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Drive Time
2h 33m
Distance
119.3 mi
192 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apple Mountain Lake, VA
Tom Fisk
The drive from Apple Mountain Lake, VA to Richmond, VA covers 119.3 miles and takes about 2h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 17, I 66, James Madison Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 82.2 miles on US 17. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.66 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
59.6 miles from Apple Mountain Lake, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .
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This is a 2h 33m highway drive covering 119.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 17 and I 66. The longest continuous stretch is about 82.2 miles on US 17.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and I 66. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Granny Smith Road.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 119.3 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 0.2 miles (Granny Smith Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 16.1 miles (US 17): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.3 miles (US 17 / Eastern Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn left onto Granny Smith Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Take the exit onto US 17 toward US 17: Warrenton, Fredericksburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17 / Eastern Bypass toward US 17 South: Fredericksburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 17 toward I 95 South, US 17 South: Richmond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Apple Mountain Lake, VA to Richmond, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Fredericksburg along the way.
Fredericksburg
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 17 | 82.2 mi | 1h 41m |
| I 66 | 14.9 mi | 15m |
| James Madison Highway | 11.6 mi | 16m |
| Eastern Bypass | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| Winchester Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Hermitage Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| McIntosh Drive | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Apple Mountain Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Apple Mountain Lake, VA and Richmond, VA.
Start on Northern Spy Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Granny Smith Road
Turn right onto McIntosh Drive
Continue on Apple Mountain Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 66
Take the exit onto US 17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17
Merge onto US 17
Continue on US 17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17
Continue on US 15; US 17; US 29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17
Take the exit onto US 17
Take the exit
Turn right onto VA 161
Turn left onto Robin Hood Road
Turn right onto Hermitage Road
Continue on North Meadow Street
Turn left onto Monument Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle
Arrive at destination
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.
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 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.6 miles or 1h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Apple Mountain Lake, 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 Apple Mountain Lake, VA
This is one driving day of about 119.3 miles and 2h 33m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.6 mi from Apple Mountain Lake, VA · 1h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 59.6 miles from Apple Mountain Lake, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 17 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 82.2 miles.
The final approach into Richmond, 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 Richmond, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$18.66 one way
$37.31 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $20.40 | $40.80 |
| premium | $4.70 | $22.08 | $44.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.34 | $52.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.8 | 0 | $12.53 | $5.73 |
| Efficient EV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.44 | $4.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.7 | 0 | $16.70 | $7.64 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Apple Mountain Lake on Wednesday
Local time
7:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Morning in Richmond on Wednesday
Local time
7:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Partly Cloudy
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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