Matoaca, VA to Roanoke, VA is 162.1 miles and takes about 3h 30m via Richmond Highway and US 460, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily stays within Virginia's Southeast region, offering a mixed driving experience. It's a manageable drive, perfect for a single day if you're looking to get from point A to point B without a significant time commitment. Consider this route for its straightforward path and reasonable duration, fitting well into a busy travel schedule.
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
81.1 miles from Matoaca, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Richmond Highway
31.1 mi
38m
US 460
29.2 mi
34m
New Cox Road
23 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
7.5 mi
11m
East Colonial Trail Road
6.9 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Richmond Highway
— 31.1 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Matoaca, VA and Roanoke, VA.
1
Start on Fitzhugh Street
287 ft·17 sec·Fitzhugh Street
2
Turn left onto SR 1304
163 ft·12 sec·Wilcox Street
3
Turn left onto VA 36
0.1 mi·14 sec·River Road
4
Turn left onto SR 600
0.4 mi·47 sec·Pickett Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on SR 600
1.0 mi·1 min·Ferndale Road
6
Turn right onto SR 1310
0.2 mi·51 sec·Cedar Heart Lane
7
Turn right onto VA 226
2.9 mi·5 min·Cox Road
8
Turn right onto US 460
23 mi·26 min·New Cox Road
9
Continue on US 460
4.3 mi·5 min·East Colonial Trail Highway
10
Continue on US 460
6.9 mi·7 min·East Colonial Trail Road
11
Continue on US 460
7.5 mi·11 min·East Colonial Trail
12
Merge onto US 360; US 460
1.5 mi·2 min·West Colonial Trail Highway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
12 mi·14 min·West Colonial Trail Highway
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 460
29 mi·34 min·US 460
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
31 mi·38 min·Richmond Highway
Toward US 460 West: Lynchburg
16
Continue on US 460
16 mi·20 min·East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 221; US 460
15 mi·18 min·West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
18
Continue on US 221; US 460
5.5 mi·7 min·Blue Ridge Boulevard
19
Continue on US 221; US 460
2.0 mi·3 min·Challenger Avenue Northeast
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 221; US 460; US 220 Alternate
3.1 mi·6 min·Orange Avenue Northeast
21
Turn left onto US 11; US 221
0.8 mi·1 min·Williamson Road Northeast
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi·30 sec·Salem Avenue Southeast
23
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
477 ft·20 sec·South Jefferson Street
24
Turn right 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
Trip Plan
Given the 3.5-hour duration, this trip is easily accomplished in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to allow for any unforeseen delays and to make the most of daylight. With only one suggested stop, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself; however, it's wise to fuel up before leaving Matoaca, as the $25 estimated fuel cost suggests it's not an excessively expensive trip but you don't want to be caught searching for a station. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 31.1-mile stretch on Richmond Highway, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination or a convenient refueling point.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 81.1 miles from Matoaca, VA, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.1 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 36 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.1 miles or 1h 43m 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 47m
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 Matoaca, 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 Matoaca, VA
This is one driving day of about 162.1 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Matoaca, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Richmond Highway for about 31.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The Exchange Building and Petersburg Visitors Center
4.2
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, ~10 min detour
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Petersburg, Virginia
+18048359630
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 162 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|VA 36 / River Road
Turn left onto VA 36 / River Road
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 600 / Pickett Avenue
Turn left onto SR 600 / Pickett Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
88.8 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|US 460 / Richmond Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460 / Richmond Highway toward US 460 West: Lynchburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 460 West: Lynchburg
5
161.9 mi into trip|~3h 29m in|South Jefferson Street
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
5
162 mi into trip|~3h 29m in|Kirk Avenue Southwest
Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.35 one way
$50.70 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$27.72
$55.43
premium
$4.70
$30.00
$60.00
diesel
$5.61
$35.79
$71.58
Estimated Tolls: $2.14
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
(16 mi)$1.12
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.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
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: 56.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.6
0
$17.02
$7.78
Efficient EV
40.5
0
$14.18
$6.48
EV Truck/SUV
64.8
0
$22.69
$10.37
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 18, 2026
Origin
Matoaca, VA
Morning
in Matoaca on Sunday
Local time
11:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Roanoke, VA
Morning
in Roanoke on Sunday
Local time
11:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 1 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
29 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
3h 30m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
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...
Two hundred ninety-two days, eight offensives, over 70,000 casualties, U. S. Colored Troops, and the decline of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. U.S. forces c...
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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 162.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a mixed drive, with 37% of it being highway travel. You'll encounter some faster-paced sections interspersed with more local road driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is about 31.1 miles on Richmond Highway, giving you a solid period of consistent travel. As you progress, expect the road character to shift, moving from what might feel like more urban or suburban approaches to potentially more rural or open landscapes as you head west. It's not an all-highway grind, nor is it exclusively winding backroads.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.1 mi on Richmond Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near VA 36 / River Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 162.1 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.1 miles (VA 36 / River Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (SR 600 / Pickett Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 88.8 miles (US 460 / Richmond Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 162.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.1 miles on Richmond Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.14 in tolls one way, starting with East 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Roanoke, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (VA 36 / River Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (SR 600 / Pickett Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 88.8 miles (US 460 / Richmond Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, Petersburg National Battlefield and Booker T Washington National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Roanoke, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
