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Trip from Chesapeake, VA to Merrimac, VA

Data updated 5 hours ago

Drive Time

5h 58m

Distance

308.4 mi

496 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$48

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 46m ★
6 AM
5h 59m
8 AM
6h 25m
10 AM
6h 8m
12 PM
6h 5m
3 PM
6h 9m
5 PM
6h 23m
8 PM
5h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Chesapeake, VA, VA

Chesapeake, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Merrimac, VA, VA

Merrimac, VA

Israyosoy S.

Trip Overview

The drive from Chesapeake, VA to Merrimac, VA covers 308.4 miles and takes about 5h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 64, I 81, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 181.4 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.23 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

154.2 miles from Chesapeake, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 2m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 5h 58m highway drive covering 308.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 181.4 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 33 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 181.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 308.4 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 2.5 miles (US 460 ALT): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (US 460 ALT): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 25 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

9
1.8 mi into trip | ~2m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 264 East: Waterside Drive, Saint Paul Boulevard, Downtown, Norfolk

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 6B Toward I 264 East: Waterside Drive, Saint Paul...
9
2.5 mi into trip | ~3m in | US 460 ALT

Keep slight left at fork onto US 460 ALT toward Waterside Drive, St Paul's Boulevard

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 9 Toward Waterside Drive, St Paul's Boulevard
8
2.7 mi into trip | ~4m in | US 460 ALT

Keep slight left at fork onto US 460 ALT toward Saint Paul's Boulevard

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Saint Paul's Boulevard
8
83.3 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in

Take the exit toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 200 Toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC
8
301 mi into trip | ~5h 45m in

Take the exit toward US 11, US 460: Christiansburg, Blacksburg

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 118C-B-A Toward US 11, US 460: Christiansburg, Blacksbur...

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 Chesapeake, VA to Merrimac, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Rocky Mount along the way.

Rocky Mount

83.3 mi in | ~1h 43m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 64 181.4 mi 3h 18m
I 81 72.5 mi 1h 21m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway 22.6 mi 24m
Hampton Roads Beltway 9.6 mi 12m
Granby Street 4 mi 9m
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel 3.5 mi 4m
US 460 1.9 mi 2m
North Franklin Street 1.5 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 64 — 181.4 mi, about 3h 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chesapeake, VA and Merrimac, 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 left at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 6B Toward I 264 East: Waterside Drive, Saint Paul Boulevard, Downtown, Norfolk Use the slight left lane.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto US 460 ALT

0.2 mi · 26 sec · US 460 ALT
Exit 9 Toward Waterside Drive, St Paul's Boulevard Use the slight left lane.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto US 460 ALT

0.3 mi · 53 sec · US 460 ALT
Toward Saint Paul's Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Turn right onto US 460 ALT

0.6 mi · 1 min · Saint Pauls Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Continue on US 460

1.2 mi · 2 min · Monticello Avenue
10

Turn left onto US 460

486 ft · 13 sec · Church Street
11

Continue on US 460

4.0 mi · 9 min · Granby Street
Use the left lane.
12

Turn left

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward I 64
13

Merge onto I 64

3.8 mi · 5 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on I 64; US 60

3.5 mi · 4 min · Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
15

Continue on I 64; US 60

5.9 mi · 7 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork onto I 64

61 mi · 1 hr 7 min · I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 32 sec
Exit 200 Toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight right at fork

1.3 mi · 2 min
Toward I 295 North: Washington Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Merge onto I 295

23 mi · 24 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
20

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 55 sec
Exit 53A Toward I 64 West: Charlottesville
21

Merge onto I 64

120 mi · 2 hr 10 min · I 64
Toward I 64 West: Charlottesville Use the slight right lane.
22

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

73 mi · 1 hr 21 min · I 81
Use the straight lane.
23

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Exit 118C-B-A Toward US 11, US 460: Christiansburg, Blacksburg Use the slight right lane.
24

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 118C Toward US 11, US 460 East, US 460 Business: Christiansburg, Shawsville
25

Turn slight right

241 ft · 6 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Turn straight onto US 11; US 460 BUS

0.9 mi · 1 min · Roanoke Street
27

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward US 460 West Use the right lane.
28

Merge onto US 460

1.9 mi · 2 min · US 460
29

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward US 460 Business: Christiansburg Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Exit 3B Toward US 460 Business West: Blacksburg Use the straight lane.
31

Turn straight onto US 460 BUS

1.5 mi · 2 min · North Franklin Street
Use the straight lane.
32

Turn left onto SR 657

1.3 mi · 2 min · Merrimac Road Northwest
33

Arrive at destination

SR 657

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 154.2 miles from Chesapeake, VA, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.4 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 80 miles or 1h 39m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 154.2 miles or 3h 2m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 50m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Merrimac, 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 308.4 miles and 5h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 I 64 for about 181.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 154.2 mi from Chesapeake, VA · 3h 2m into the drive

Downtown Poolesville, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Poolesville, MD

154 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

Middletown, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Poolesville, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 154.2 miles from Chesapeake, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Merrimac, VA

The final approach into Merrimac, VA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Merrimac, VA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Colonial National Historical Park

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...

2 mi from route ~6 min detour $15 near mile 42.5
Park Closure: Rehabilitation of Colonial Parkway Continues
View on nps.gov
Fort Monroe National Monument

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...

5 mi from route ~12 min detour Free near mile 10.6
View on nps.gov
Booker T Washington National Monument

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...

21 mi from route ~54 min detour Free near mile 276.5
View on nps.gov
Petersburg National Battlefield

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...

26 mi from route ~65 min detour Free near mile 85.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$48.23 one way

$96.45 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 108 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $52.73 $105.46
premium $4.70 $57.08 $114.16
diesel $5.61 $68.09 $136.18

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$48

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$73–$98

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 107.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 92.5 1 $32.38 $14.80
Efficient EV 77.1 0 $26.98 $12.34
EV Truck/SUV 123.4 1 $43.18 $19.74

Gas CO2

108 kg

EV CO2

36 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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.

Forecast data refreshed 5 hours ago

Origin

Chesapeake, VA

Late night in Chesapeake on Wednesday

Local time

12:32 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Mostly Clear

SW 7 to 10 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 9:10AM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 8:55AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA

Destination

Merrimac, VA

Late night in Merrimac on Wednesday

Local time

12:32 AM

EDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

28 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

5h 58m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Chesapeake, VA to Merrimac, VA covers 308.4 miles and takes about 5h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, I 81, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 154.2 miles from Chesapeake, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.23 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 308.4 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.
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 2.5 miles (US 460 ALT): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (US 460 ALT): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Chesapeake, VA to Merrimac, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Rocky Mount along the way.

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