Stuarts Draft to Roanoke is 83.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 38 minutes via I 81 and I 64, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, traveling between two points in Virginia. Expect a drive primarily on major highways, making it a straightforward and efficient journey. It's a good option if you're looking for a quick connection between these two areas without much fuss. Consider this a practical transit rather than a destination in itself.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.7 miles from Stuarts Draft, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
47.7 mi
52m
I 64
21.3 mi
22m
Stuarts Draft Highway
6.6 mi
10m
US 220
5.9 mi
8m
US 220 BUS
0.4 mi
1m
Lee Jackson Highway
0.4 mi
<1m
Draft Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Salem Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 47.7 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stuarts Draft, VA and Roanoke, VA.
1
Start on SR 1502
136 ft·7 sec·Cambridge Drive
2
Turn right onto SR 608
0.3 mi·47 sec·Draft Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 340
6.6 mi·10 min·Stuarts Draft Highway
4
Turn right onto US 11
0.4 mi·43 sec·Lee Jackson Highway
5
Turn left
0.5 mi·59 sec
6
Merge onto I 64; I 81
21 mi·22 min·I 64; I 81
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
48 mi·52 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit onto US 220
5.9 mi·8 min·US 220
Exit 143Toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, RoanokeUse the slight left lane.
9
Take the exit onto US 220 BUS
0.1 mi·17 sec·US 220 BUS
Toward US 11 South, US 220 Business South: Downtown
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 220 BUS
0.3 mi·56 sec·US 220 BUS
11
Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi·30 sec·Salem Avenue Southeast
12
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
477 ft·20 sec·South Jefferson Street
13
Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
379 ft·22 sec·Kirk Avenue Southwest
14
Turn left
115 ft·13 sec
15
Turn left
132 ft·9 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 38 minutes, this trip is easily completed in a single day. You can depart at any time that suits your schedule, and with only 83.5 miles, there's no need to rush or plan for multiple stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before hitting the longest 47.7-mile stretch on I 81, as services can sometimes be spaced out on interstates. The $13 fuel cost is a good estimate to budget for, making this an economical leg of your journey.
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 41.7 miles from Stuarts Draft, VA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.7 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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.7 miles or 49m 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 21m
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 Stuarts Draft, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Stuarts Draft, VA
This is one driving day of about 83.5 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Stuarts Draft, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 47.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 83.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 608 / Draft Avenue
Turn right onto SR 608 / Draft Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
29.1 mi into trip|~35m in|I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
76.8 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|US 220
Take the exit onto US 220 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 slight left lane.
Exit 143
Toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke
5
82.7 mi into trip|~1h 36m 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
83.3 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|South Jefferson Street
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.06 one way
$26.12 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.28
$28.55
premium
$4.70
$15.45
$30.91
diesel
$5.61
$18.44
$36.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.1
0
$8.77
$4.01
Efficient EV
20.9
0
$7.31
$3.34
EV Truck/SUV
33.4
0
$11.69
$5.34
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 17, 2026
Origin
Stuarts Draft, VA
Late night
in Stuarts Draft on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Roanoke, VA
Late night
in Roanoke on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
NW 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
72°F
Glasgow, VA
42 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
34 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 38m 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.
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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 83.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 90% of the route utilizing major interstates like I 81 and I 64. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 47.7 miles on I 81, offering a good opportunity for consistent travel. The character of the drive is largely about efficient movement, with limited deviations from high-speed roadways. Expect a straightforward experience on well-maintained highways connecting Stuarts Draft to Roanoke.
90% 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: 47.7 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 64. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 608 / Draft Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
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 83.5 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (SR 608 / Draft Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 29.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 76.8 miles (US 220): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 83.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.7 miles on I 81. 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: near the start (SR 608 / Draft Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 29.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 76.8 miles (US 220): 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.
