Drive Time
4h 3m
Distance
215.4 mi
347 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
Photo: Aneesh Prodduturu
The drive from Altavista, VA to Virginia Beach, VA covers 215.4 miles and takes about 4h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Franklin Avenue, 7th Street, Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.59 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
107.7 miles from Altavista, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 3m drive with frequent turns across 215.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 7th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 29 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Colonial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Brookneal Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Village Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Richmond Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Altavista, VA and Virginia Beach, VA.
Start on Main Street
Turn right onto Franklin Avenue
Turn right onto 7th Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Take the ramp right toward US 29 North
Turn right onto Colonial Highway
At the end of the road, turn left onto Brookneal Highway
Continue on Village Highway
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Village Highway
Exit the roundabout onto Village Highway
Turn right onto Richmond Highway
Take the exit slight right toward VA 24 East, VA 131 South: To Route 60, Appomattox
Turn slight left
Continue on West James Anderson Highway
Continue on East James Anderson Highway
Continue on Anderson Highway
Continue on Midlothian Turnpike
Turn right onto Old Hundred Road
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Old Hundred Road
Exit the roundabout onto Old Hundred Road
Continue on Powhite Parkway
Keep slight right to continue on Powhite Parkway
Keep slight right
Merge slight left onto Downtown Expressway
Keep slight left to continue on I 95 North: Washington, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Richmond International Airport
Merge slight left onto Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach, 7th Street
Keep slight left to continue on I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
Merge slight left
Keep slight left to continue on Hampton Roads Beltway
Continue on Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway
Take the exit slight right toward I 264 East, I 264 West: Va Beach, Downtown Norfolk, Portsmouth
Keep slight left to continue on I 264 East: Va Beach
Merge slight right onto Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
Continue on 21st Street
Turn left onto Arctic Avenue
Turn right onto 25th Street
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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.7 miles or 2h 1m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Virginia Beach, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Altavista, 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 Altavista, VA
This is one driving day of about 215.4 miles and 4h 3m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 107.7 mi from Altavista, VA · 2h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 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 107.7 miles from Altavista, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$33.59 one way
$67.18 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $37.56 | $75.12 |
| premium | $4.78 | $40.52 | $81.04 |
| diesel | $5.62 | $47.69 | $95.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.6 | 0 | $22.62 | $10.34 |
| Efficient EV | 53.9 | 0 | $18.85 | $8.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.2 | 1 | $30.16 | $13.79 |
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Altavista on Saturday
Local time
10:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Virginia Beach on Saturday
Local time
10:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
65°F
Ahoskie, NC
108 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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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