A vehicle travel control apparatus includes an actuator and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to determine whether a driver of a vehicle is in an abnormal state where the driver loses an ability of driving the vehicle. The electronic control unit is also configured to stop the vehicle at an abnormality determination time point onward, and control a vehicle speed by using the actuator such that the vehicle speed does not become lower than a lower limit vehicle speed in a period from the abnormality determination time point to a time point when the vehicle is stopped. The lower limit vehicle speed is set in accordance with a road shape influencing timing when a driver of another vehicle traveling behind the vehicle visually recognizes the vehicle.