Trip from Appalachia, VA to Norfolk, VA

Data updated 4 hours ago

Drive Time

9h 2m

Distance

462 mi

744 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$72

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

8h 54m ★

6 AM

9h 2m

8 AM

9h 19m

10 AM

9h 8m

12 PM

9h 7m

3 PM

9h 9m

5 PM

9h 18m

8 PM

8h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Norfolk, VA

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Trip Overview

Embarking from Appalachia, VA, this 462-mile journey to Norfolk, VA, will take approximately 9 hours and 2 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing I-81, I-64, and the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, this route is heavily focused on interstate travel. Given its length and duration, it's best experienced as a 2-day trip, allowing for a more relaxed pace. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $72. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region for the entirety of this trip, maintaining a consistent feel.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

231 miles from Appalachia, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 38m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 82% of the route being on interstates. You'll encounter long stretches of uninterrupted driving, including a significant 196.9-mile segment on I-81. Expect a consistent pace for the majority of your journey, as the main roads prioritize efficient travel. While primarily interstate, the transition between I-81 and I-64 will mark a change in the highway's character, guiding you toward your coastal destination.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 196.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 64. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 126.3 miles in near I 81; US 11.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 462 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 126.3 miles (I 81; US 11): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 356.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 380.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 23 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

126.3 mi into trip | ~2h 42m in | I 81; US 11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 11 toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke

356.3 mi into trip | ~6h 54m in

Take the exit toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 177 Toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk

380.4 mi into trip | ~7h 21m in

Take the exit toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 28A Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach

456.5 mi into trip | ~8h 50m in

Take the exit toward I 564, US 460: Naval Base, Granby Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 276 Toward I 564, US 460: Naval Base, Granby Street

456.7 mi into trip | ~8h 50m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 460, VA 165: Granby Street, Little Creek Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward US 460, VA 165: Granby Street, Little Cr...

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Appalachia, VA to Norfolk, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Virginia Beach along the way.

Virginia Beach

380.4 mi in | ~7h 21m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 81	196.9 mi	3h 35m
I 64	157.1 mi	2h 53m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway	22.9 mi	25m
US 19	12.7 mi	18m
Bull Run Road	12.5 mi	17m
Trail of the Lonesome Pine	7.9 mi	10m
Kent Junction Road	7.8 mi	11m
I 77	7.1 mi	7m

Longest stretch: I 81 — 196.9 mi, about 3h 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Appalachia, VA and Norfolk, VA.

Start on East Main Street

104 ft · 4 sec · East Main Street

Continue on VA 78

490 ft · 17 sec · VA 78

At end of road, turn right onto US 23 BUS

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Continue on US 23 BUS

7.8 mi · 11 min · Kent Junction Road

Turn right onto SR 621

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Junction Road

Turn left onto Main Avenue Southwest

1.1 mi · 2 min · Main Avenue Southwest

At end of road, turn right onto US 58 Alternate Business

0.1 mi · 26 sec · 11th Street Southwest

At end of road, turn left onto Kentucky Avenue Southwest

3.0 mi · 5 min · Kentucky Avenue Southwest

Turn right onto US 58 ALT

6.5 mi · 9 min · Norton Coeburn Road

Continue on US 58 ALT

13 mi · 17 min · Bull Run Road

Continue on US 58 ALT

365 ft · 6 sec · Trail of the Lonesome Pine

Continue on US 58 ALT

6.9 mi · 9 min · US Highway 58 Alternate

Continue on US 58 ALT; VA 71

7.8 mi · 10 min · Trail of the Lonesome Pine

Turn right onto US 19

13 mi · 18 min · US 19

Turn left onto US 11

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

Turn right onto Preston Street Southwest

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Preston Street Southwest

At end of road, turn left onto Bradley Street Southwest

0.5 mi · 1 min · Bradley Street Southwest

At end of road, turn right onto US 58 ALT; VA 75

0.6 mi · 1 min · Cummings Street

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Merge onto I 81; US 58

57 mi · 1 hr 1 min · I 81; US 58

Use the straight lane.

Continue on I 77; I 81; US 11; US 52

7.1 mi · 7 min · I 77; I 81; US 11; US 52

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 11

140 mi · 2 hr 33 min · I 81; US 11

Toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke Use the straight lane.

Continue on I 64; I 81

0.3 mi · 17 sec · I 64; I 81

Keep slight right at fork onto I 64

90 mi · 1 hr 38 min · I 64

Toward I 64 East: Richmond Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

1.2 mi · 1 min

Exit 177 Toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk Use the slight right lane.

Continue on I 295

23 mi · 25 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

1.3 mi · 2 min

Exit 28A Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 64

67 mi · 1 hr 15 min · I 64

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 64; US 60

342 ft · 5 sec · Hampton Roads Beltway

Continue on I 64; US 60

3.5 mi · 4 min · Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel

Continue on I 64; US 60

4.4 mi · 5 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Exit 276 Toward I 564, US 460: Naval Base, Granby Street Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 18 sec

Toward US 460, VA 165: Granby Street, Little Creek Road Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto US 460

3.1 mi · 7 min · Granby Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on US 460

446 ft · 9 sec · Church Street

Turn right onto US 460

1.2 mi · 2 min · Monticello Avenue

Use the right lane.

Continue on US 460

0.7 mi · 1 min · Saint Pauls Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto East City Hall Avenue

158 ft · 9 sec · East City Hall Avenue

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

East City Hall Avenue

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 9-hour drive, consider splitting it over two days. Departing early in the morning will help you cover more ground before potential traffic builds up. With two recommended stops, plan to break up the journey strategically, perhaps after the longest stretch on I-81. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the extended 196.9-mile segment on I-81, as services can be more spaced out. This allows for a comfortable and safe drive to Norfolk.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 231 miles from Appalachia, VA, or about 4h 38m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 196.9 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 102 miles or 2h 16m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 231 miles or 4h 38m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 231 miles or 4h 38m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 47m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Norfolk, VA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Appalachia, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Appalachia, VA

Aim for roughly 231 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Norfolk, VA

Aim for roughly 231 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 102 miles from Appalachia, VA.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 196.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 231 mi from Appalachia, VA · 4h 38m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Winston-Salem, NC

231 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Winston-Salem, NC

Overnight Options

Night 1

Winston-Salem, NC

231 mi · about 4.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Winston-Salem, NC after about 231 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Johnson City, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 102 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Oakland, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 231 miles from Appalachia, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 196.9 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 231 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.

Arriving in Norfolk, VA

The final approach into Norfolk, 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 Norfolk, VA.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Norfolk, VA with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$72.25 one way

$144.49 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 162 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$78.99	$157.99
premium	$4.70	$85.51	$171.01
diesel	$5.61	$102.00	$204.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$72

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$202–$312

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 161.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $49 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	138.6	1	$48.51	$22.18
Efficient EV	115.5	1	$40.43	$18.48
EV Truck/SUV	184.8	2	$64.68	$29.57

Gas CO2

162 kg

EV CO2

54 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Appalachia, VA

Late night in Appalachia on Wednesday

Local time

12:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Norfolk, VA

Late night in Norfolk on Wednesday

Local time

12:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

85°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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

24 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

9h 2m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Appalachia, VA to Norfolk, VA covers 462 miles and takes about 9h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 81, I 64, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 231 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 231 miles from Appalachia, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $72.25 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

On the drive from Appalachia, VA to Norfolk, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Virginia Beach along the way.

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