Origin
Cape Charles, VA
Night in Cape Charles on Sunday
Local time
9:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cape Charles, VA to Virginia Beach, VA
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
43.6 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cape Charles, VA
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
Traveling from Cape Charles to Virginia Beach covers 43.6 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 9 minutes. This route serves as a perfect day trip, allowing you to transition easily between these two southeastern Virginia locales without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Lankford Highway, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel, and Shore Drive. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $7, this drive is as economical as it is direct. Whether you are heading south for a change of pace or a weekend getaway, the trip is straightforward and manageable for any driver.
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
21.8 miles from Cape Charles, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend the most significant portion of your travel on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel, which provides a 17.7-mile stretch of uninterrupted driving. The transition from the rural feel of Lankford Highway to the bridge-tunnel crossing creates a distinct shift in the experience behind the wheel. Because you are navigating local roads for the entirety of the 43.6 miles, keep your focus sharp on the varying road conditions and turns that define this path.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel is the longest continuous segment at about 17.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Strawberry Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.6 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Strawberry Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (VA 184 / Mason Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (VA 184 / Randolph Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Strawberry Street
Turn left onto Strawberry Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
VA 184 / Mason Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto VA 184 / Mason Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
VA 184 / Randolph Avenue
Turn right onto VA 184 / Randolph Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
32 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward US 60: Virginia Beach, Ocean Front
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.
Toward US 60: Virginia Beach, Ocean Front
6
42.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
North Birdneck Road
Turn right onto North Birdneck Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Cape Charles, VA to Virginia Beach, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Ocean Front along the way.
Ocean Front
32 mi in
|
~46m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel | 17.7 mi | 24m |
| Lankford Highway | 10.8 mi | 14m |
| Shore Drive | 3.4 mi | 7m |
| North Great Neck Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| First Colonial Road | 2 mi | 4m |
| Stone Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Laskin Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| 24th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
— 17.7 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cape Charles, VA and Virginia Beach, VA.
1
Start on Park Row
295 ft
·
19 sec
·
Park Row
2
Turn left onto Strawberry Street
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Strawberry Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto VA 184
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Mason Avenue
4
Turn right onto VA 184
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Randolph Avenue
5
Continue on VA 184
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Stone Road
6
Turn right onto US 13
9.7 mi
·
13 min
·
Lankford Highway
7
Merge onto US 13
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Lankford Highway
8
Continue on US 13
18 mi
·
24 min
·
Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
9
Continue on US 13
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Northampton Boulevard
Use the none lane.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Toward US 60: Virginia Beach, Ocean Front
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 60
3.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Shore Drive
Use the none lane.
12
Turn right onto VA 279
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
North Great Neck Road
Use the left / none lanes.
13
Turn left onto SR 615
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
First Colonial Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto US 58
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Laskin Road
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto North Birdneck Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Birdneck Road
Use the none lane.
16
Turn left onto 24th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
24th Street
17
Turn left onto Baltic Avenue
472 ft
·
14 sec
·
Baltic Avenue
18
Turn right onto 25th Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
25th Street
19
Arrive at destination
25th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 1 hour and 9 minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid local traffic. There are no planned stops on this 43.6-mile journey, so ensure you have enough fuel before you leave Cape Charles, keeping your $7 budget in mind. Pay close attention to your speed as you transition from the bridge-tunnel section onto Shore Drive, where road character changes significantly. Taking advantage of the lack of required stops means you can complete the trip in one efficient go, making it an ideal candidate for a spontaneous excursion.
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 21.8 miles from Cape Charles, VA, or about 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.7 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 43.6 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 21.8 miles or 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Virginia Beach, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cape Charles, 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 Cape Charles, VA
This is one driving day of about 43.6 miles and 1h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cape Charles, 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 Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel for about 17.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.8 mi from Cape Charles, VA · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 43.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.8 miles from Cape Charles, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Virginia Beach, VA
The final approach into Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.98 one way
$13.96 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $7.60 | $15.21 |
| premium | $4.78 | $8.20 | $16.40 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $9.69 | $19.37 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.00
Chesapeake Bay Bridge
$4.00
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
$7
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.58 | $2.09 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.10 | $2.79 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Virginia Beach, VA
Night in Virginia Beach on Sunday
Local time
9:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
14 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 9m 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 Cape Charles, VA to Virginia Beach, VA covers 43.6 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel, Lankford Highway, Shore Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.8 miles from Cape Charles, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.98 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.6 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Strawberry Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (VA 184 / Mason Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (VA 184 / Randolph Avenue): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Cape Charles, VA to Virginia Beach, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Ocean Front along the way.
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