Origin
Ettrick, VA
Afternoon in Ettrick on Saturday
Local time
4:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ettrick, VA to Virginia Beach, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 22m
Distance
104.3 mi
168 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 12m
★
6 AM
2h 22m
8 AM
2h 42m
10 AM
2h 29m
12 PM
2h 27m
3 PM
2h 30m
5 PM
2h 41m
8 PM
2h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ettrick, VA
Tima Miroshnichenko
Virginia Beach, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Ettrick, VA to Virginia Beach, VA is 104.3 miles and takes about 2h 22m via I 264, James River Drive, and Colonial Trail West, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia's Southeast region, offering a straightforward journey from one point to another. Expect a drive that primarily utilizes local roads interspersed with highway time, making it a practical choice for a single-day trip. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this route is ideal for those looking to get to their destination without a lengthy travel commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.1 miles from Ettrick, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 264 | 20 mi | 28m |
| 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 |
Longest stretch:
I 264
— 20 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ettrick, VA and Virginia Beach, 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
Continue on VA 164
0.7 mi
·
41 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr Freeway
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 264 East: Norfolk
27
Merge onto I 264; US 460 ALT
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 264; US 460 ALT
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto I 264; VA 337
17 mi
·
23 min
·
I 264; VA 337
Use the slight right lane.
29
Continue on 21st Street
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
21st Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Turn left onto Arctic Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Arctic Avenue
Use the left lane.
31
Turn right onto 25th Street
454 ft
·
12 sec
·
25th Street
32
Arrive at destination
25th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 1-day drive covering 104.3 miles, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Ettrick in the morning will get you to Virginia Beach with ample daylight remaining. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, plan to fill up before you leave or at a convenient point along the way, as there are no designated stops on this route. Pay close attention to road signs, especially when transitioning between the local roads and I 264, to ensure you stay on track for your destination.
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 52.1 miles from Ettrick, VA, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20 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 23 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.1 miles or 1h 7m 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 55m
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 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 104.3 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Ettrick, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 264 for about 20 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.1 miles from Ettrick, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 103.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
86.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
|
I 264; VA 337
Keep slight right at fork onto I 264; VA 337
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
103.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 21m in
|
Arctic Avenue
Turn left onto Arctic Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.31 one way
$32.62 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $17.83 | $35.67 |
| premium | $4.70 | $19.30 | $38.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.03 | $46.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.3 | 0 | $10.95 | $5.01 |
| Efficient EV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.13 | $4.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.7 | 0 | $14.60 | $6.68 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
Virginia Beach, VA
Afternoon in Virginia Beach on Saturday
Local time
4:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Williamsburg, VA
52 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
27 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 22m 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.
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
Colonial National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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
~26 min detour
$15
near mile 46.7
View on nps.gov
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 79.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a "turn-heavy local drive" profile, meaning you'll navigate a good number of intersections and varying road types. With only 28% of the drive on highways, much of your time will be spent on local arteries like James River Drive and Colonial Trail West. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 20 miles on I 264, offering a brief period of faster travel before transitioning back to more local roads. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires attention to navigation and speed adjustments.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20 mi on I 264.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 Effort
10/10
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 20 significant decision points across 104.3 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 22m. Total distance: 104.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20 miles on I 264. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Virginia Beach, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
Yes — Petersburg National Battlefield, Colonial National Historical Park and Fort Monroe National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Virginia Beach, VA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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.
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