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Trip from Fort Lee, VA to Suffolk, VA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h 51m

Distance

85.8 mi

138 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 43m ★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 57m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 58m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 46m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Fort Lee, VA, VA

Fort Lee, VA

Phil Evenden

independent city in Virginia, United States

Suffolk, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Fort Lee, VA to Suffolk, VA covers 85.8 miles and takes about 1h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on James River Drive, Colonial Trail West, Old Stage Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.6 miles on James River Drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.42 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.

Midpoint

42.9 miles from Fort Lee, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 85.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 51m drive with frequent turns across 85.8 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.
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 0.3 miles in near VA 281 / South Airport Drive.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.3 miles (VA 281 / South Airport Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.9 miles (I 295 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | VA 281 / South Airport Drive

Turn left onto VA 281 / South Airport Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
3.6 mi into trip | ~5m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 295 South: Hopewell, Rocky Mountain North Carolina

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 295 South: Hopewell, Rocky Mountain No...
5
3.9 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 295 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

Merge onto I 295 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
13.3 mi into trip | ~16m in

Take the exit toward VA 10 East: Hopewell

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 15A Toward VA 10 East: Hopewell
5
85.8 mi into trip | ~1h 50m in | South Saratoga Street

Turn left onto South Saratoga Street

Navigation decision point

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
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway 9.4 mi 10m
Godwin Boulevard 8.9 mi 10m
Benns Church Boulevard 4.3 mi 5m
East Hundred Road 2.9 mi 3m
Longest stretch: James River Drive — 14.6 mi, about 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Lee, VA and Suffolk, VA.

1

Start on Charles City Road

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Charles City Road
2

Turn left onto VA 281

1.2 mi · 2 min · South Airport Drive
Use the left lane.
3

Take the ramp

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward VA 895 East
4

Merge onto VA 895

1.4 mi · 1 min · Pocahontas Parkway
5

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 295 South: Hopewell, Rocky Mountain North Carolina Use the slight right lane.
6

Merge onto I 295

9.4 mi · 10 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Exit 15A Toward VA 10 East: Hopewell Use the right lane.
8

Merge onto VA 10

2.9 mi · 3 min · East Hundred Road
9

Continue on VA 10

2.9 mi · 4 min · West Randolph Road
10

Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS

15 mi · 19 min · James River Drive
11

Continue on VA 10

13 mi · 15 min · Colonial Trail West
12

At end of road, turn left onto VA 10; VA 31

1.0 mi · 1 min · Rolfe Highway
13

Take the exit

149 ft · 6 sec
14

Merge onto VA 10

9.8 mi · 11 min · Colonial Trail East
15

Continue on VA 10

12 mi · 15 min · Old Stage Highway
Use the left lane.
16

Keep slight right at fork onto VA 10

4.3 mi · 5 min · Benns Church Boulevard
17

Continue on VA 10; VA 32

8.4 mi · 9 min · Godwin Boulevard
18

Continue on VA 10; VA 32

0.5 mi · 48 sec · Godwin Boulevard
19

Turn left onto US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32

366 ft · 6 sec · Pruden Boulevard
20

Continue on US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32

2.2 mi · 5 min · North Main Street
21

Turn right onto VA 337

454 ft · 17 sec · West Washington Street
22

Turn left onto South Saratoga Street

165 ft · 4 sec · South Saratoga Street
23

Arrive at destination

South Saratoga Street

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.9 miles from Fort Lee, VA, or about 54m 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 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 42.9 miles or 54m 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 32m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Suffolk, VA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Fort Lee, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Fort Lee, VA

This is one driving day of about 85.8 miles and 1h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Fort Lee, 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 42.9 mi from Fort Lee, VA · 54m into the drive

Downtown Waverly, VA, VA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waverly, VA

43 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

Hopewell, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waverly, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42.9 miles from Fort Lee, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Suffolk, VA

The final approach into Suffolk, 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.

Colonial National Historical Park

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 ~27 min detour $15 near mile 56.2
View on nps.gov
Petersburg National Battlefield

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...

13 mi from route ~32 min detour Free near mile 14.8
View on nps.gov
Fort Monroe National Monument

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...

17 mi from route ~42 min detour Free near mile 71
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.42 one way

$26.83 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $14.67 $29.34
premium $4.70 $15.88 $31.76
diesel $5.61 $18.94 $37.89

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 30 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.7 0 $9.01 $4.12
Efficient EV 21.5 0 $7.51 $3.43
EV Truck/SUV 34.3 0 $12.01 $5.49

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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 15, 2026

Origin

Fort Lee, VA

Night in Fort Lee on Thursday

Local time

11:48 PM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Suffolk, VA

Night in Suffolk on Thursday

Local time

11:48 PM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

52°F

Waverly, VA

43 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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 51m 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 Fort Lee, VA to Suffolk, VA covers 85.8 miles and takes about 1h 51m 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 42.9 miles from Fort Lee, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.42 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 85.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.3 miles (VA 281 / South Airport Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.9 miles (I 295 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Fort Lee, VA to Suffolk, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Colonial National Historical Park, Petersburg National Battlefield and Fort Monroe National Monument.

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Suffolk, VA to Fort Lee, VA

Plan the drive back the other way.

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