This 101.1-mile drive from Amherst, VA, to Richmond, VA, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 17 minutes. You'll primarily follow Anderson Highway, West James Anderson Highway, and Richmond Highway, with only about 13% of the route on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $16. Given its relatively short distance and the nature of the local roads, it's well-suited for a single day's travel without needing an overnight stop. This route stays within the Southeast region, connecting two points within Virginia.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.5 miles from Amherst, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 101.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for most of this 101.1-mile journey. While there's a 13% highway share, the majority of your time will be spent on Anderson Highway, West James Anderson Highway, and Richmond Highway. The longest stretch without needing to navigate a turn or change roads is 40.8 miles on Anderson Highway. This profile suggests a more engaging drive, with frequent changes in direction rather than a monotonous interstate experience. You'll likely experience a mix of rural and semi-urban settings as you progress.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Anderson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 40.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 82 miles in near SR 652 / Old Hundred Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 101.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 82 miles (SR 652 / Old Hundred Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 96.8 miles (VA 76 / Powhite Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.5 miles (VA 146): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
82 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|SR 652 / Old Hundred Road
Turn right onto SR 652 / Old Hundred Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
96.8 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|VA 76 / Powhite Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 76 / Powhite Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
98.5 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|VA 146
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 146
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
99 mi into trip|~2h 11m in
Take the exit toward Maplewood Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Maplewood Avenue
7
99.5 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|Idlewood Avenue
Turn right onto Idlewood Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Anderson Highway
40.8 mi
53m
West James Anderson Highway
17.1 mi
22m
Richmond Highway
14.7 mi
20m
Powhite Parkway
11.5 mi
15m
East James Anderson Highway
8.1 mi
9m
Old Hundred Road
5.1 mi
8m
Midlothian Turnpike
0.9 mi
1m
South Meadow Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Anderson Highway
— 40.8 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Amherst, VA and Richmond, VA.
1
Start on Goodwin Street
146 ft·11 sec·Goodwin Street
2
Turn left onto 2nd Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·2nd Street
3
Turn left onto SR T1112
314 ft·8 sec·Washington Street
4
Turn right onto US 60
15 mi·20 min·Richmond Highway
5
Continue on US 60
4.1 mi·5 min·Anderson Highway
6
Continue on US 60
17 mi·22 min·West James Anderson Highway
7
Continue on US 60
8.1 mi·9 min·East James Anderson Highway
8
Continue on US 60
37 mi·48 min·Anderson Highway
9
Continue on US 60
0.9 mi·1 min·Midlothian Turnpike
10
Turn right onto SR 652
2.5 mi·3 min·Old Hundred Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Enter roundabout onto SR 652
147 ft·5 sec·Old Hundred Road
12
Continue on SR 652
2.5 mi·4 min·Old Hundred Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on VA 76
9.7 mi·12 min·Powhite Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 76
1.8 mi·2 min·Powhite Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 146
0.4 mi·36 sec·VA 146
Use the slight right lane.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward Maplewood AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
230 ft·5 sec
Toward Maplewood Avenue
18
Turn straight onto Maplewood Avenue
0.1 mi·32 sec·Maplewood Avenue
19
At end of road, turn left onto South Sheppard Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·South Sheppard Street
20
Turn right onto Idlewood Avenue
0.3 mi·57 sec·Idlewood Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
21
Turn right onto South Robinson Street
305 ft·11 sec·South Robinson Street
Use the right lane.
22
Turn left onto Grayland Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Grayland Avenue
23
Turn left onto South Meadow Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Meadow Street
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn right onto Monument Avenue
0.1 mi·19 sec·Monument Avenue
25
Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle
81 ft·2 sec·Marcus-David Peters Circle
26
Arrive at destination
Marcus-David Peters Circle
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just over 2 hours, this route offers flexibility for departure times. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive in Richmond with ample time for activities. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps around the 40.8-mile mark on Anderson Highway where the road is longest uninterrupted. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $16, and local roads can sometimes have fewer services than major highways. A good tip is to familiarize yourself with the main road names – Anderson Highway, West James Anderson Highway, and Richmond Highway – before you set off.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.5 miles from Amherst, VA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.8 miles.
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 22 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.5 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Amherst, 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 Amherst, VA
This is one driving day of about 101.1 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Amherst, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Anderson Highway for about 40.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50.5 mi from Amherst, VA
· 1h 6m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.81 one way
$31.62 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$17.29
$34.57
premium
$4.70
$18.71
$37.42
diesel
$5.61
$22.32
$44.64
Estimated Tolls: $0.07
Midlothian Turnpike
(0.9 mi)$0.07
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.3
0
$10.62
$4.85
Efficient EV
25.3
0
$8.85
$4.04
EV Truck/SUV
40.4
0
$14.15
$6.47
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Amherst, VA
Morning
in Amherst on Friday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Richmond, VA
Morning
in Richmond on Friday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 17m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Amherst, VA to Richmond, VA covers 101.1 miles and takes about 2h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Anderson Highway, West James Anderson Highway, Richmond Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.5 miles from Amherst, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.81 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 101.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 82 miles (SR 652 / Old Hundred Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 96.8 miles (VA 76 / Powhite Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.5 miles (VA 146): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Amherst, VA to Richmond, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
