The drive from Bristol, VA to Hampton, VA covers 400.4 miles and takes about 7h 23m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 81, I 64, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 209.7 miles on I 81.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $62.61 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
200.2 miles from Bristol, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 39m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 23m. Total distance: 400.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 23m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 7h 23m highway drive covering 400.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 81 and I 64. The longest continuous stretch is about 209.7 miles on I 81.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 209.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 64. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 79.7 miles in near I 81; US 11.
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 14 significant decision points across 400.4 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 79.7 miles (I 81; US 11): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 309.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 333.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
79.7 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|I 81; US 11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 11 toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
8
309.7 mi into trip|~5h 38m 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
333.8 mi into trip|~6h 5m 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
399.3 mi into trip|~7h 19m in
Take the exit toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base
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 265C
Toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base
9
399.4 mi into trip|~7h 20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bristol, VA and Hampton, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Norfolk
309.7 mi in|~5h 38m
Virginia Beach
333.8 mi in|~6h 5m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
209.7 mi
3h 49m
I 64
154.5 mi
2h 49m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi
25m
I 77
7.1 mi
7m
I 381
1.1 mi
1m
Commonwealth Avenue
1.1 mi
1m
North Armistead Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
West Pembroke Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 209.7 mi, about 3h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bristol, VA and Hampton, VA.
1
Start on Sullins Street
75 ft·4 sec·Sullins Street
2
Turn right onto US 11E; US 19; US 421
1.1 mi·1 min·Commonwealth Avenue
3
Continue on I 381
1.1 mi·1 min·I 381
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·30 sec
Toward I 81 North: Roanoke
5
Merge onto I 81; US 58
70 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 81; US 58
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on I 77; I 81; US 11; US 52
7.1 mi·7 min·I 77; I 81; US 11; US 52
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 11
140 mi·2 hr 33 min·I 81; US 11
Toward I 81 North, US 11 North: RoanokeUse the straight lane.
8
Continue on I 64; I 81
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 64; I 81
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
90 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 64
Toward I 64 East: RichmondUse the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 177Toward I 295 North: Washington, NorfolkUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 295
23 mi·25 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 28AToward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 64
64 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·25 sec
Exit 265CToward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force BaseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
199 ft·6 sec
Toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force BaseUse the left / right lanes.
16
Turn straight onto Rip Rap Road
0.2 mi·21 sec·Rip Rap Road
17
Turn sharp left onto VA 134
0.4 mi·1 min·North Armistead Avenue
18
Turn left onto VA 351
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Pembroke Avenue
19
Turn right onto North King Street
524 ft·19 sec·North King Street
20
Continue on North King Street
432 ft·18 sec·North King Street
21
Arrive at destination
North King Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 200.2 miles from Bristol, VA, or about 3h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 209.7 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 88 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 200.2 miles or 3h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hampton, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bristol, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bristol, VA
This is one driving day of about 400.4 miles and 7h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Bristol, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 209.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 200.2 mi from Bristol, VA
· 3h 39m into the drive
The midpoint is around 200.2 miles from Bristol, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 209.7 miles.
Arriving in Hampton, VA
The final approach into Hampton, 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 Hampton, 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.
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...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 400.6
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...
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...
23 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 138.1
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 331.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$62.61 one way
$125.23 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg140 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$68.46
$136.92
premium
$4.70
$74.11
$148.21
diesel
$5.61
$88.40
$176.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$63
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 140.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
120.1
1
$42.04
$19.22
Efficient EV
100.1
1
$35.04
$16.02
EV Truck/SUV
160.2
2
$56.06
$25.63
Gas CO2
140 kg
EV CO2
47 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bristol, VA
Afternoon
in Bristol on Thursday
Local time
1:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hampton, VA
Afternoon
in Hampton on Thursday
Local time
1:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
7h 23m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bristol, VA to Hampton, VA covers 400.4 miles and takes about 7h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, I 64, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 200.2 miles from Bristol, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $62.61 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks 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 14 significant decision points across 400.4 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 79.7 miles (I 81; US 11): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 309.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 333.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Bristol, VA and Hampton, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Fort Monroe National Monument, Colonial National Historical Park and Booker T Washington National Monument. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
