Origin
Big Stone Gap, VA
Evening in Big Stone Gap on Sunday
Local time
5:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Big Stone Gap, VA to Charlottesville, VA
Drive Time
4h 59m
Distance
300.2 mi
483 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 46m
★
6 AM
4h 59m
8 AM
5h 26m
10 AM
5h 9m
12 PM
5h 6m
3 PM
5h 10m
5 PM
5h 25m
8 PM
4h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Big Stone Gap, VA
El Capra
Charlottesville, VA
Eric Joseph
Trip Overview
The drive from Big Stone Gap, VA to Charlottesville, VA covers 300.2 miles and takes about 4h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Powell Valley Road, Orby Cantrell Highway, Norton Coeburn Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.04 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
150.1 miles from Big Stone Gap, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 59m drive with frequent turns across 300.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Powell Valley Road 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 59m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Big Stone Gap, VA to Charlottesville, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Powell Valley Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Orby Cantrell Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Norton Coeburn Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bull Run Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Trail of the Lonesome Pine | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 58 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Preston Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Powell Valley Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Big Stone Gap, VA and Charlottesville, VA.
1
Start on 4th Avenue East
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
4th Avenue East
2
Turn straight onto Powell Valley Road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Powell Valley Road
3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Powell Valley Road
66 ft
·
1 sec
·
Powell Valley Road
4
Exit the roundabout onto Powell Valley Road
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Powell Valley Road
5
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
6
Merge slight left onto Orby Cantrell Highway
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Orby Cantrell Highway
7
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
8
Keep slight right
302 ft
·
8 sec
9
Merge slight left onto Norton Coeburn Road
7.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Norton Coeburn Road
10
Continue on Bull Run Road
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Bull Run Road
11
Continue on Trail of the Lonesome Pine
364 ft
·
7 sec
·
Trail of the Lonesome Pine
12
Continue on US Highway 58 Alternate
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
US Highway 58 Alternate
13
Continue on Trail of the Lonesome Pine
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Trail of the Lonesome Pine
14
Turn right
13 mi
·
18 min
15
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
16
Turn right onto Preston Street Southwest
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Preston Street Southwest
17
At the end of the road, turn left onto Bradley Street Southwest
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Bradley Street Southwest
18
At the end of the road, turn right onto Cummings Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Cummings Street
19
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
20
Merge slight left
57 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
21
Continue straight
7.1 mi
·
7 min
22
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
140 mi
·
2 hr 33 min
·
I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
23
Continue straight
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
24
Keep slight right to continue on I 64 East: Richmond
33 mi
·
35 min
·
I 64 East: Richmond
25
Take the exit slight right toward VA 631: Charlottesville
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
VA 631: Charlottesville
26
Turn left onto 5th Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
5th Street
27
Continue on Ridge Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Ridge Street
28
Turn slight right onto Water Street West
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Water Street West
29
Turn left onto 2nd Street Southwest
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
2nd Street Southwest
30
Turn right onto West Market Street
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
West Market Street
31
Turn right onto 7th Street Northeast
285 ft
·
16 sec
·
7th Street Northeast
32
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 150.1 miles from Big Stone Gap, VA, or about 2h 29m 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 80 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.1 miles or 2h 29m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charlottesville, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Big Stone Gap, 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 Big Stone Gap, VA
This is one driving day of about 300.2 miles and 4h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Big Stone Gap, 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 150.1 mi from Big Stone Gap, VA · 2h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
150 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 150.1 miles from Big Stone Gap, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Charlottesville, VA
The final approach into Charlottesville, 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 Charlottesville, 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
$48.04 one way
$96.09 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
105 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $52.35 | $104.69 |
| premium | $4.78 | $56.47 | $112.94 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $66.69 | $133.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 90.1 | 1 | $31.52 | $14.41 |
| Efficient EV | 75.1 | 0 | $26.27 | $12.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 120.1 | 1 | $42.03 | $19.21 |
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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.
Destination
Charlottesville, VA
Evening in Charlottesville on Sunday
Local time
5:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°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
7 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 59m 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 Big Stone Gap, VA to Charlottesville, VA covers 300.2 miles and takes about 4h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Powell Valley Road, Orby Cantrell Highway, Norton Coeburn Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 150.1 miles from Big Stone Gap, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.04 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 straightforward 4h 59m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Big Stone Gap, VA to Charlottesville, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Big Stone Gap, VA to Charlottesville, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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