Drive Time
3h 29m
Distance
228.6 mi
368 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
Photo: Kelly
The drive from Buchanan, VA to Newport News, VA covers 228.6 miles and takes about 3h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Main Street, Lee Highway, I 64 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.65 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
114.3 miles from Buchanan, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 29m drive with frequent turns across 228.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy — mostly straight driving
The drive from Buchanan, VA to Newport News, VA is easy. At 3h 29m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Buchanan, VA to Newport News, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lee Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 64 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 295 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 17 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| J Clyde Morris Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Diligence Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Buchanan, VA and Newport News, VA.
Start on the route
Turn right onto Main Street
Continue on Lee Highway
Take the ramp straight
Continue straight
Keep slight right to continue on I 64 East: Richmond
Take the exit slight right toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
Continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 17 South: J Clyde Morris Boulevard
Turn straight onto J Clyde Morris Boulevard
Turn right onto Diligence Drive
At the end of the road, turn right onto Thimble Shoals Boulevard
Turn left
At the end of the road, turn right
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.3 miles or 1h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Newport News, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Buchanan, 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 Buchanan, VA
This is one driving day of about 228.6 miles and 3h 29m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 114.3 mi from Buchanan, VA · 1h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
114 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 114.3 miles from Buchanan, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Newport News, 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 Newport News, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$35.65 one way
$71.30 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $39.86 | $79.72 |
| premium | $4.78 | $43.00 | $86.00 |
| diesel | $5.62 | $50.62 | $101.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.6 | 0 | $24.00 | $10.97 |
| Efficient EV | 57.2 | 0 | $20.00 | $9.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 91.4 | 1 | $32.00 | $14.63 |
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Buchanan on Saturday
Local time
2:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Newport News on Saturday
Local time
2:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
68°F
La Plata, MD
114 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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