Origin
Chesapeake, VA
Afternoon in Chesapeake on Saturday
Local time
2:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chesapeake, VA to Bedford, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 44m
Distance
214.1 mi
345 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 31m
★
6 AM
4h 45m
8 AM
5h 12m
10 AM
4h 54m
12 PM
4h 51m
3 PM
4h 56m
5 PM
5h 10m
8 PM
4h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chesapeake, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Bedford, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Chesapeake, VA to Bedford, VA covers 214.1 miles and takes about 4h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 460, Richmond Highway, New Cox Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 79.8 miles on US 460. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.48 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
107.1 miles from Chesapeake, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 30m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 460 | 79.8 mi | 1h 51m |
| Richmond Highway | 31.1 mi | 38m |
| New Cox Road | 23 mi | 26m |
| West Colonial Trail Highway | 13.1 mi | 16m |
| East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike | 12.3 mi | 15m |
| Portsmouth Boulevard | 8.2 mi | 10m |
| East Colonial Trail | 7.5 mi | 11m |
| East Colonial Trail Road | 6.9 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
US 460
— 79.8 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chesapeake, VA and Bedford, VA.
1
Start on D Street
412 ft
·
20 sec
·
D Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 460; VA 166
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Poindexter Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 464 North
4
Merge onto I 464
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 464
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 6A
Toward I 264 West Toll: Downtown Tunnel, Portsmouth
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 264 West Toll: Tunnel
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 264; US 460 ALT
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 264; US 460 ALT
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 664
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 13A-B
Toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military Highway
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
12
Continue on US 13; US 58; US 460
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West Military Highway
13
Continue on US 13; US 58; US 460
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Portsmouth Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto US 460
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
US 460
Toward US 460: Petersburg
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
50 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
US 460
Toward US 460 West: Petersburg, Albert G Horton Junior Memorial, Veterans Cemetery
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto SR 630
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Rives Road
Use the left lane.
17
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 95 North
18
Merge onto I 95
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 95
19
Take the exit onto US 460
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 460
Toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham, Blackstone
Use the right lane.
20
Merge onto I 85; US 460
6.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
21
Take the exit onto US 460
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
US 460
Exit 61
Toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg
Use the slight right lane.
22
Continue on US 460
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Airport Street
23
Continue on US 460
23 mi
·
26 min
·
New Cox Road
24
Continue on US 460
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
East Colonial Trail Highway
25
Continue on US 460
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
East Colonial Trail Road
26
Continue on US 460
7.5 mi
·
11 min
·
East Colonial Trail
27
Merge onto US 360; US 460
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Colonial Trail Highway
28
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
12 mi
·
14 min
·
West Colonial Trail Highway
29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 460
29 mi
·
34 min
·
US 460
30
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
31 mi
·
38 min
·
Richmond Highway
Toward US 460 West: Lynchburg
31
Continue on US 460
12 mi
·
15 min
·
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
32
Take the exit onto US 460 BUS
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 460 BUS
Toward US 460 Business, VA 122
33
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460 BUS
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
US 460 BUS
34
Arrive at destination
US 460 BUS; VA 43; VA 122 BUS
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 107.1 miles from Chesapeake, VA, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.8 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 47 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.1 miles or 2h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bedford, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chesapeake, 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 Chesapeake, VA
This is one driving day of about 214.1 miles and 4h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Chesapeake, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 460 for about 79.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
107 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 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 107.1 miles from Chesapeake, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 460 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 245 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 84.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
1.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 264 West Toll: Downtown Tunnel, Portsmouth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 6A
Toward I 264 West Toll: Downtown Tunnel, Portsm...
8
9.2 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond
8
10.2 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military Highway
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 13A-B
Toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suff...
8
22 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
US 460
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460 toward US 460 West: Petersburg, Albert G Horton Junior Memorial, Veterans Cemetery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 460 West: Petersburg, Albert G Horton...
8
84.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
|
US 460
Take the exit onto US 460 toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg
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 61
Toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.48 one way
$66.96 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
75 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $36.61 | $73.22 |
| premium | $4.70 | $39.63 | $79.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.27 | $94.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.28
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
(12.3 mi)
$0.86
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(6 mi)
$0.42
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
$33
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.2 | 0 | $22.48 | $10.28 |
| Efficient EV | 53.5 | 0 | $18.73 | $8.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 85.6 | 1 | $29.97 | $13.70 |
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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
Bedford, VA
Afternoon in Bedford on Saturday
Local time
2:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Victoria, VA
107 mi in
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
37 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
4h 44m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the effective end of the nation's largest war. Question...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 169.8
View on nps.gov
Petersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Two hundred ninety-two days, eight offensives, over 70,000 casualties, U. S. Colored Troops, and the decline of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. U.S. forces c...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 81.2
View on nps.gov
Fort Monroe National Monument
National Monument
Fort Monroe's story spans from prehistory to the 2000s. Kecoughtan Indians occupied Old Point Comfort before the arrival of English colonists. The first enslaved Africans arrived in 1619. Those escapi...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Booker T Washington National Monument
National Monument
Booker T. Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 214.1
View on nps.gov
Colonial National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On May 13, 1607, Jamestown was established as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Three cultures came together – European, Virginia Indian and African–to create a new society that...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
$15
near mile 44.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
214.1 mi in 4h 44m — 52% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: US 460.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.8 mi on US 460.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 214.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chesapeake, VA and Bedford, VA, road signs point toward Albert G Horton Junior Memorial, Veterans Cemetery, Blackstone and Lynchburg.
Albert G Horton Junior Memorial
22 mi in
|
~31m
|
via US 460
Veterans Cemetery
22 mi in
|
~31m
|
via US 460
Blackstone
77.4 mi in
|
~1h 54m
|
via US 460
Lynchburg
84.1 mi in
|
~2h 2m
|
via US 460
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 44m. Total distance: 214.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.8 miles on US 460. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.28 in tolls one way, starting with East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Bedford, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, Petersburg National Battlefield and Fort Monroe National Monument (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Bedford, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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