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Trip from Chesapeake, VA to Woodlake, VA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 24m

Distance

105.7 mi

170 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 14m ★
6 AM
2h 24m
8 AM
2h 44m
10 AM
2h 31m
12 PM
2h 29m
3 PM
2h 32m
5 PM
2h 43m
8 PM
2h 18m

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

Downtown Chesapeake, VA, VA

Chesapeake, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Woodlake, VA, VA

Woodlake, VA

Daniel Żabiński

Trip Overview

This 105.7-mile drive from Chesapeake to Woodlake, Virginia, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 24 minutes. You'll navigate primarily along James River Drive, Colonial West, and the World War II Veterans Memorial Highway. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, this route offers an economical day trip within the Southeast region. Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' feel, meaning it's not a high-speed interstate journey but rather a more engaging local exploration. Since there are no specific stops recommended, you have the flexibility to tailor the experience to your preferences.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

52.8 miles from Chesapeake, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 24m. Total distance: 105.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Prepare for a 'turn-heavy local drive' experience on this 105.7-mile journey. Only 13% of this route involves highway travel, so most of your time will be spent on local roads, requiring your attention to navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14.6 miles on James River Drive. This suggests a drive that winds through communities and varied landscapes rather than a straight, high-speed dash. The character of the drive will likely shift as you transition between these different roadways.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
James River Drive is the longest continuous segment at about 14.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 17 significant decision points across 105.7 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 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 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 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...
7
1.9 mi into trip | ~2m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 264 West Toll: Tunnel

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 264 West Toll: Tunnel
8
4.3 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the exit toward VA 164 West: Martin Luther King Jr Expressway, Norfolk

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 6 Toward VA 164 West: Martin Luther King Jr Expre...
7
86.8 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in

Take the exit toward VA 288 North: Chesterfield

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 62 Toward VA 288 North: Chesterfield
7
100.5 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in

Take the exit toward US 360 West: Hull Street Road, Amelia

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

Use the right lane. Toward US 360 West: Hull Street Road, Amelia

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
James River Drive 14.6 mi 19m
Colonial Trail West 13.3 mi 15m
World War II Veterans Memorial Highway 13 mi 14m
Benns Church Boulevard 12.1 mi 15m
Colonial Trail East 9.9 mi 11m
Western Freeway 7.4 mi 9m
East Hundred Road 6.6 mi 9m
Bridge Road 6.5 mi 11m
Longest stretch: James River Drive — 14.6 mi, about 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chesapeake, VA and Woodlake, 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

1.9 mi · 3 min · I 264; US 460 ALT
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 37 sec
Exit 6 Toward VA 164 West: Martin Luther King Jr Expressway, Norfolk Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on VA 164

0.5 mi · 48 sec · Martin Luther King Jr Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on US 58; VA 164

0.6 mi · 55 sec · Martin Luther King Freeway
11

Continue on VA 164

7.4 mi · 9 min · Western Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on US 17

6.5 mi · 11 min · Bridge Road
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on US 17

2.4 mi · 3 min · Carrollton Boulevard
14

Turn left onto Brewers Neck Boulevard

2.9 mi · 4 min · Brewers Neck Boulevard
15

Merge onto US 258; VA 10

12 mi · 15 min · Benns Church Boulevard
16

Continue on VA 10

9.9 mi · 11 min · Colonial Trail East
17

Turn left onto VA 10; VA 31

1.0 mi · 1 min · Rolfe Highway
18

Turn right onto VA 10

13 mi · 15 min · Colonial Trail West
19

Continue on VA 10

15 mi · 19 min · James River Drive
20

Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS

2.9 mi · 4 min · East Randolph Road
21

Continue on VA 10

6.6 mi · 9 min · East Hundred Road
Use the left lane.
22

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward I 95 North: Richmond Use the right lane.
23

Merge onto I 95

1.1 mi · 1 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
24

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 62 Toward VA 288 North: Chesterfield Use the slight right lane.
25

Continue on VA 288

13 mi · 14 min · World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 43 sec
Toward US 360 West: Hull Street Road, Amelia Use the right lane.
27

Merge onto US 360

3.3 mi · 5 min · Hull Street Road
Use the straight lane.
28

Turn right onto SR 3600

0.7 mi · 1 min · Woodlake Village Parkway
29

Turn left onto SR 3600

0.8 mi · 1 min · Woodlake Village Parkway
30

Turn right

344 ft · 25 sec
31

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 2-hour and 24-minute duration, this 105.7-mile trip is perfectly suited for a single day. Consider departing in the morning to maximize your time at your destination or for spontaneous exploration. The estimated fuel cost of $17 is quite reasonable, so you won't need to budget heavily for gas. Since this is a 'turn-heavy local drive,' pay close attention to your GPS and road signs, especially on the 14.6-mile stretch of James River Drive, as frequent turns are part of the experience. With no mandatory stops, you can easily incorporate breaks for refreshments or to simply stretch your legs as needed.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.8 miles from Chesapeake, VA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.6 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 23 miles or 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 52.8 miles or 1h 12m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 57m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Woodlake, 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 105.7 miles and 2h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Chesapeake, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on James River Drive for about 14.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 52.8 mi from Chesapeake, VA · 1h 12m into the drive

Downtown Waverly, VA, VA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waverly, VA

53 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

Newport News, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waverly, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 52.8 miles from Chesapeake, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Woodlake, VA

The final approach into Woodlake, 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 Woodlake, VA.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.53 one way

$33.06 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 37 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $18.07 $36.15
premium $4.70 $19.56 $39.13
diesel $5.61 $23.34 $46.67

Estimated Tolls: $0.08

Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike (1.1 mi) $0.08

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

$17

Tolls

$0

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 37 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 31.7 0 $11.10 $5.07
Efficient EV 26.4 0 $9.25 $4.23
EV Truck/SUV 42.3 0 $14.80 $6.76

Gas CO2

37 kg

EV CO2

12 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Chesapeake, VA

Evening in Chesapeake on Friday

Local time

6:59 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Woodlake, VA

Evening in Woodlake on Friday

Local time

6:59 PM

EDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

52°F

Waverly, VA

53 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

3 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

2h 24m 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 Chesapeake, VA to Woodlake, VA covers 105.7 miles and takes about 2h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are James River Drive, Colonial Trail West, World War II Veterans Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 52.8 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 $16.53 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 demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 105.7 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 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

The route from Chesapeake, VA to Woodlake, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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