Origin
Pulaski, VA
Late night in Pulaski on Tuesday
Local time
4:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pulaski, VA to Roanoke, VA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
57.3 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pulaski, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Roanoke, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Pulaski to Roanoke, expect a straightforward 57.3-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 14 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is short enough to handle without an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-81 and I-581, with a bit of Bob White Boulevard to bridge the gap. Budgeting around $9 for fuel should comfortably cover your gas needs for this transit. Because both cities are located within the Southeast region of Virginia, the drive remains consistent in climate and atmosphere throughout. It is an efficient, practical connection that avoids unnecessary complexity for travelers.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 44.6 mi | 50m |
| I 581 | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| Bob White Boulevard | 2 mi | 4m |
| Newbern Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Main Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Cleburne Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| US 220 BUS | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Salem Avenue Southeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 44.6 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pulaski, VA and Roanoke, VA.
1
Start on US 11
48 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Washington Avenue
2
Turn left onto VA 99
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East Main Street
3
Turn left onto SR 611
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Bob White Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on SR 611
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Newbern Road
5
Turn left onto Cleburne Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Cleburne Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
7
Merge onto I 81
45 mi
·
50 min
·
I 81
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 143
Toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 581; US 220
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I 581; US 220
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto US 220 BUS
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
US 220 BUS
Toward US 11 South, US 220 Business South: Downtown
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 220 BUS
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
US 220 BUS
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
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.6 miles from Pulaski, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 57 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
SR 611 / Bob White Boulevard
Turn left onto SR 611 / Bob White Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 81
Merge onto I 81
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
50.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit 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 straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 143
Toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke
5
56.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m 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
57 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
South Jefferson Street
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.96 one way
$17.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.80 | $19.59 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.61 | $21.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.65 | $25.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.02 | $2.75 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.02 | $3.67 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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 Tuesday
Local time
4:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
NW 12 mph
0% chance
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
14 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
1h 14m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 88% of your travel spent on major interstates. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-81, which accounts for a 44.6-mile stretch that serves as the backbone of your journey. Expect a steady, interstate-style pace that favors efficiency over winding local backroads. As you transition onto I-581 and Bob White Boulevard, the character shifts slightly toward local access, but the overall experience remains fast-moving. You won't find many technical challenges here, making it a predictable drive for those who prefer keeping the cruise control set.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.6 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 581. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near SR 611 / Bob White Boulevard.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 57.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 1.4 miles (SR 611 / Bob White Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 14m. Total distance: 57.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.6 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 1.4 miles (SR 611 / Bob White Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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