Origin
Arlington, VA
Evening in Arlington on Friday
Local time
7:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arlington, VA to Chesapeake, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 13m
Distance
194.8 mi
313 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 2m
★
6 AM
3h 14m
8 AM
3h 38m
10 AM
3h 22m
12 PM
3h 20m
3 PM
3h 23m
5 PM
3h 36m
8 PM
3h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, VA
Dominik Gryzbon
Chesapeake, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Arlington, VA to Chesapeake, VA covers 194.8 miles and takes about 3h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Oakland Street, North Pershing Drive, North Glebe Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.46 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
97.4 miles from Arlington, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 13m. Total distance: 194.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 13m drive with frequent turns across 194.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Oakland Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Arlington, VA to Chesapeake, VA is easy. At 3h 13m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Arlington, VA to Chesapeake, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Oakland Street | — | — |
| North Pershing Drive | — | — |
| North Glebe Road | — | — |
| I 395 South | — | — |
| Henry G | — | — |
| I 295 South | — | — |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | — | — |
| I 64 East | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Oakland Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, VA and Chesapeake, VA.
1
Start on Wilson Boulevard
89 ft
·
8 sec
·
Wilson Boulevard
2
Turn right onto North Oakland Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Oakland Street
3
Turn right onto North Pershing Drive
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Pershing Drive
4
Turn left onto North Glebe Road
2.4 mi
·
6 min
·
North Glebe Road
5
Take the ramp slight right toward I 395 South: Richmond
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
I 395 South: Richmond
6
Keep slight left to continue on I 395 South: Richmond, Quaker Lane
315 ft
·
8 sec
·
I 395 South: Richmond, Quaker Lane
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 395 South: Richmond
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
I 395 South: Richmond
8
Merge slight left onto Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
9
Continue on Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
36 mi
·
43 min
·
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
10
Keep slight left
49 mi
·
53 min
11
Take the exit slight left toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach
12
Merge slight right onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
14
Merge slight left
67 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
15
Keep slight left to continue on Hampton Roads Beltway
341 ft
·
5 sec
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
16
Continue on Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
17
Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway
6.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
18
Take the exit slight right toward VA 194 South: Chesapeake Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
VA 194 South: Chesapeake Boulevard
19
Turn straight onto Chesapeake Boulevard
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Chesapeake Boulevard
20
Turn straight
135 ft
·
8 sec
21
Turn left onto Ballentine Boulevard
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Ballentine Boulevard
22
Turn right onto East Princess Anne Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Princess Anne Road
23
Turn left onto Park Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue
24
Turn left onto East Brambleton Avenue
0.3 mi
·
58 sec
·
East Brambleton Avenue
25
Continue on Campostella Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Campostella Road
26
Turn right onto Wilson Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Wilson Road
27
Continue on 22nd Street
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
22nd Street
28
Continue on Poindexter Street
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Poindexter Street
29
Turn right onto D Street
413 ft
·
18 sec
·
D Street
30
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 97.4 miles from Arlington, VA, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
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 43 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.4 miles or 1h 36m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chesapeake, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arlington, 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 Arlington, VA
This is one driving day of about 194.8 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Arlington, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 97.4 mi from Arlington, VA · 1h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 97.4 miles from Arlington, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Chesapeake, VA
The final approach into Chesapeake, 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 Chesapeake, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.46 one way
$60.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $33.31 | $66.62 |
| premium | $4.70 | $36.05 | $72.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.01 | $86.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58.4 | 0 | $20.45 | $9.35 |
| Efficient EV | 48.7 | 0 | $17.04 | $7.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.9 | 0 | $27.27 | $12.47 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Destination
Chesapeake, VA
Evening in Chesapeake on Friday
Local time
7:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
3h 13m 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 Arlington, VA to Chesapeake, VA covers 194.8 miles and takes about 3h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Oakland Street, North Pershing Drive, North Glebe Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 97.4 miles from Arlington, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.46 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Arlington, VA to Chesapeake, VA is easy. At 3h 13m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Arlington, VA to Chesapeake, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Arlington, VA to Chesapeake, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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