Lynchburg VA to Roanoke drive: Best stops, distance & drive time

The distance from Lynchburg VA to Roanoke by car is 56 miles, with a 1h13m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Lynchburg to Roanoke drive are Poplar Forest, the National D-Day Memorial and the Great Valley Overlook.

Planning a Lynchburg VA to Roanoke road trip itinerary

The Lynchburg to Roanoke drive takes you into the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

Lynchburg VA is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It plays host to a fair few historic homes, including Point of Honor. This former plantation was once an unofficial duelling ground, and it has fabulous views over the city and James River.

The Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum was the home of Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer. It has 95% of the original furnishing still intact, and the garden has been lovingly restored.

For something more entertaining, try an evening ghost tour or year-round skiing at the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Center.

Check out the best Lynchburg accommodation deals here.

The giant star on the side of Mill Mountain is the famed symbol of Roanoke VA. But there’s more on offer in this Blue Ridge Mountains city. For a start, you can head to the top of Mill Mountain – the park also contains Mill Mountain Zoo.

For museums, the Harrison Museum of African-American Culture and the Taubman Museum of Art are the best bets. The highly playable Roanoke Pinball Museum is arguably more fun, though.

Good Roanoke activity options include ebike tours that combine sightseeing and craft breweries, and downtown food tours.

For Roanoke accommodation, the Country Inn and Suites offers good value but the more luxurious Hotel Roanoke has plenty of character.

Lynchburg VA to Roanoke distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Lynchburg to Roanoke is 56 miles. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 13 minutes. The quickest route is along the US-460.

The best stops to add to a Lynchburg to Roanoke road trip are Poplar Forest, the National D-Day Memorial and the Great Valley Overlook.

Lynchburg VA to Roanoke road trip attractions: Poplar Forest

Poplar Forest in Forest VA is a former plantation that passed between several owners. The most famous of these was Thomas Jefferson. The third President of the US used Poplar Forest as a retreat. It is architecturally handsome – Jefferson apparently wanted it to be the finest home in the state. Visits look at both the president’s life and the enslaved people who worked at the plantation.

Best stops between Lynchburg VA and Roanoke: National D-Day Memorial

The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford VA commemorates the events of June 6, 1944. This was when the Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in France, an invasion that decisively turned the course of World War II. The expansive memorial is built on sand imported from Normandy, and has marvellous views of the surrounding mountains. 4,415 names of Allied troops who died during the D-Day landings are engraved on the Memorial Wall.

Lynchburg VA to Roanoke drive: Great Valley Overlook

The Great Valley Overlook is one of the top lookouts on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Just north of the town of Blue Ridge, this roadside pullover offers gorgeous, expansive views over rolling hills. The Quarry Overlook is a little closer to town and offers a similar panorama.