.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 34 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.1 miles or 1h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Roanoke, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lawrenceville, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lawrenceville, VA
This is one driving day of about 156.3 miles and 3h 31m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
78 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.
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 78.1 miles from Lawrenceville, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 156.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto VA 46 / West Church Street
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460 / Richmond Highway toward US 460 West: Lynchburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
Navigation decision point
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$24.44 one way
$48.88 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $26.72 | $53.45 |
| premium | $4.70 | $28.93 | $57.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.51 | $69.02 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.14
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
$24
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.9 | 0 | $16.41 | $7.50 |
| Efficient EV | 39.1 | 0 | $13.68 | $6.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.5 | 0 | $21.88 | $10.00 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Lawrenceville on Sunday
Local time
6:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Morning in Roanoke on Sunday
Local time
6:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Historical Park
On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the effective end of the nation's largest war. Question...
National Monument
Booker T. Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route offers a mixed drive, with 38% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 31.1 miles on Richmond Highway, providing a solid segment of uninterrupted travel. Expect the road to transition between faster-paced highway sections and more localized road segments as you make your way across the state. The drive isn't a monotonous interstate cruise, but rather a varied experience that keeps you engaged behind the wheel.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near VA 46 / West Church Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 156.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (VA 46 / West Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 82.9 miles (US 460 / Richmond Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 156.1 miles (South Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 31m. Total distance: 156.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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