Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
72.6 mi
117 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlottesville, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Brandermill, VA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Charlottesville, VA to Brandermill, VA covers 72.6 miles and takes about 1h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, World War II Veterans Memorial Highway, Richmond Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 50 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.35 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 72.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 1h 28m highway drive covering 72.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and World War II Veterans Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 50 miles on I 64.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and World War II Veterans Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 250 BUS; VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 (US 250 BUS; VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 53.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 69 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto US 250 BUS; VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward VA 288 South: Chesterfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward VA 720: Lucks Lane
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto East Timber Ridge Road
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 50 mi | 53m |
| World War II Veterans Memorial Highway | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| Richmond Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Charter Colony Parkway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| East High Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| South Old Hundred Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Brandermill Parkway | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Lucks Lane | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Charlottesville, VA and Brandermill, VA.
Start on this road
Turn right onto US 250 BUS
Turn left onto US 250 BUS; VA 20
Continue on US 250 BUS; VA 20
Turn right onto US 250; VA 20
Continue on US 250; VA 20
Take the exit
Merge onto I 64
Take the exit
Continue on VA 288
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto SR 720
Turn left onto SR 754
Continue on SR 754
Enter roundabout onto SR 1921
Continue on SR 1921
Turn left onto Millridge Parkway
Turn right onto East Timber Ridge Road
Turn left onto SR 1883
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.3 mi from Charlottesville, VA · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 36.3 miles from Charlottesville, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Brandermill, VA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$11.35 one way
$22.71 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.41 | $24.83 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.44 | $26.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.03 | $32.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.62 | $3.48 |
| Efficient EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.35 | $2.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29 | 0 | $10.16 | $4.65 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Morning in Charlottesville on Friday
Local time
9:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
94°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Brandermill on Friday
Local time
9:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
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
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.
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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