Drive Time
3h 50m
Distance
241.7 mi
389 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
The drive from Abingdon, VA to Charlottesville, VA covers 241.7 miles and takes about 3h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 81 North, I 64 East, VA 631 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
120.9 miles from Abingdon, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 55m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 50m drive with frequent turns across 241.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 64 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| VA 631 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 5th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ridge Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Water Street West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 2nd Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Market Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Abingdon, VA and Charlottesville, VA.
Start on Cummings Street
Take the exit slight right
Merge slight left
Continue straight
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
Continue straight
Keep slight right to continue on I 64 East: Richmond
Take the exit slight right toward VA 631: Charlottesville
Turn left onto 5th Street
Continue on Ridge Street
Turn slight right onto Water Street West
Turn left onto 2nd Street Southwest
Turn right onto West Market Street
Turn right onto 7th Street Northeast
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 80 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.9 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charlottesville, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Abingdon, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Abingdon, VA
This is one driving day of about 241.7 miles and 3h 50m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 120.9 mi from Abingdon, VA · 1h 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
121 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 120.9 miles from Abingdon, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Charlottesville, VA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Charlottesville, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$37.69 one way
$75.38 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $42.15 | $84.29 |
| premium | $4.78 | $45.47 | $90.93 |
| diesel | $5.62 | $53.52 | $107.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.6 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.5 | 0 | $25.38 | $11.60 |
| Efficient EV | 60.4 | 0 | $21.15 | $9.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96.7 | 1 | $33.84 | $15.47 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Abingdon on Saturday
Local time
10:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Charlottesville on Saturday
Local time
10:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
90°F
Winston-Salem, NC
121 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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