Origin
Charlottesville, VA
Night in Charlottesville on Thursday
Local time
10:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charlottesville, VA to Laurel, VA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
63.6 mi
102 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 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlottesville, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Laurel, VA
Wyxina Tresse
Trip Overview
The drive from Charlottesville, VA to Laurel, VA covers 63.6 miles and takes about 1h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Staples Mill Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 52.4 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.95 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 63.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 15m highway drive covering 63.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 52.4 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 15 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 52.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 250 BUS; VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 3.4 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.8 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
55.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
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 177
Toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
7
60.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward US 33 East: Richmond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 49B
Toward US 33 East: Richmond
5
60.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
US 33 / Staples Mill Road
Turn right onto US 33 / Staples Mill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Charlottesville, VA to Laurel, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Norfolk along the way.
Norfolk
55.8 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 52.4 mi | 56m |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 3 mi | 3m |
| Staples Mill Road | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Richmond Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| East High Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Hungary Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 9th Street Northeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Long Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 52.4 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlottesville, VA and Laurel, 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
52 mi
·
56 min
·
I 64
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 177
Toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 295
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 49B
Toward US 33 East: Richmond
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto US 33
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Staples Mill Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto Hungary Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Hungary Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto Old Staples Mill Road
91 ft
·
2 sec
·
Old Staples Mill Road
15
Arrive at destination
Old Staples Mill Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.8 mi from Charlottesville, VA · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 31.8 miles from Charlottesville, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Laurel, VA
The final approach into Laurel, 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
$9.95 one way
$19.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.87 | $21.75 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.77 | $23.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.04 | $28.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.68 | $3.05 |
| Efficient EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.56 | $2.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.90 | $4.07 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Laurel, VA
Night in Laurel on Thursday
Local time
10:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Louisa, VA
32 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
6 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 15m 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 Laurel, VA covers 63.6 miles and takes about 1h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Staples Mill Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.8 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 $9.95 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 63.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 (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 55.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Charlottesville, VA to Laurel, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Norfolk along the way.
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