Ettrick, VA to Chesapeake, VA is 87.8 miles and takes about 2 hours via James River Drive, Colonial Trail West, and Old Stage Highway, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region and exclusively within Virginia, offering a straightforward drive. Expect a route that leans towards local roads rather than major highways, making it a more involved, turn-heavy experience. It's a good option if you prefer a less highway-intensive journey and want to keep your travel time relatively short.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.9 miles from Ettrick, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h. Total distance: 87.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This drive is characterized by its 'turn-heavy' local nature, with only a 9% share of highway driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14.6 miles along James River Drive. As you progress, you'll transition between various local roads like Colonial Trail West and Old Stage Highway, requiring your attention to navigation. This isn't a route for setting cruise control and zoning out; be prepared for frequent adjustments and a more engaged driving experience.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 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. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near SR 1107 / Granger Street.
Driving Effort10/10
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 19 significant decision points across 87.8 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 0.1 miles (SR 1107 / Granger Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (VA 36 / East Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 74.2 miles (VA 164 / Western Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 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
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.
6
74.2 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|VA 164 / Western Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 164 / Western Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
82.4 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward VA 141 South: Downtown Portsmouth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward VA 141 South: Downtown Portsmouth
6
83.5 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|Elm Avenue
Turn right onto Elm Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
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
Western Freeway
7.4 mi
9m
Bridge Road
6.2 mi
10m
East Washington Street
3.5 mi
4m
Brewers Neck Boulevard
2.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
James River Drive
— 14.6 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ettrick, VA and Chesapeake, 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
2.8 mi·3 min·Brewers Neck Boulevard
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
21
Merge onto US 17
2.3 mi·3 min·Carrollton Boulevard
22
Continue on US 17
6.2 mi·10 min·Bridge Road
Use the left lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 164
7.4 mi·9 min·Western Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
24
Merge onto US 58; VA 164
0.7 mi·46 sec·Martin Luther King Freeway
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward VA 141 South: Downtown PortsmouthUse the right lane.
26
Turn straight onto US 58
0.9 mi·1 min·London Boulevard
27
Turn right onto Elm Avenue
2.4 mi·4 min·Elm Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
28
Continue on VA 337
1.1 mi·2 min·South Norfolk Jordan Bridge
29
Turn straight onto VA 337
0.7 mi·1 min·Poindexter Street
Use the straight lane.
30
Turn left onto D Street
412 ft·18 sec·D Street
31
Arrive at destination
D Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour duration and 87.8-mile distance, this route is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility for when you depart. With a fuel cost estimated around $14, you won't need to budget heavily for gas. Since it's a shorter, turn-heavy drive, consider leaving mid-morning to avoid any potential rush hour congestion and allow for a relaxed pace. Keep an eye on your navigation, especially as you transition between James River Drive, Colonial Trail West, and Old Stage Highway, as the frequent turns are a defining characteristic of this trip.
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 43.9 miles from Ettrick, VA, or about 57m 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 19 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.9 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chesapeake, 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.
+
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 Ettrick, VA
This is one driving day of about 87.8 miles and 2h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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 43.9 mi from Ettrick, VA
· 57m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Petersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
Park Closure: Eastern Front Tour Road south of Route 36 - Closed
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
$15
near mile 48.4
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 78.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.73 one way
$27.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.01
$30.02
premium
$4.70
$16.25
$32.50
diesel
$5.61
$19.39
$38.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.3
0
$9.22
$4.21
Efficient EV
22
0
$7.68
$3.51
EV Truck/SUV
35.1
0
$12.29
$5.62
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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 18, 2026
Origin
Ettrick, VA
Morning
in Ettrick on Saturday
Local time
11:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chesapeake, VA
Morning
in Chesapeake on Saturday
Local time
11:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Williamsburg, VA
44 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
2 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 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 Chesapeake, VA covers 87.8 miles and takes about 2h 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 43.9 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 $13.73 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 is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 87.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (SR 1107 / Granger Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (VA 36 / East Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 74.2 miles (VA 164 / Western Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Ettrick, VA to Chesapeake, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Petersburg National Battlefield, Colonial National Historical Park and Fort Monroe National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
