Origin
Charlottesville, VA
Evening in Charlottesville on Thursday
Local time
8:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charlottesville, VA to Short Pump, VA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
58.2 mi
94 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlottesville, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Short Pump, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Charlottesville, VA to Short Pump, VA covers 58.2 miles and takes about 1h 8m 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 53.5 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.10 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 58.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m 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 8m highway drive covering 58.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and Richmond Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 53.5 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 12 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 53.5 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 early in the drive near US 250 BUS / East Market Street.
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 8m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 250 BUS / East Market Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 250 BUS / East Market Street
Turn right onto US 250 BUS / East Market Street
Navigation decision point
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.
7
56.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 250 West: Short Pump
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 178A
Toward US 250 West: Short Pump
5
57.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
US 250 / West Broad Street
Turn right onto US 250 / West Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 53.5 mi | 57m |
| Richmond Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| East High Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| West Broad Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| 9th Street Northeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Pump Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Long Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 53.5 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlottesville, VA and Short Pump, 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
54 mi
·
57 min
·
I 64
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 178A
Toward US 250 West: Short Pump
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto US 250
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broad Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn left onto Pump Road
479 ft
·
15 sec
·
Pump Road
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
Pump Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29.1 mi from Charlottesville, VA · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.1 miles from Charlottesville, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Short Pump, VA
The final approach into Short Pump, 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
$9.10 one way
$18.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.95 | $19.90 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.77 | $21.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.85 | $25.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.11 | $2.79 |
| Efficient EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.09 | $2.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.3 | 0 | $8.15 | $3.72 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Short Pump, VA
Evening in Short Pump on Thursday
Local time
8:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Louisa, VA
29 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
23 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 8m 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 Short Pump, VA covers 58.2 miles and takes about 1h 8m 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 29.1 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 $9.10 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 8m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 250 BUS / East Market Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
The route from Charlottesville, VA to Short Pump, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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