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Trip from Brandermill, VA to Chesapeake, VA

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

2h 20m

Distance

102.7 mi

165 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 11m ★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 40m
10 AM
2h 28m
12 PM
2h 26m
3 PM
2h 29m
5 PM
2h 39m
8 PM
2h 15m

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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human settlement in Richmond, Virginia, United States of America

Brandermill, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Chesapeake, VA, VA

Chesapeake, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 102.7-mile drive from Brandermill to Chesapeake, Virginia, is estimated to take around 2 hours and 20 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate using James River Drive, Colonial Trail West, and World War II Veterans Memorial Highway, with only about 12% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is $16, and with no recommended overnight stops, you have the flexibility to explore at your own pace. This route stays within the Southeast region, offering a consistent feel throughout your journey. Prepare for a journey characterized by frequent turns rather than long stretches of open road.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

51.3 miles from Brandermill, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 102.7-mile trip. While only 12% of the route involves highways, the majority of your time will be spent on local roads like James River Drive and Colonial Trail West. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14.6 miles on James River Drive, indicating a need for attention as the road frequently changes direction and character. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; rather, it's a more engaging drive that requires active navigation and awareness of your surroundings as you transition between different local thoroughfares.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 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.

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 2.6 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 102.7 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 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 key points

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

8
2.6 mi into trip | ~6m 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
15 mi into trip | ~20m 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
16.8 mi into trip | ~23m 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
6
89.1 mi into trip | ~2h in | VA 164 / Western Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto VA 164 / Western Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.
6
97.3 mi into trip | ~2h 10m in

Take the exit toward VA 141 South: Downtown Portsmouth

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

Use the right lane. Toward VA 141 South: Downtown Portsmouth

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
James River Drive 14.6 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
Western Freeway 7.4 mi 9m
West Hundred Road 6.8 mi 10m
Bridge Road 6.2 mi 10m
Longest stretch: James River Drive — 14.6 mi, about 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

112 ft · 9 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto SR 1883

370 ft · 19 sec · Timber Ridge Road
3

Continue on East Timber Ridge Road

263 ft · 13 sec · East Timber Ridge Road
4

Turn right onto Millridge Parkway

1.3 mi · 3 min · Millridge Parkway
5

Turn right onto SR 754

0.1 mi · 20 sec · South Old Hundred Road
6

Continue on SR 754

0.9 mi · 1 min · Commonwealth Centre Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
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

Given the 2-hour 20-minute duration and the 'turn-heavy' nature of this 102.7-mile route, starting your journey in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic. With a fuel cost estimated at $16 and no mandatory stops, you have considerable flexibility. Keep an eye on your GPS, especially through the local road segments, as the frequent turns can be disorienting. The longest stretch without a turn is 14.6 miles on James River Drive, so be prepared for more frequent adjustments to your steering and speed on other parts of the trip.

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 51.3 miles from Brandermill, VA, or about 1h 9m 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 80 miles or 1h 45m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 51.3 miles or 1h 9m 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 51m

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 Brandermill, 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 Brandermill, VA

This is one driving day of about 102.7 miles and 2h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Brandermill, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
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 51.3 mi from Brandermill, VA · 1h 9m into the drive

Downtown Middletown, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Middletown, MD

51 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

Middletown, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Middletown, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 51.3 miles from Brandermill, 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.

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 63.7
Park Closure: Rehabilitation of Colonial Parkway Continues
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 92.1
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...

12 mi from route ~30 min detour Free near mile 17.7
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.06 one way

$32.12 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $17.56 $35.12
premium $4.70 $19.01 $38.02
diesel $5.61 $22.67 $45.35

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

$16

Tolls

$0

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 35.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.8 0 $10.78 $4.93
Efficient EV 25.7 0 $8.99 $4.11
EV Truck/SUV 41.1 0 $14.38 $6.57

Gas CO2

36 kg

EV CO2

12 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 data refreshed 9 hours ago

Origin

Brandermill, VA

Late night in Brandermill on Wednesday

Local time

4:47 AM

EDT

Current temp

87°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chesapeake, VA

Late night in Chesapeake on Wednesday

Local time

4:47 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Mostly Clear

SW 7 to 10 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 9:10AM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 8:55AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA

86°F

Middletown, MD

51 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

21 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 20m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Brandermill, VA to Chesapeake, VA covers 102.7 miles and takes about 2h 20m 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, World War II Veterans Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.3 miles from Brandermill, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.06 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 21 significant decision points across 102.7 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 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Brandermill, VA to Chesapeake, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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