Rushmere to Roanoke is 215.4 miles and takes about 4h 34m via Richmond Highway and US 460, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a manageable one-day drive with a mix of highway and surface roads, making it a practical choice if you need to get from point A to point B without a lot of fuss. Consider this an efficient way to cover ground within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
107.7 miles from Rushmere, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Richmond Highway
31.1 mi
38m
US 460
29.4 mi
35m
New Cox Road
23 mi
26m
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
16 mi
20m
James River Drive
14.6 mi
19m
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
14.6 mi
18m
Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi
15m
West Colonial Trail Highway
13.1 mi
16m
Longest stretch:
Richmond Highway
— 31.1 mi, about 38m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 19 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,118 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,535
Quietest
2 AM
~240 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rushmere, VA and Roanoke, VA.
1
Start on SR 703
94 ft·7 sec·Fergusons Wharf Way
2
Turn right onto VA 10
1.3 mi·1 min·Old Stage Highway
3
Continue on VA 10
9.9 mi·11 min·Colonial Trail East
4
Turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
1.0 mi·1 min·Rolfe Highway
5
Turn right onto VA 10
13 mi·15 min·Colonial Trail West
6
Continue on VA 10
15 mi·19 min·James River Drive
7
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
1.2 mi·2 min·East Randolph Road
8
Turn left onto VA 156 Business
1.8 mi·2 min·Winston Churchill Drive
9
Continue on VA 36
0.4 mi·26 sec·Oaklawn Boulevard
10
Continue on VA 36
1.0 mi·1 min·Woodlawn Street
11
Continue on VA 36
1.0 mi·1 min·Oaklawn Boulevard
12
Continue on VA 36
4.3 mi·5 min·East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 85 South, I 95 South
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 85 South, US 460 West: DurhamUse the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto I 85
6.3 mi·7 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
16
Take the exit onto US 460
0.2 mi·25 sec·US 460
Exit 61Toward US 460 West: Blackstone, LynchburgUse the slight right lane.
17
Continue on US 460
1.1 mi·1 min·Airport Street
18
Continue on US 460
23 mi·26 min·New Cox Road
19
Continue on US 460
4.3 mi·5 min·East Colonial Trail Highway
20
Continue on US 460
6.9 mi·7 min·East Colonial Trail Road
21
Continue on US 460
7.5 mi·11 min·East Colonial Trail
22
Merge onto US 360; US 460
1.5 mi·2 min·West Colonial Trail Highway
23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
12 mi·14 min·West Colonial Trail Highway
24
Keep slight left at fork onto US 460
29 mi·34 min·US 460
25
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
31 mi·38 min·Richmond Highway
Toward US 460 West: Lynchburg
26
Continue on US 460
16 mi·20 min·East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on US 221; US 460
15 mi·18 min·West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
28
Continue on US 221; US 460
5.5 mi·7 min·Blue Ridge Boulevard
29
Continue on US 221; US 460
2.0 mi·3 min·Challenger Avenue Northeast
Use the straight lane.
30
Continue on US 221; US 460; US 220 Alternate
3.1 mi·6 min·Orange Avenue Northeast
31
Turn left onto US 11; US 221
0.8 mi·1 min·Williamson Road Northeast
Use the left lane.
32
Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi·30 sec·Salem Avenue Southeast
33
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
477 ft·20 sec·South Jefferson Street
34
Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
379 ft·22 sec·Kirk Avenue Southwest
35
Turn left
115 ft·13 sec
36
Turn left
132 ft·9 sec
37
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 34m estimated drive time, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Leaving Rushmere in the morning should allow ample time to reach Roanoke before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $33; it's wise to top off before embarking or at a strategic point along US 460. The mixed highway and surface road profile means you'll need to adjust your driving style accordingly.
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 107.7 miles from Rushmere, VA, or about 2h 14m 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 47 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.7 miles or 2h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 38m
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 Rushmere, 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 Rushmere, VA
This is one driving day of about 215.4 miles and 4h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Rushmere, 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
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Early in the drive, ~10 min detour
Early stretch
3.9 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 49.8 and 215.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
49.8 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 85 South, I 95 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 85 South, I 95 South
8
50.3 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham
8
56.8 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|US 460
Take the exit onto US 460 toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 61
Toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg
5
142.1 mi into trip|~2h 55m 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
215.2 mi into trip|~4h 32m in|South Jefferson Street
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.80 one way
$63.60 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$34.95
$69.89
premium
$4.49
$38.09
$76.19
diesel
$4.80
$40.67
$81.34
Estimated Tolls: $2.58
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
(16 mi)$1.12
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
(14.6 mi)$1.02
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(6.3 mi)$0.44
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
$32
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.6
0
$22.62
$10.34
Efficient EV
53.9
0
$18.85
$8.62
EV Truck/SUV
86.2
1
$30.16
$13.79
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Rushmere, VA
Afternoon
in Rushmere on Sunday
Local time
1:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 mph52% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 6:44PM EDT until July 18 at 7:30PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 6:29PM EDT until July 18 at 7:30PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Roanoke, VA
Afternoon
in Roanoke on Sunday
Local time
1:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
94°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 9 mph39% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 6:44PM EDT until July 18 at 7:30PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 6:29PM EDT until July 18 at 7:30PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
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
17 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
4h 34m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 141.1
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...
On May 13, 1607, Jamestown was established as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Three cultures came together – European, Virginia Indian and African–to create a new society that...
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 215.4
Fort Monroe's story spans from prehistory to the 2000s. Kecoughtan Indians occupied Old Point Comfort before the arrival of English colonists. The first enslaved Africans arrived in 1619. Those escapi...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 31% of this drive is on highways, meaning you'll encounter roughly 66.8 miles of higher-speed travel. The longest continuous stretch on Richmond Highway measures 31.1 miles, and after that, you'll transition to a mix of US 460 and New Cox Road. Expect to notice more frequent exits and merging traffic as you move between highway sections and surface roads.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
37 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?
8/10
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 49.8 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 215.4 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 49.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.8 miles (US 460): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,019 ft73 ft
Total Climb
958 ft
Total Descent
108 ft
Highest Point
1,019 ft
~200 mi in
Elevation Range
946 ft
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 Rushmere, VA to Roanoke, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Lynchburg along the way.
Roanoke, Virginia, called the "Star City of the South" and "Magic City," is a charming city with beautiful views. A colorfully lit 100-ft star atop Mill Mountain graces the Roanoke Valley. The city sits between Virginia Tech and Smith Mountain Lake in Southwest Virginia. The Roanoke Valley had a population of around 315,000 in 2020.
Top landmarks
•Hotel Roanoke — Historic hotel in Roanoke, Virginia
•Colony House Motor Lodge — motel in Roanoke, Virginia
•Roanoke City Market Historic District — historic district in Roanoke, Virginia, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 34m. Total distance: 215.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 34m 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 $2.58 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 49.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.8 miles (US 460): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, Petersburg National Battlefield and Colonial National Historical Park (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Roanoke, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
