The drive from Bon Air, VA to South Suffolk, VA covers 94.5 miles and takes about 2h 6m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on James River Drive, Colonial Trail West, Old Stage Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.6 miles on James River Drive.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.78 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.
Midpoint
47.2 miles from Bon Air, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 94.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 6m drive with frequent turns across 94.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
James River Drive is the longest continuous segment at about 14.6 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
319 ft19 ft
Total Climb
149 ft
Total Descent
414 ft
Highest Point
319 ft
Elevation Range
300 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near SR 686 / Jahnke Road.
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 13 significant decision points across 94.5 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 0.6 miles (SR 686 / Jahnke Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.3 miles (VA 150 / Chippenham Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|SR 686 / Jahnke Road
Turn sharp left onto SR 686 / Jahnke Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in|VA 150 / Chippenham Parkway
Merge onto VA 150 / Chippenham Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
10.4 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward I 95: Richmond, Petersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95: Richmond, Petersburg
7
10.8 mi into trip|~15m 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
17.4 mi into trip|~24m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bon Air, VA to South Suffolk, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Petersburg along the way.
Petersburg
10.4 mi in|~15m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
James River Drive
14.6 mi
19m
Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi
15m
Old Stage Highway
12 mi
15m
Colonial Trail East
9.8 mi
11m
Godwin Boulevard
8.9 mi
10m
Chippenham Parkway
7.9 mi
10m
West Hundred Road
6.8 mi
10m
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
6 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
James River Drive
— 14.6 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bon Air, VA and South Suffolk, VA.
1
Start on SR 718
14 ft·2 sec·Rockaway Road
2
Turn right onto SR 678
0.6 mi·1 min·Buford Road
3
Turn sharp left onto SR 686
1.4 mi·2 min·Jahnke Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward VA 150 South
5
Merge onto VA 150
7.9 mi·10 min·Chippenham Parkway
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on VA 150
0.3 mi·19 sec·Pocahontas Parkway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·39 sec
Toward I 95: Richmond, PetersburgUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·52 sec
Toward I 95 South: PetersburgUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 95
6.0 mi·7 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 61AToward VA 10 East: HopewellUse the right lane.
11
Continue on VA 10
6.8 mi·10 min·West Hundred Road
Use the left / uturn lanes.
12
Continue on VA 10
2.9 mi·4 min·West Randolph Road
13
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
15 mi·19 min·James River Drive
14
Continue on VA 10
13 mi·15 min·Colonial Trail West
15
At end of road, turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
1.0 mi·1 min·Rolfe Highway
16
Take the exit
149 ft·6 sec
17
Merge onto VA 10
9.8 mi·11 min·Colonial Trail East
18
Continue on VA 10
12 mi·15 min·Old Stage Highway
Use the left lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 10
4.3 mi·5 min·Benns Church Boulevard
20
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
8.4 mi·9 min·Godwin Boulevard
21
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
0.5 mi·48 sec·Godwin Boulevard
22
Turn left onto US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
366 ft·6 sec·Pruden Boulevard
23
Continue on US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
2.2 mi·4 min·North Main Street
24
Continue on US 13 BUS; VA 32
0.9 mi·1 min·Carolina Road
25
Arrive at destination
US 13 BUS; VA 32
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.2 miles from Bon Air, VA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.6 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 21 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.2 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Suffolk, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bon Air, 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 Bon Air, VA
This is one driving day of about 94.5 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Bon Air, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on James River Drive for about 14.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47.2 mi from Bon Air, VA
· 1h 4m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
$15
near mile 61.9
Park Closure: Rehabilitation of Colonial Parkway Continues
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 19.5
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 78.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.78 one way
$29.56 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$16.16
$32.32
premium
$4.70
$17.49
$34.98
diesel
$5.61
$20.86
$41.73
Estimated Tolls: $0.42
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(6 mi)$0.42
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
$15
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.3
0
$9.92
$4.54
Efficient EV
23.6
0
$8.27
$3.78
EV Truck/SUV
37.8
0
$13.23
$6.05
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Bon Air, VA
Afternoon
in Bon Air on Friday
Local time
3:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Suffolk, VA
Afternoon
in South Suffolk on Friday
Local time
3:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Waverly, VA
47 mi in
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
31 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 6m 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 Bon Air, VA to South Suffolk, VA covers 94.5 miles and takes about 2h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are James River Drive, Colonial Trail West, Old Stage Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.2 miles from Bon Air, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.78 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 94.5 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 0.6 miles (SR 686 / Jahnke Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.3 miles (VA 150 / Chippenham Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Bon Air, VA to South Suffolk, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Petersburg along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 19 ft to 319 ft elevation with about 149 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Colonial National Historical Park, Petersburg National Battlefield and Fort Monroe National Monument.
