This 80.4-mile drive from Ettrick, VA, to East Hampton, VA, is designed as a single-day adventure, taking approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes to complete. You'll navigate primarily via James River Drive, Colonial Trail West, and Old Stage Highway, with no interstate driving involved. Budget around $13 for fuel for this journey through Virginia's Southeast region. The route's character suggests a more engaging local drive rather than a rapid transit, making it a relaxed option for a day trip. With no specific stops noted, you have the flexibility to explore as you go.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.2 miles from Ettrick, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 80.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 80.4-mile trip, with 0% of the journey on highways. The roads you'll be on, including James River Drive, Colonial Trail West, and Old Stage Highway, offer a more intimate connection with the local landscape. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14.6 miles on James River Drive, so you'll be adjusting your speed and direction fairly regularly. This profile means you'll be actively engaged with the driving, experiencing a variety of road conditions and turns throughout the 1 hour and 50-minute duration.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 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. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near SR 1107 / Granger Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 80.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (SR 1107 / Granger Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (VA 36 / Chesterfield Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (VA 36 / North Sycamore Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 1107 / Granger Street
Turn right onto SR 1107 / Granger Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|VA 36 / Chesterfield Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto VA 36 / Chesterfield Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in|VA 36 / North Sycamore Street
Turn right onto VA 36 / North Sycamore Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|East Bank Street
Turn left onto East Bank Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
3 mi into trip|~6m in|VA 36 / East Washington Street
At end of road, turn left onto VA 36 / East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
James River Drive
14.6 mi
19m
Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi
15m
Old Stage Highway
12 mi
15m
Colonial Trail East
9.8 mi
11m
James River Bridge
4.4 mi
6m
West Mercury Boulevard
4 mi
7m
Mercury Boulevard
3.7 mi
7m
East Washington Street
3.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
James River Drive
— 14.6 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ettrick, VA and East Hampton, VA.
1
Start on East River Road
0.1 mi·34 sec·East River Road
2
Turn right onto SR 1107
516 ft·14 sec·Granger Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto VA 36
0.8 mi·1 min·Chesterfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on VA 36
0.1 mi·17 sec·Fleet Street
5
Turn left onto VA 36
0.5 mi·56 sec·Grove Avenue
6
Continue on VA 36
0.1 mi·18 sec·West Old Street
7
Turn right onto VA 36
484 ft·18 sec·North Sycamore Street
8
Turn left onto East Bank Street
1.1 mi·2 min·East Bank Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
At end of road, turn left onto VA 36
3.5 mi·4 min·East Washington Street
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on VA 36
2.0 mi·2 min·Oaklawn Boulevard
11
Continue on VA 36
2.2 mi·2 min·Winston Churchill Drive
12
Turn right onto VA 10; VA 156 BUS
1.3 mi·2 min·East Randolph Road
13
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
15 mi·19 min·James River Drive
14
Continue on VA 10
13 mi·15 min·Colonial Trail West
15
At end of road, turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
1.0 mi·1 min·Rolfe Highway
16
Take the exit
149 ft·6 sec
17
Merge onto VA 10
9.8 mi·11 min·Colonial Trail East
18
Continue on VA 10
12 mi·15 min·Old Stage Highway
Use the left lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 258
2.9 mi·4 min·Brewers Neck Boulevard
20
Turn left onto US 17; US 258; VA 32
2.4 mi·3 min·Carrollton Boulevard
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on US 17; US 258; VA 32
4.4 mi·6 min·James River Bridge
22
Continue on US 17; US 258; VA 32
3.7 mi·7 min·Mercury Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on US 258
4.0 mi·7 min·West Mercury Boulevard
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto Southerland Drive
0.2 mi·46 sec·Southerland Drive
25
Arrive at destination
Southerland Drive
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 80.4-mile distance and 1 hour 50-minute duration, this route from Ettrick to East Hampton offers significant flexibility. You can easily depart at your leisure, perhaps mid-morning to avoid rush hour. With a fuel cost estimated at $13 and no designated stops, plan to refuel before you leave or at a convenient point along the way, as there are no specific recommendations. The turn-heavy nature means staying attentive to your navigation, especially on the 14.6-mile stretch of James River Drive, which is the longest continuous segment.
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 40.2 miles from Ettrick, VA, or about 53m 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.2 miles or 53m 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 East Hampton, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ettrick, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ettrick, VA
This is one driving day of about 80.4 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Ettrick, 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 40.2 mi from Ettrick, VA
· 53m into the drive
The midpoint is around 40.2 miles from Ettrick, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in East Hampton, VA
The final approach into East Hampton, VA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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
near mile 80.4
Park Closure: Road Closure and Fishing Pier Impact
Two hundred ninety-two days, eight offensives, over 70,000 casualties, U. S. Colored Troops, and the decline of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. U.S. forces c...
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
$15
near mile 47.1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.1
0
$8.44
$3.86
Efficient EV
20.1
0
$7.04
$3.22
EV Truck/SUV
32.2
0
$11.26
$5.15
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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 16, 2026
Origin
Ettrick, VA
Late night
in Ettrick on Friday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Hampton, VA
Late night
in East Hampton on Friday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Waverly, VA
40 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 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 Ettrick, VA to East Hampton, VA covers 80.4 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 James River Drive, Colonial Trail West, Old Stage Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.2 miles from Ettrick, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.57 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 80.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (SR 1107 / Granger Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (VA 36 / Chesterfield Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (VA 36 / North Sycamore Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Ettrick, VA to East Hampton, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
