Angela's Italian Restaurant
Early in the drive, short detour
Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia
Hours: 10 am–10 pm
+15405825250
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 47m
Distance
185.7 mi
299 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buckhall, VA
Eric Joseph
South Suffolk, VA
Mark Stebnicki
The drive from Buckhall, VA to South Suffolk, VA covers 185.7 miles and takes about 3h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, James River Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 69.7 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.04 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
92.8 miles from Buckhall, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 47m. Total distance: 185.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
The drive from Buckhall, VA to South Suffolk, VA covers 185.7 miles and takes about 3h 47m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
227 ft
Total Descent
485 ft
Highest Point
312 ft
Elevation Range
265 ft
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near VA 294 / Prince William Parkway.
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 18 significant decision points across 185.7 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 0.2 miles (VA 294 / Prince William Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (SR 2000 / Smoketown Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto VA 294 / Prince William Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto SR 2000 / Smoketown Road
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward VA 10 East: Hopewell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Buckhall, VA and South Suffolk, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Va Beach.
Norfolk
Va Beach
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 69.7 mi | 1h 17m |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 27.1 mi | 29m |
| James River Drive | 14.6 mi | 19m |
| Colonial Trail West | 13.3 mi | 15m |
| Old Stage Highway | 12 mi | 15m |
| Prince William Parkway | 10.2 mi | 15m |
| Colonial Trail East | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| Godwin Boulevard | 8.9 mi | 10m |
Step-by-step road directions between Buckhall, VA and South Suffolk, VA.
Start on SR 662
Turn right onto VA 294
Take the exit onto VA 294
Merge onto VA 294
Turn right onto SR 2000
Turn right onto SR 2068
Turn left onto SR 784
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Take the exit
Merge onto I 295
Take the exit
Merge onto VA 10
Continue on VA 10
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
Continue on VA 10
At end of road, turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
Take the exit
Merge onto VA 10
Continue on VA 10
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 10
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
Turn left onto US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
Continue on US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
Continue on US 13 BUS; VA 32
Arrive at 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 41 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.8 miles or 1h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Suffolk, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Buckhall, 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 Buckhall, VA
This is one driving day of about 185.7 miles and 3h 47m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 92.8 mi from Buckhall, VA · 1h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 92.8 miles from Buckhall, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69.7 miles.
The final approach into South Suffolk, 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 South Suffolk, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia
Early in the drive, short detour
Hours: 10 am–10 pm
+15405825250
The Caboose Market & Cafe
Ashland, Virginia
Himalayan Heritage Restaurant & Bar VA
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Top Coffee Stop
Stafford, Virginia
Near the start, short detour
Hours: 10 am–9 pm
+15404264142
Curitiba Art Cafe
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Early in the drive, short detour
Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia
Hours: 10 am–10 pm
+15405825250
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Mechanicsville, Virginia
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+18045699707
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Ashland, Virginia
Hours: 11 am–8 pm
+18047982933
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Hours: 10:30 am–9:30 pm
+15409934252
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+15408917300
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Hours: 5–10 pm
+15408992931
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Hopewell, Virginia
Hours: Closed
+18043343338
Around the midpoint, short detour
Richmond, Virginia
Hours: 4–9 pm
+18045071997
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Stafford, Virginia
Hours: 10 am–9 pm
+15404264142
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Hours: 10 am–7 pm
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Glen Allen, Virginia
Hours: 10 am–8 pm
+18044001505
Near the end, ~9 min detour
Suffolk, Virginia
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~12 min detour
Hopewell, Virginia
+18333994638
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Fredericksburg, VA
Hours: 8:30 am–5 pm
+15407868344
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Ruther Glen, Virginia
Near the start, short detour
Woodbridge, Virginia
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+15403721086
Early in the drive, short detour
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Hours: 12–9 pm
+15403861351
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Stafford, Virginia
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
+15406584871
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Stafford, Virginia
Hours: 12–9 pm
+15404264983
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Suffolk, Virginia
Hours: 6 am–8 pm
+17575147250
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+15406933200
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+15408584242
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
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...
National Scenic Trail
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$29.04 one way
$58.08 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $31.75 | $63.50 |
| premium | $4.70 | $34.37 | $68.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.00 | $82.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.7 | 0 | $19.50 | $8.91 |
| Efficient EV | 46.4 | 0 | $16.25 | $7.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.3 | 0 | $26.00 | $11.88 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Buckhall on Saturday
Local time
12:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in South Suffolk on Saturday
Local time
12:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
84°F
Colonial Heights, VA
93 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.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Buckhall, VA or browse trips ending in South Suffolk, VA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VA road trips.