Origin
Chesapeake, VA
Evening in Chesapeake on Friday
Local time
6:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chesapeake, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Woodlake, VA
Daniel Żabiński
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
Keep slight left at fork toward I 264 West Toll: Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward VA 288 North: Chesterfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
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
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Chesapeake, VA and Woodlake, VA.
Start on D Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 460; VA 166
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 464
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 264; US 460 ALT
Take the exit
Continue on VA 164
Continue on US 58; VA 164
Continue on VA 164
Continue on US 17
Continue on US 17
Turn left onto Brewers Neck Boulevard
Merge onto US 258; VA 10
Continue on VA 10
Turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
Turn right onto VA 10
Continue on VA 10
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
Continue on VA 10
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Continue on VA 288
Take the exit
Merge onto US 360
Turn right onto SR 3600
Turn left onto SR 3600
Turn right
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
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
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 52.8 miles from Chesapeake, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$16.53 one way
$33.06 round trip
| 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
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Chesapeake on Friday
Local time
6:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Woodlake on Friday
Local time
6:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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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