The drive from Basye, VA to Virginia Beach, VA covers 247.9 miles and takes about 5h 17m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, Spotswood Trail, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 106.8 miles on I 64.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.77 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
123.9 miles from Basye, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 49m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 17m. Total distance: 247.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Basye, VA to Virginia Beach, VA covers 247.9 miles and takes about 5h 17m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 106.8 miles.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,327 ft8 ft
Total Climb
7 ft
Total Descent
1,326 ft
Highest Point
1,327 ft
Elevation Range
1,319 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 126.8 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 247.9 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 126.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 234.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
126.8 mi into trip|~2h 52m 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
8
150.9 mi into trip|~3h 19m 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
8
234.5 mi into trip|~4h 57m in
Take the exit toward I 264 East, I 264 West: Va Beach, Downtown Norfolk, Portsmouth
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 284A
Toward I 264 East, I 264 West: Va Beach, Downto...
7
234.7 mi into trip|~4h 57m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 264 East: Va Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 264 East: Va Beach
6
247.5 mi into trip|~5h 16m in|Arctic Avenue
Turn left onto Arctic Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Basye, VA and Virginia Beach, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Portsmouth.
Norfolk
126.8 mi in|~2h 52m
Portsmouth
234.5 mi in|~4h 57m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
106.8 mi
1h 58m
Spotswood Trail
30.5 mi
41m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi
25m
US 340
17.1 mi
26m
Hampton Roads Beltway
12 mi
15m
Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
11.8 mi
16m
James Madison Highway
11 mi
15m
Orkney Grade
10.5 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 106.8 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Basye, VA and Virginia Beach, VA.
1
Start on Alum Springs Road
91 ft·5 sec·Alum Springs Road
2
Turn left onto VA 263
10 mi·18 min·Orkney Grade
3
Continue on VA 263
0.5 mi·1 min·Bryce Boulevard
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 11
0.1 mi·20 sec·Main Street
5
Continue on US 11
5.9 mi·8 min·Old Valley Pike
6
Continue on US 11
0.6 mi·1 min·North Congress Street
7
Turn left onto US 211
6.5 mi·9 min·East Lee Highway
8
Turn right onto US 340
17 mi·26 min·US 340
9
Turn left onto US 33 BUS
0.3 mi·38 sec·US 33 BUS
Use the left lane.
10
Merge onto US 33
13 mi·16 min·Spotswood Trail
11
Turn straight onto US 33
2.2 mi·3 min·Stanardsville By-Pass
12
Continue on US 33
12 mi·17 min·Spotswood Trail
13
Enter roundabout onto US 33
167 ft·3 sec·Spotswood Trail
14
Continue on US 33
5.4 mi·8 min·Spotswood Trail
15
Continue on US 33; VA 231
0.2 mi·14 sec·North Main Street
16
Enter roundabout onto US 15; US 33
72 ft·0 sec·US 15; US 33
17
Continue on US 15; US 33
0.7 mi·1 min·US 15; US 33
18
Turn slight right onto US 15; US 33
0.4 mi·34 sec·Martinsburg Avenue
19
Continue on US 15; US 33
11 mi·15 min·James Madison Highway
20
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·50 sec
21
Merge onto I 64
40 mi·43 min·I 64
Use the straight lane.
22
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 177Toward I 295 North: Washington, NorfolkUse the slight right lane.
23
Continue on I 295
23 mi·25 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 28AToward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Merge onto I 64
67 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64; US 60
342 ft·5 sec·Hampton Roads Beltway
27
Continue on I 64; US 60
3.5 mi·4 min·Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
28
Continue on I 64; US 60
12 mi·15 min·Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Exit 284AToward I 264 East, I 264 West: Va Beach, Downtown Norfolk, PortsmouthUse the slight right lane.
30
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 264 East: Va BeachUse the straight / slight left lanes.
31
Merge onto I 264
12 mi·16 min·Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
32
Continue on 21st Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·21st Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Turn left onto Arctic Avenue
0.3 mi·46 sec·Arctic Avenue
Use the left lane.
34
Turn right onto 25th Street
454 ft·12 sec·25th Street
35
Arrive at destination
25th Street
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 123.9 miles from Basye, VA, or about 2h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.8 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 55 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.9 miles or 2h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Virginia Beach, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Basye, 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 Basye, VA
This is one driving day of about 247.9 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Basye, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 106.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 123.9 mi from Basye, VA
· 2h 49m into the drive
The midpoint is around 123.9 miles from Basye, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 106.8 miles.
Arriving in Virginia Beach, VA
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.
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Colonial National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On May 13, 1607, Jamestown was established as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Three cultures came together – European, Virginia Indian and African–to create a new society that...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
$15
near mile 196.6
Park Closure: Rehabilitation of Colonial Parkway Continues
Fort Monroe's story spans from prehistory to the 2000s. Kecoughtan Indians occupied Old Point Comfort before the arrival of English colonists. The first enslaved Africans arrived in 1619. Those escapi...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 222.2
Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over...
Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley has a long and rich heritage that still inspires today. Native Americans first shaped the land, followed by colonists and settlers. The fertile valley became an important...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 8.5
Two hundred ninety-two days, eight offensives, over 70,000 casualties, U. S. Colored Troops, and the decline of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. U.S. forces c...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 153.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.77 one way
$77.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$42.39
$84.77
premium
$4.70
$45.88
$91.76
diesel
$5.61
$54.73
$109.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.4
0
$26.03
$11.90
Efficient EV
62
0
$21.69
$9.92
EV Truck/SUV
99.2
1
$34.71
$15.87
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Basye, VA
Morning
in Basye on Friday
Local time
6:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Virginia Beach, VA
Morning
in Virginia Beach on Friday
Local time
6:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
20 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
5h 17m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Basye, VA to Virginia Beach, VA covers 247.9 miles and takes about 5h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, Spotswood Trail, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 123.9 miles from Basye, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.77 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 247.9 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 126.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 234.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Basye, VA and Virginia Beach, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Portsmouth.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 8 ft to 1,327 ft elevation with about 7 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Colonial National Historical Park, Fort Monroe National Monument and Shenandoah National Park. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.
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.
Elevation is sampled from
USGS 3DEP.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
