Roanoke, VA to Atkins, VA is 99.3 miles and takes about 1h 55m via I-81, I-581, and Lee Highway, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive stays within Virginia, making it a straightforward trip for those looking to cover ground efficiently. The route is primarily interstate, offering a predictable and generally quick journey. With a total duration under two hours, it's an ideal option for a day trip or a quick segment on a longer adventure, keeping you on the move without significant time investment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.7 miles from Roanoke, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
87 mi
1h 35m
I 581
5.6 mi
7m
Lee Highway
3.3 mi
4m
I 77
1.3 mi
1m
Williamson Road Northeast
0.3 mi
<1m
Franklin Road Southwest
0.2 mi
<1m
Windsor Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Williamson Road Southeast
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 87 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Roanoke, VA and Atkins, VA.
1
Start on this road
285 ft·26 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto 1st Street Southwest
0.1 mi·34 sec·1st Street Southwest
3
Turn sharp left onto US 221; US 220 BUS
0.2 mi·26 sec·Franklin Road Southwest
4
Turn left onto US 221; US 220 BUS; VA 116
0.2 mi·35 sec·Williamson Road Southeast
5
Continue on US 11; US 221; US 220 BUS; VA 116
0.3 mi·48 sec·Williamson Road Northeast
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the ramp onto US 220 BUS
0.2 mi·35 sec·US 220 BUS
Toward I 581 North, US 220 North: Lexington, BristolUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 581; US 220
5.6 mi·7 min·I 581; US 220
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·38 sec
Exit 1SToward I 81 South: Salem, BristolUse the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 81
69 mi·1 hr 16 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on I 77; I 81; US 52
1.3 mi·1 min·I 77; I 81; US 52
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 52
18 mi·19 min·I 81; US 52
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward SR 683: Groseclose
13
Turn left onto SR 683
0.2 mi·25 sec·Windsor Road
14
At end of road, turn right onto US 11
3.3 mi·4 min·Lee Highway
15
Turn right onto SR 686
221 ft·9 sec·Atkins Tank Road
16
Arrive at destination
SR 686
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 55 minutes, this is a very flexible trip, perfect for a same-day journey. Aim to depart mid-morning to avoid potential rush hour traffic around Roanoke and allow ample daylight. You won't need to worry about splitting the drive, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you leave Roanoke, as there are no planned stops on this route. The longest stretch is a significant 87 miles on I-81, so ensure you have enough fuel for that segment before heading out.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 49.7 miles from Roanoke, VA, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87 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 22 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.7 miles or 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atkins, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Roanoke, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Roanoke, VA
This is one driving day of about 99.3 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Roanoke, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 87 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 77.6 — 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|1st Street Southwest
Turn left onto 1st Street Southwest
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in|US 221; US 220 BUS / Franklin Road Southwest
Turn sharp left onto US 221; US 220 BUS / Franklin Road Southwest
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
7
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|US 220 BUS
Take the ramp onto US 220 BUS toward I 581 North, US 220 North: Lexington, Bristol
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 581 North, US 220 North: Lexington, Br...
9
6.7 mi into trip|~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 81 South: Salem, Bristol
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 1S
Toward I 81 South: Salem, Bristol
6
77.6 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|I 81; US 52
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 52
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.53 one way
$31.06 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$16.98
$33.96
premium
$4.70
$18.38
$36.76
diesel
$5.61
$21.92
$43.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.8
0
$10.43
$4.77
Efficient EV
24.8
0
$8.69
$3.97
EV Truck/SUV
39.7
0
$13.90
$6.36
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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 21, 2026
Origin
Roanoke, VA
Late night
in Roanoke on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Atkins, VA
Late night
in Atkins on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Radford, VA
50 mi in
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
6 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 55m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Booker T Washington National Monument
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 95% of the route utilizing major roadways like I-81 and I-581. You'll experience a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 87 miles on I-81, allowing for a consistent pace. While the majority is interstate, there's a brief introduction via I-581 and a segment on Lee Highway. This blend means you'll spend most of your time on fast-paced highway travel, with only minor deviations from the high-speed corridors.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 581. 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 1st Street Southwest.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 99.3 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 0.1 miles (1st Street Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 221; US 220 BUS / Franklin Road Southwest): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.9 miles (US 220 BUS): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Roanoke, VA to Atkins, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Bristol along the way.
Bristol
6.7 mi in|~11m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 99.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87 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 Atkins, 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 0.1 miles (1st Street Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 221; US 220 BUS / Franklin Road Southwest): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.9 miles (US 220 BUS): 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 Atkins, VA before heading back.
