The drive from East Hampton, VA to Colonial Beach, VA covers 111.9 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 George Washington Memorial Highway, Tidewater Trail, Newland Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.5 miles on George Washington Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.50 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
56 miles from East Hampton, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 111.9 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 (3%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 47m drive with frequent turns across 111.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
George Washington Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 36.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.2 miles in near Hampton Roads Center Parkway.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 111.9 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 4.2 miles (Hampton Roads Center Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 11.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
4.2 mi into trip|~8m in|Hampton Roads Center Parkway
Turn left onto Hampton Roads Center Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
5 mi into trip|~9m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
11.5 mi into trip|~18m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
78.3 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|South Water Lane
At end of road, turn left onto South Water Lane
Navigation decision point
5
100.5 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|VA 3 / Kings Highway
At end of road, turn left onto VA 3 / Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
George Washington Memorial Highway
36.5 mi
52m
Tidewater Trail
29.8 mi
39m
Newland Road
13.9 mi
24m
James Monroe Highway
5.4 mi
7m
Kings Highway
5.2 mi
7m
Queen Street
4.1 mi
5m
Flat Iron Road
3.9 mi
6m
Hampton Highway
3.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
George Washington Memorial Highway
— 36.5 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Hampton, VA and Colonial Beach, VA.
1
Start on Southerland Drive
0.2 mi·46 sec·Southerland Drive
2
Turn left onto US 258
2.8 mi·5 min·East Mercury Boulevard
3
Turn right onto North Armistead Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·North Armistead Avenue
4
Turn left onto Hampton Roads Center Parkway
0.6 mi·57 sec·Hampton Roads Center Parkway
Use the left lane.
5
Turn slight right
0.2 mi·21 sec
6
Keep slight right at fork
424 ft·11 sec
7
Turn straight onto VA 134
2.6 mi·3 min·Neil Armstrong Parkway
8
Continue on VA 134
3.8 mi·5 min·Hampton Highway
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
10
Merge onto US 17
37 mi·52 min·George Washington Memorial Highway
11
Continue on US 17; VA 33
30 mi·39 min·Tidewater Trail
12
Turn right onto Wright Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·Wright Street
13
At end of road, turn left onto South Water Lane
0.4 mi·56 sec·South Water Lane
14
Turn right onto US 360
4.1 mi·5 min·Queen Street
15
Turn left onto SR 624
14 mi·24 min·Newland Road
16
Continue on SR 624
3.9 mi·6 min·Flat Iron Road
17
At end of road, turn left onto VA 3
5.2 mi·7 min·Kings Highway
18
Turn right onto VA 205
5.4 mi·7 min·James Monroe Highway
19
Continue on VA 205
0.3 mi·27 sec·McKinney Boulevard
20
Turn straight
202 ft·8 sec
21
Turn straight onto VA 205Y
0.6 mi·1 min·Colonial Avenue
22
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
32 ft·0 sec·Washington Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
Washington Avenue
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 56 miles from East Hampton, VA, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.5 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 25 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56 miles or 1h 22m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colonial Beach, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving East Hampton, 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 East Hampton, VA
This is one driving day of about 111.9 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from East Hampton, 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 George Washington Memorial Highway for about 36.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56 mi from East Hampton, VA
· 1h 22m into the drive
The midpoint is around 56 miles from East Hampton, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Colonial Beach, VA
The final approach into Colonial 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 Colonial Beach, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
4.3
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Yorktown, Virginia
Near the start, right off the route
0.6 mi from route
~1 min detour
Inexpensiv
mile 16
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
Park Closure: Road Closure and Fishing Pier Impact
George Washington Birthplace National Monument is located in the Northern Neck of Virginia. It encompasses 551 acres of land where seven generations of the Washington family lived and where George Was...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 104.2
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...
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.6
0
$11.75
$5.37
Efficient EV
28
0
$9.79
$4.48
EV Truck/SUV
44.8
0
$15.67
$7.16
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
East Hampton, VA
Late night
in East Hampton on Friday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Clear
SW 8 to 12 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Colonial Beach, VA
Late night
in Colonial Beach on Friday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
West Point, VA
56 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 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 47m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from East Hampton, VA to Colonial Beach, VA covers 111.9 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 George Washington Memorial Highway, Tidewater Trail, Newland Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56 miles from East Hampton, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.50 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 111.9 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 4.2 miles (Hampton Roads Center Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 11.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from East Hampton, VA to Colonial Beach, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Fort Monroe National Monument, George Washington Birthplace National Monument and Colonial National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
