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Trip from Bedford, 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

4h 49m

Distance

219.6 mi

353 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 36m ★
6 AM
4h 50m
8 AM
5h 17m
10 AM
4h 59m
12 PM
4h 56m
3 PM
5h 0m
5 PM
5h 15m
8 PM
4h 41m

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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town in Bedford County, Virginia, United States

Bedford, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Chesapeake, VA, VA

Chesapeake, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Bedford, VA to Chesapeake, VA covers 219.6 miles and takes about 4h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 460 BUS, Patrick Henry Highway, James River Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 76.9 miles on US 460 BUS. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.34 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

109.8 miles from Bedford, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 20m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 49m. Total distance: 219.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Bedford, VA to Chesapeake, VA covers 219.6 miles and takes about 4h 49m, 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 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 460 BUS is the longest continuous segment at about 76.9 miles.

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 1.4 miles in near US 460 BUS.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 20 significant decision points across 219.6 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 1.4 miles (US 460 BUS): Lane positioning matters here; at 118.5 miles (SR 754 / Commonwealth Centre Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 119.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

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

6
1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in | US 460 BUS

Take the ramp onto US 460 BUS toward US 460 East

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Toward US 460 East
6
118.5 mi into trip | ~2h 33m in | SR 754 / Commonwealth Centre Parkway

Turn right onto SR 754 / Commonwealth Centre Parkway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
8
119.4 mi into trip | ~2h 34m in

Keep slight right at fork toward VA 288 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward VA 288 South
7
131.9 mi into trip | ~2h 49m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South: Petersburg

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 95 South: Petersburg
7
133.6 mi into trip | ~2h 52m in

Take the exit toward VA 10 East: Hopewell

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 61A Toward VA 10 East: Hopewell

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 460 BUS 76.9 mi 1h 36m
Patrick Henry Highway 17.2 mi 21m
James River Drive 14.6 mi 19m
Hull Street Road 13.7 mi 19m
Colonial Trail West 13.3 mi 15m
World War II Veterans Memorial Highway 12.1 mi 14m
Old Stage Highway 12 mi 15m
Colonial Trail East 9.8 mi 11m
Longest stretch: US 460 BUS — 76.9 mi, about 1h 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bedford, VA and Chesapeake, VA.

1

Start on US 460 BUS; VA 43; VA 122 BUS

1.4 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
2

Take the ramp onto US 460 BUS

77 mi · 1 hr 36 min · US 460 BUS
Toward US 460 East Use the straight lane.
3

Turn left onto VA 307

9.3 mi · 12 min · Holly Farms Road
4

Turn left onto US 360

17 mi · 21 min · Patrick Henry Highway
5

Continue on US 360

14 mi · 19 min · Hull Street Road
Use the straight lane.
6

Turn right onto SR 754

0.9 mi · 1 min · Commonwealth Centre Parkway
Use the right lane.
7

Take the ramp

62 ft · 1 sec
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward VA 288 South Use the slight right lane.
9

Merge onto VA 288

12 mi · 14 min · World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
10

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward I 95 South: Petersburg Use the slight right lane.
11

Merge onto I 95

1.5 mi · 1 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 61A Toward VA 10 East: Hopewell Use the right lane.
13

Continue on VA 10

6.8 mi · 10 min · West Hundred Road
Use the left / uturn lanes.
14

Continue on VA 10

2.9 mi · 4 min · West Randolph Road
15

Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS

15 mi · 19 min · James River Drive
16

Continue on VA 10

13 mi · 15 min · Colonial Trail West
17

At end of road, turn left onto VA 10; VA 31

1.0 mi · 1 min · Rolfe Highway
18

Take the exit

149 ft · 6 sec
19

Merge onto VA 10

9.8 mi · 11 min · Colonial Trail East
20

Continue on VA 10

12 mi · 15 min · Old Stage Highway
Use the left lane.
21

Keep slight left at fork onto US 258

2.8 mi · 3 min · Brewers Neck Boulevard
22

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
23

Merge onto US 17

2.3 mi · 3 min · Carrollton Boulevard
24

Continue on US 17

6.2 mi · 10 min · Bridge Road
Use the left lane.
25

Keep slight right at fork onto VA 164

7.4 mi · 9 min · Western Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
26

Merge onto US 58; VA 164

0.7 mi · 46 sec · Martin Luther King Freeway
27

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward VA 141 South: Downtown Portsmouth Use the right lane.
28

Turn straight onto US 58

0.9 mi · 1 min · London Boulevard
29

Turn right onto Elm Avenue

2.4 mi · 4 min · Elm Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
30

Continue on VA 337

1.1 mi · 2 min · South Norfolk Jordan Bridge
31

Turn straight onto VA 337

0.7 mi · 1 min · Poindexter Street
Use the straight lane.
32

Turn left onto D Street

412 ft · 18 sec · D Street
33

Arrive at destination

D 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 109.8 miles from Bedford, VA, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.9 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 48 miles or 1h in

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

Halfway reset

Around 109.8 miles or 2h 20m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 52m

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 Bedford, 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 Bedford, VA

This is one driving day of about 219.6 miles and 4h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Bedford, 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 US 460 BUS for about 76.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 109.8 mi from Bedford, VA · 2h 20m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Richmond, VA

110 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

Appomattox, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Richmond, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 107.2 miles from Bedford, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

National Historical Park

On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the effective end of the nation's largest war. Question...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour Free near mile 44.4
View on nps.gov
Colonial National Historical Park

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...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour $15 near mile 177.4
View on nps.gov
Fort Monroe National Monument

Fort Monroe National Monument

National Monument

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...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour Free near mile 207
View on nps.gov
Petersburg National Battlefield

Petersburg National Battlefield

National Battlefield

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...

13 mi from route ~31 min detour Free near mile 133.1
View on nps.gov
Booker T Washington National Monument

Booker T Washington National Monument

National Monument

Booker T. Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later...

19 mi from route ~48 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$34.34 one way

$68.68 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 77 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $37.55 $75.10
premium $4.70 $40.64 $81.29
diesel $5.61 $48.48 $96.97

Estimated Tolls: $0.10

Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike (1.5 mi) $0.10

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

$34

Tolls

$0

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 76.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 65.9 0 $23.06 $10.54
Efficient EV 54.9 0 $19.22 $8.78
EV Truck/SUV 87.8 1 $30.74 $14.05

Gas CO2

77 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (66% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Bedford, VA

Afternoon in Bedford on Friday

Local time

3:51 PM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chesapeake, VA

Afternoon in Chesapeake on Friday

Local time

3:51 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

4 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

4h 49m 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 Bedford, VA to Chesapeake, VA covers 219.6 miles and takes about 4h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 460 BUS, Patrick Henry Highway, James River Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 109.8 miles from Bedford, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.34 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 20 significant decision points across 219.6 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 1.4 miles (US 460 BUS): Lane positioning matters here; at 118.5 miles (SR 754 / Commonwealth Centre Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 119.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Bedford, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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