Origin
Charlottesville, VA
Evening in Charlottesville on Friday
Local time
6:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charlottesville, VA to Lakeside, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
65.3 mi
105 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlottesville, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Lakeside, VA
HONG SON
Trip Overview
The drive from Charlottesville, VA to Lakeside, VA covers 65.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, Richmond Road, East High Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 60 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.21 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 65.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 18m highway drive covering 65.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and Richmond Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 60 miles on I 64.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 60 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Richmond Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 250 BUS; VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 18m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 3.4 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 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
|
US 250 BUS; VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast
Turn left onto US 250 BUS; VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 64
Merge onto I 64
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
63.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward US 33 West: Dickens Road, Staples Mill Road
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 185A
Toward US 33 West: Dickens Road, Staples Mill R...
5
63.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
Dickens Road
Turn left onto Dickens Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
64.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
US 33 / Staples Mill Road
Turn left onto US 33 / Staples Mill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 60 mi | 1h 5m |
| Richmond Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| East High Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Dumbarton Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Dickens Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Cedar Croft Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Staples Mill Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 9th Street Northeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 60 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlottesville, VA and Lakeside, VA.
1
Start on this road
233 ft
·
18 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto US 250 BUS
246 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Market Street
3
Turn left onto US 250 BUS; VA 20
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
9th Street Northeast
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on US 250 BUS; VA 20
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East High Street
5
Turn right onto US 250; VA 20
315 ft
·
7 sec
·
Long Street
6
Continue on US 250; VA 20
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Richmond Road
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 64 East
8
Merge onto I 64
60 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
I 64
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 185A
Toward US 33 West: Dickens Road, Staples Mill Road
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto Dickens Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Dickens Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 33
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Staples Mill Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn right onto Dumbarton Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Dumbarton Road
13
Turn left onto Cedar Croft Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Cedar Croft Street
14
Arrive at destination
Cedar Croft Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32.7 mi from Charlottesville, VA · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.7 miles from Charlottesville, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60 miles.
Arriving in Lakeside, VA
The final approach into Lakeside, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.21 one way
$20.42 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $11.17 | $22.33 |
| premium | $4.70 | $12.09 | $24.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.42 | $28.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.86 | $3.13 |
| Efficient EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.14 | $4.18 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Lakeside, VA
Evening in Lakeside on Friday
Local time
6:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Louisa, VA
33 mi in
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
26 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 18m 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 Charlottesville, VA to Lakeside, VA covers 65.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, Richmond Road, East High Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.7 miles from Charlottesville, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.21 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 is a straightforward 1h 18m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 250 BUS; VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Charlottesville, VA to Lakeside, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Petersburg National Battlefield.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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