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Trip from Clarksville, VA to Virginia Beach, VA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 47m

Distance

158.4 mi

255 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 36m ★
6 AM
2h 47m
8 AM
3h 9m
10 AM
2h 55m
12 PM
2h 52m
3 PM
2h 56m
5 PM
3h 8m
8 PM
2h 41m

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

Downtown Clarksville, VA, VA

Clarksville, VA

Eric Joseph

Downtown Virginia Beach, VA, VA

Virginia Beach, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Clarksville, VA to Virginia Beach, VA covers 158.4 miles and takes about 2h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Highway 1, South Hill Bypass, East Atlantic Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.77 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

79.2 miles from Clarksville, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 158.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 47m drive with frequent turns across 158.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 1 is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Clarksville, VA to Virginia Beach, VA is easy. At 2h 47m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Clarksville, VA to Virginia Beach, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Highway 1
South Hill Bypass
East Atlantic Street
Highway 58
Piney Pond Road
Governor Harrison Parkway
Pleasant Shade Drive
West Atlantic Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Highway 1 — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clarksville, VA and Virginia Beach, VA.

1

Start on Virginia Avenue

20 mi · 27 min · Virginia Avenue
2

Continue on Highway 1

3.5 mi · 4 min · Highway 1
3

Continue on South Hill Bypass

3.3 mi · 4 min · South Hill Bypass
4

Continue on East Atlantic Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · East Atlantic Street
5

Continue on Highway 58

3.6 mi · 5 min · Highway 58
6

Continue on Piney Pond Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · Piney Pond Road
7

Continue on Governor Harrison Parkway

23 mi · 30 min · Governor Harrison Parkway
8

Continue on Pleasant Shade Drive

6.4 mi · 8 min · Pleasant Shade Drive
9

Continue on West Atlantic Street

5.1 mi · 6 min · West Atlantic Street
10

Continue on Southampton Parkway

62 mi · 1 hr 20 min · Southampton Parkway
11

Continue on West Military Highway

1.7 mi · 2 min · West Military Highway
12

Take the exit slight right toward I 264 East, I 64, US 13 North: Portsmouth, Norfolk, Va Beach

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 264 East, I 64, US 13 North: Portsmouth, Norfolk, Va Beach
13

Keep slight left to continue on I 264 East, I 64, US 13 North: Portsmouth, Norfolk, Va Beach

0.4 mi · 57 sec · I 264 East, I 64, US 13 North: Portsmouth, Norfolk, Va Beach
14

Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway

0.6 mi · 43 sec · Hampton Roads Beltway
15

Take the exit slight left toward I 264 East: Portsmouth, Norfolk

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 264 East: Portsmouth, Norfolk
16

Continue straight

7.2 mi · 11 min
17

Keep slight right

17 mi · 23 min
18

Continue on 21st Street

0.4 mi · 54 sec · 21st Street
19

Turn left onto Arctic Avenue

0.3 mi · 46 sec · Arctic Avenue
20

Turn right onto 25th Street

456 ft · 12 sec · 25th Street
21

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79.2 miles from Clarksville, VA, or about 1h 23m into the drive.

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 35 miles or 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 79.2 miles or 1h 23m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Virginia Beach, VA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Clarksville, 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 Clarksville, VA

This is one driving day of about 158.4 miles and 2h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Clarksville, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 79.2 mi from Clarksville, VA · 1h 23m into the drive

Downtown Waverly, VA, VA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waverly, VA

79 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

Lawrenceville, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waverly, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 79.2 miles from Clarksville, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Virginia Beach, VA

The final approach into Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach, 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

$24.77 one way

$49.54 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 55 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $27.08 $54.17
premium $4.70 $29.32 $58.63
diesel $5.61 $34.97 $69.95

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 55.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 47.5 0 $16.63 $7.60
Efficient EV 39.6 0 $13.86 $6.34
EV Truck/SUV 63.4 0 $22.18 $10.14

Gas CO2

55 kg

EV CO2

19 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Clarksville, VA

Evening in Clarksville on Thursday

Local time

6:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Virginia Beach, VA

Evening in Virginia Beach on Thursday

Local time

6:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

52°F

Waverly, VA

79 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

15 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

2h 47m 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 Clarksville, VA to Virginia Beach, VA covers 158.4 miles and takes about 2h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 1, South Hill Bypass, East Atlantic Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.2 miles from Clarksville, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.77 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Clarksville, VA to Virginia Beach, VA is easy. At 2h 47m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Clarksville, VA to Virginia Beach, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Clarksville, VA to Virginia Beach, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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