Your Roanoke to Caesars Virginia Trip Planner

The Roanoke Valley, home to roughly 100,000 residents in the city proper and over 300,000 in the broader metro area, has always been a gateway to Southside Virginia. With Caesars Virginia now open in Danville, that gateway leads to one of Virginia’s most exciting entertainment destinations. The drive from Roanoke to Danville covers approximately 72 miles and takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes, a comfortable distance for a day trip and an ideal length for a weekend getaway that combines casino action with dining, nightlife, and historic charm.

The Drive: Roanoke to Danville via US-220

The most direct route from Roanoke to Danville takes you south on US-220 through the rolling hills of Franklin County and Henry County. You will pass through Rocky Mount and Martinsville before connecting to US-29 South for the final stretch into Danville. The drive is scenic, especially in fall when the foliage along the Blue Ridge foothills is at its peak. There are no tolls, and the road conditions are generally good throughout the year.

If you are the type who enjoys a stop along the way, Martinsville offers a few options. The Virginia Museum of Natural History is right off the route, and the Henry County area has a handful of local restaurants worth a quick visit. But most Roanoke visitors will want to push straight through to Danville to maximize time at the casino and in the River District.

Caesars Virginia: The Main Attraction

Caesars Virginia opened in December 2024 as a $750 million casino resort built on the former Dan River Mills site. The gaming floor spans more than 100,000 square feet and includes nearly 1,500 slot machines, 79 live-action table games, 48 electronic table games, a WSOP Poker Room, and the Caesars Sportsbook. It is Virginia’s newest and one of its largest casino resorts, and it was awarded the 2025 Best Casino by 500 Nations.

Beyond the gaming, the resort houses a 320-room hotel, a full-service spa open Monday through Thursday, a pool, and a 24/7 fitness center. The dining lineup includes Ramsay’s Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay, the 500 Block Food Hall, and multiple bars and lounges. Thread Bar provides upscale nightlife, and the 2,500-seat entertainment theater brings national touring acts to Danville.

Day Trip Itinerary from Roanoke

A well-planned day trip from Roanoke gives you a full afternoon and evening in Danville with time to enjoy both the casino and the River District:

  • ✓ 10:00 AM: Depart Roanoke via US-220 South
  • ✓ 11:45 AM: Arrive in Danville, grab lunch in the River District
  • ✓ 12:30 – 5:00 PM: Gaming at Caesars Virginia
  • ✓ 5:15 PM: Drive 10 minutes to River District Social
  • ✓ 5:30 – 9:30 PM: Dinner, bowling, golf simulators, craft drinks at RDS
  • ✓ 9:45 PM: Depart Danville, home in Roanoke by 11:30 PM

River District Social: Your Danville Basecamp

River District Social at 680 Lynn Street is the entertainment centerpiece of Danville’s revitalized downtown, sitting roughly ten minutes from Caesars Virginia. The venue occupies a section of a 120-year-old converted tobacco warehouse and offers a combination of experiences you will not find at any single venue in the Roanoke area.

Full Swing golf simulators let you play 38-plus world-famous courses with PGA Tour-level accuracy. LED-lit Rollerball Classic bowling lanes bring a high-energy visual experience to every frame. Pro-grade pool tables round out the gaming options. The full kitchen serves chef-crafted burgers, wings, flatbreads, and shareable appetizers, with food delivered directly to your lane or bay. Craft cocktails, local beers on draft, and beer bucket service keep the drinks flowing.

On weekends, live music and DJ sets transform the warehouse into one of Danville’s most energetic nightlife destinations. The venue is open until midnight on Friday and Saturday, with a 21+ policy after 9pm. For Roanoke visitors who want more than just a casino run, RDS is the venue that turns a trip into an experience.

Weekend Trip: Stay the Night

The 1 hour and 45 minute drive from Roanoke is manageable for a day trip, but staying overnight unlocks a more relaxed experience. Danville offers several lodging options:

  • ✓ Caesars Virginia Hotel: 320 rooms on the casino resort property. Spa, pool, fitness center, and immediate access to the gaming floor.
  • ✓ The Bee Hotel: A 47-room boutique hotel in the River District. Award-winning design in a converted newspaper building. Complimentary breakfast, rooftop veranda, steps from RDS and Ballad Brewing.
  • ✓ Chain Hotels: National brands at various price points throughout Danville.

Day 1 (Saturday):

  • ✓ Drive from Roanoke, check in at your hotel
  • ✓ Afternoon gaming session at Caesars Virginia
  • ✓ Dinner at Golden Leaf Bistro or River District Social
  • ✓ Evening at RDS: bowling, golf sims, live music, drinks until midnight

Day 2 (Sunday):

  • ✓ Morning walk on the Danville Riverwalk Trail (12.8 miles of paved riverfront path)
  • ✓ Brunch at Cotton with riverfront patio views
  • ✓ Tour Millionaires’ Row and the Danville Museum of Fine Arts
  • ✓ Optional: afternoon session at Caesars before heading home
  • ✓ Drive back to Roanoke

Why Roanoke Residents Are Heading to Danville

For years, the Roanoke Valley did not have a casino within reasonable driving distance. The nearest options required multi-hour drives or flights. Caesars Virginia changed that calculus overnight, putting a world-class resort with gaming, dining, shows, and a luxury hotel under two hours from downtown Roanoke. For the first time, a serious casino trip is something Roanoke residents can do on a whim rather than as a planned vacation.

Danville’s broader transformation adds to the draw. The River District’s $375 million revitalization has created a legitimate entertainment district with breweries, restaurants, and venues like River District Social that give visitors a reason to explore beyond the casino. Tourism spending in the Danville area jumped 23.5% in 2024, and Virginia named the region its fastest-growing tourism destination. Roanoke residents are discovering that the city to the south has become something worth visiting, and the casino is just the beginning.

Plan Your Trip

River District Social is open Sunday through Thursday from 11am to 10pm, and Friday through Saturday from 11am to midnight. Reservations are recommended for weekend evenings, especially if you want bowling lanes or golf simulator bays. Call (434) 228-4155 or book online. The Roanoke-to-Danville trip is one of the best entertainment getaways in Virginia, and it starts with a scenic drive south.