Origin
Fairfax, VA
Evening in Fairfax on Sunday
Local time
5:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfax, VA to Chesapeake, VA
Drive Time
3h 10m
Distance
188.5 mi
303 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 59m
★
6 AM
3h 11m
8 AM
3h 34m
10 AM
3h 19m
12 PM
3h 17m
3 PM
3h 20m
5 PM
3h 33m
8 PM
3h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfax, VA
Eric Joseph
Chesapeake, VA
Willians Huerta
Trip Overview
The drive from Fairfax, VA to Chesapeake, VA covers 188.5 miles and takes about 3h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Chain Bridge Road, Ox Road, Gordon Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.17 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
94.2 miles from Fairfax, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 10m drive with frequent turns across 188.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Chain Bridge Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Fairfax, VA to Chesapeake, VA is easy. At 3h 10m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fairfax, VA to Chesapeake, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chain Bridge Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ox Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Gordon Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 95 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 295 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 64 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Chain Bridge Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfax, VA and Chesapeake, VA.
1
Start on Main Street
69 ft
·
10 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto Chain Bridge Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Chain Bridge Road
3
Continue on Ox Road
12 mi
·
19 min
·
Ox Road
4
Continue on Gordon Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Gordon Boulevard
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Fredericksburg
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 95 South: Fredericksburg
6
Merge slight left
26 mi
·
30 min
7
Keep slight left
49 mi
·
53 min
8
Take the exit slight left toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach
9
Merge slight right onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
11
Merge slight left
67 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
12
Keep slight left to continue on Hampton Roads Beltway
341 ft
·
5 sec
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
13
Continue on Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
14
Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway
6.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
15
Take the exit slight right toward VA 194 South: Chesapeake Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
VA 194 South: Chesapeake Boulevard
16
Turn straight onto Chesapeake Boulevard
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Chesapeake Boulevard
17
Turn straight
135 ft
·
8 sec
18
Turn left onto Ballentine Boulevard
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Ballentine Boulevard
19
Turn right onto East Princess Anne Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Princess Anne Road
20
Turn left onto Park Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue
21
Turn left onto East Brambleton Avenue
0.3 mi
·
58 sec
·
East Brambleton Avenue
22
Continue on Campostella Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Campostella Road
23
Turn right onto Wilson Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Wilson Road
24
Continue on 22nd Street
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
22nd Street
25
Continue on Poindexter Street
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Poindexter Street
26
Turn right onto D Street
413 ft
·
18 sec
·
D Street
27
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 94.2 miles from Fairfax, VA, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
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 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.2 miles or 1h 35m 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 36m
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 Fairfax, 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 Fairfax, VA
This is one driving day of about 188.5 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fairfax, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 94.2 mi from Fairfax, VA · 1h 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
94 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 94.2 miles from Fairfax, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Chesapeake, VA
The final approach into Chesapeake, 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 Chesapeake, 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
$30.17 one way
$60.33 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
66 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $32.87 | $65.74 |
| premium | $4.78 | $35.46 | $70.92 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $41.88 | $83.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.6 | 0 | $19.79 | $9.05 |
| Efficient EV | 47.1 | 0 | $16.49 | $7.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 75.4 | 0 | $26.39 | $12.06 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Chesapeake, VA
Evening in Chesapeake on Sunday
Local time
5:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
86°F
Middletown, MD
94 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 10m 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 Fairfax, VA to Chesapeake, VA covers 188.5 miles and takes about 3h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Chain Bridge Road, Ox Road, Gordon Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 94.2 miles from Fairfax, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.17 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Fairfax, VA to Chesapeake, VA is easy. At 3h 10m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fairfax, VA to Chesapeake, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fairfax, VA to Chesapeake, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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