Best Time to Drive: Bristow, VA to Suffolk, VA

The best overall window to drive from Bristow, VA to Suffolk, VA is March to June. April is especially comfortable, and 7 AM to 10 AM is usually the easiest departure window. The main things to watch are winter mix risk.

Best overall window

March to June

This stretch gives the steadiest mix of comfort, daylight, and lower weather friction.

Easiest departure pattern

7 AM to 10 AM

This is short enough that a mid-morning departure still keeps the whole drive comfortable.

Most challenging stretch

December

January is one of the harder months for this route because the weather friction stacks up faster.

Why This Route Scores Differently

This is a same-day corridor, so departure timing matters almost as much as the month you choose.

The current best window is March to June, when the drive is more likely to feel steady end to end.

This score uses multiple NOAA sample points along the route instead of a single state-wide climate average.

Month-by-Month Driving Conditions

Jan

Fair 38°F

Feb

Good 41°F

Mar

Great 48°F

Apr

Excellent 58°F

May

Excellent 66°F

Jun

Great 75°F

Jul

Good 79°F

Aug

Good 77°F

Sep

Great 71°F

Oct

Great 60°F

Nov

Good 49°F

Dec

Fair 42°F

Best Good/Fair Challenging

Average Conditions by Month

January

Avg high / low 47 / 29°F

Moisture 2.4 in rain

Rating Fair

Best departure

9 AM to 12 PM

Winter mix risk

Temperatures are workable, but not as easy as the best shoulder-season windows.

Rain disruption is usually limited compared with wetter months.

February

Avg high / low 51 / 31°F

Moisture 2 in rain

Rating Good

Best departure

9 AM to 12 PM

Steady driving window

Temperatures are workable, but not as easy as the best shoulder-season windows.

Rain disruption is usually limited compared with wetter months.

March

Avg high / low 58 / 37°F

Moisture 2.7 in rain

Rating Great

Best departure

7 AM to 10 AM

Steady driving window

Temperatures are workable, but not as easy as the best shoulder-season windows.

Weather is mixed enough that departure timing still matters.

April

Avg high / low 69 / 47°F

Moisture 2.5 in rain

Rating Excellent

Best departure

7 AM to 10 AM

Steady driving window

Daytime temperatures usually stay in a comfortable driving range.

Rain disruption is usually limited compared with wetter months.

May

Avg high / low 76 / 56°F

Moisture 2.7 in rain

Rating Excellent

Best departure

7 AM to 10 AM

Steady driving window

Daytime temperatures usually stay in a comfortable driving range.

Weather is mixed enough that departure timing still matters.

June

Avg high / low 84 / 65°F

Moisture 3.1 in rain

Rating Great

Best departure

7 AM to 10 AM

Warm afternoons

Temperatures are workable, but not as easy as the best shoulder-season windows.

Weather is mixed enough that departure timing still matters.

July

Avg high / low 88 / 70°F

Moisture 3.6 in rain

Rating Good

Best departure

7 AM to 10 AM

Warm afternoons Holiday traffic

Temperatures are workable, but not as easy as the best shoulder-season windows.

Weather is mixed enough that departure timing still matters.

August

Avg high / low 86 / 68°F

Moisture 3.8 in rain

Rating Good

Best departure

7 AM to 10 AM

Warm afternoons

Temperatures are workable, but not as easy as the best shoulder-season windows.

Weather is mixed enough that departure timing still matters.

September

Avg high / low 80 / 62°F

Moisture 3.7 in rain

Rating Great

Best departure

7 AM to 10 AM

Steady driving window

Daytime temperatures usually stay in a comfortable driving range.

Weather is mixed enough that departure timing still matters.

October

Avg high / low 70 / 49°F

Moisture 2.6 in rain

Rating Great

Best departure

7 AM to 10 AM

Steady driving window

Daytime temperatures usually stay in a comfortable driving range.

Weather is mixed enough that departure timing still matters.

November

Avg high / low 60 / 39°F

Moisture 2.4 in rain

Rating Good

Best departure

7 AM to 10 AM

Holiday traffic

Temperatures are workable, but not as easy as the best shoulder-season windows.

Rain disruption is usually limited compared with wetter months.

December

Avg high / low 51 / 33°F

Moisture 2.5 in rain

Rating Fair

Best departure

9 AM to 12 PM

Holiday traffic

Temperatures are workable, but not as easy as the best shoulder-season windows.

Weather is mixed enough that departure timing still matters.

Seasonal Hazards on This Route

Winter mix risk

Jan

Even light snow or freezing precipitation can matter more than usual when this route turns into a same-day commitment.

Tropical weather window

Jun - Nov

Track tropical systems and leftover Gulf moisture closely, especially if your travel day is not flexible.

Best Departure Time by Season

Spring

7 AM to 10 AM

This is short enough that a mid-morning departure still keeps the whole drive comfortable.

Summer

7 AM to 10 AM

This is short enough that a mid-morning departure still keeps the whole drive comfortable.

Fall

7 AM to 10 AM

This is short enough that a mid-morning departure still keeps the whole drive comfortable.

Winter

9 AM to 12 PM

Waiting for a little daylight and warmer pavement usually makes the drive easier.

How This Score Was Built

Source

Route-sampled NOAA climate normals

High confidence. Built from 3 NOAA-backed route checkpoints rather than a single statewide estimate.

Origin zone

Southeast

Destination zone

Southeast

Route sample points

Late route

Late route checkpoint

VA MANASSAS (2.5 mi away)

Late route

Late route checkpoint

VA HOPEWELL (0.7 mi away)

Destination

Suffolk, VA

VA SUFFOLK LAKE KILBY (0.9 mi away)

Ready to plan? See the full trip plan from Bristow, VA to Suffolk, VA with stops, fuel costs, and directions.

Considering flying instead? Compare driving vs flying for this route.