Origin
Colonial Heights, VA
Evening in Colonial Heights on Sunday
Local time
8:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colonial Heights, VA to Charlottesville, VA
Drive Time
1h 50m
Distance
91.5 mi
147 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 43m
★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colonial Heights, VA
Pavan Sai .D
Charlottesville, VA
Eric Joseph
Trip Overview
Traveling from Colonial Heights to Charlottesville covers 91.5 miles of Virginia landscape in about 1 hour and 50 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the duration is short enough that an overnight stay is rarely necessary. You can expect to spend approximately $15 on fuel for this journey, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. By utilizing the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, Route 1, and I-64, you will navigate through the heart of the Southeast region. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick change of scenery, this straightforward route offers a reliable connection between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
45.7 miles from Colonial Heights, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 96% of this drive takes place on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-64, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 65.2 miles. Because the route relies so heavily on high-speed infrastructure, the pace is consistent and efficient rather than technical or winding. While you begin by navigating local connections like Route 1, the transition to the interstate defines the character of the majority of your time behind the wheel. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive designed to move you quickly between your origin and destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 65.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Ellerslie Avenue.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.5 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Ellerslie Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (SR 620 / Woods Edge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Ellerslie Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto East Ellerslie Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
2.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
SR 620 / Woods Edge Road
Turn right onto SR 620 / Woods Edge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
9
24.5 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 79
Toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
6
89.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
VA 20 / Monticello Avenue
Turn right onto VA 20 / Monticello Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
91.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
|
7th Street Northeast
Turn left onto 7th Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 65.2 mi | 1h 12m |
| Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike | 20.3 mi | 25m |
| Route 1 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Monticello Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Woods Edge Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| VA 20 | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Ellerslie Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 65.2 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colonial Heights, VA and Charlottesville, VA.
1
Start on this road
257 ft
·
24 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto East Ellerslie Avenue
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
East Ellerslie Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 1; US 301; VA 144
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Boulevard
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on US 1; US 301; VA 144
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Route 1
Use the none lane.
5
Turn right onto SR 620
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Woods Edge Road
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
7
Merge onto I 95
20 mi
·
25 min
·
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the none lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
65 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
I 64
Exit 79
Toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward VA 20: Charlottesville, Scottsville
10
Turn right onto VA 20
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Monticello Avenue
Use the right lane.
11
Turn slight right onto VA 20
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
VA 20
12
Turn left onto US 250 BUS
458 ft
·
25 sec
·
East Market Street
13
Turn left onto 7th Street Northeast
286 ft
·
15 sec
·
7th Street Northeast
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the total travel time of under two hours, you have significant flexibility regarding your departure time. However, be mindful that the heavy reliance on I-64 means traffic patterns can influence your actual arrival time, so checking local congestion before you leave is a smart move. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled for this 91.5-mile journey, you can easily handle the drive in one go without needing to plan for long breaks. If you want to keep your travel costs around the $15 estimate, consider fueling up in Colonial Heights before you merge onto the highway system. Use the lack of required stops as an opportunity to maximize your time once you reach your destination in Charlottesville.
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 45.7 miles from Colonial Heights, VA, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.2 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 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.7 miles or 57m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charlottesville, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Colonial Heights, 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 Colonial Heights, VA
This is one driving day of about 91.5 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Colonial Heights, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 65.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45.7 mi from Colonial Heights, VA · 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 45.7 miles from Colonial Heights, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.2 miles.
Arriving in Charlottesville, VA
The final approach into Charlottesville, 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 Charlottesville, 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
$14.64 one way
$29.29 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $15.95 | $31.91 |
| premium | $4.78 | $17.21 | $34.42 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $20.33 | $40.66 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.42
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(20.3 mi)
$1.42
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
$15
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.5 | 0 | $9.61 | $4.39 |
| Efficient EV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.01 | $3.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.6 | 0 | $12.81 | $5.86 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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
Charlottesville, VA
Evening in Charlottesville on Sunday
Local time
8:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
86°F
Middletown, MD
46 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
1 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
1h 50m 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 Colonial Heights, VA to Charlottesville, VA covers 91.5 miles and takes about 1h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, Route 1. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 45.7 miles from Colonial Heights, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.64 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.5 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Ellerslie Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (SR 620 / Woods Edge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Colonial Heights, VA to Charlottesville, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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Return Trip
Charlottesville, VA to Colonial Heights, VAPlan the drive back the other way.
90.1 mi
1h 50m
Continue From Charlottesville, VA
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