Origin
Rocky Mount, VA
Morning in Rocky Mount on Tuesday
Local time
6:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rocky Mount, 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
39m
Distance
25.2 mi
41 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
7 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rocky Mount, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Roanoke, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward connection between Rocky Mount and Roanoke, this 25.2-mile trip is an easy day-trip option. You can expect to spend about 39 minutes on the road, making it a highly efficient way to navigate this part of Virginia. Budgeting roughly $4 for fuel should cover your needs for this direct transit. Because the journey is relatively brief, there is no need to plan for overnight stays or complex logistics. You will be traveling entirely within the Southeast region, moving from one local hub to another without crossing any major regional boundaries.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Virgil H Goode Highway | 18.3 mi | 27m |
| Roy L. Webber Expressway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| North Main Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| Franklin Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Jefferson Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Elm Avenue Southeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| US 220 BUS | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Kirk Avenue Southwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Virgil H Goode Highway
— 18.3 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rocky Mount, VA and Roanoke, VA.
1
Start on VA 40
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Franklin Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 220 Business
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
3
Take the ramp onto US 220 BUS
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
US 220 BUS
Toward US 220 North: Roanoke
4
Merge onto US 220
18 mi
·
27 min
·
Virgil H Goode Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 220
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Roy L. Webber Expressway
Toward US 220 North
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Toward VA 24: Elm Avenue, Vinton
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn left onto VA 24
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Elm Avenue Southeast
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
8
Turn right onto VA 116
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jefferson Street
9
Turn left onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
379 ft
·
22 sec
·
Kirk Avenue Southwest
10
Turn left
115 ft
·
13 sec
11
Turn left
132 ft
·
9 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 25.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 220 Business / North Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 220 Business / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 220 / Virgil H Goode Highway
Merge onto US 220 / Virgil H Goode Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
24.4 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward VA 24: Elm Avenue, Vinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward VA 24: Elm Avenue, Vinton
5
24.5 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
VA 24 / Elm Avenue Southeast
Turn left onto VA 24 / Elm Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
25.2 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.94 one way
$7.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.31 | $8.62 |
| premium | $4.70 | $4.66 | $9.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.56 | $11.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.65 | $1.21 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.20 | $1.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.53 | $1.61 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
Roanoke, VA
Morning in Roanoke on Tuesday
Local time
6:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
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
3 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
39m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. You will spend roughly 15% of your time on highways, primarily navigating via the Virgil H Goode Highway, the Roy L. Webber Expressway, and North Main Street. The most significant portion of your travel involves an 18.3-mile stretch along the Virgil H Goode Highway, which serves as the backbone of the route. As you transition between these roads, the character of the drive shifts from regional highway transit to more localized navigation. Be prepared for a winding experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.3 mi on Virgil H Goode Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 220 Business / North Main Street.
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 25.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.4 miles (US 220 Business / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (US 220 / Virgil H Goode Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.4 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 39m. Total distance: 25.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (15%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.3 miles on Virgil H Goode Highway. 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 0.4 miles (US 220 Business / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (US 220 / Virgil H Goode Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.4 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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