Drive Time
2h 45m
Distance
111 mi
179 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
The drive from Hampton, VA to Colonial Beach, VA covers 111 miles and takes about 2h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on George Washington Memorial Highway, Tidewater Trail, Newland Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.5 miles on George Washington Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.76 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
55.5 miles from Hampton, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 45m drive with frequent turns across 111 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 111 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 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (I 64 / Hampton Roads Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp toward I 64 West
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 64 / Hampton Roads Beltway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 17 North: J Clyde Morris Boulevard, Yorktown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
At end of road, turn left onto South Water Lane
Navigation decision point
On the drive from Hampton, VA to Colonial Beach, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Yorktown along the way.
Yorktown
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| George Washington Memorial Highway | 38.5 mi | 56m |
| Tidewater Trail | 29.8 mi | 39m |
| Newland Road | 13.9 mi | 24m |
| James Monroe Highway | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Kings Highway | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| Queen Street | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| I 64 | 4 mi | 4m |
| Flat Iron Road | 3.9 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hampton, VA and Colonial Beach, VA.
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.
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 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.5 miles or 1h 20m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colonial Beach, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Hampton, 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 Hampton, VA
This is one driving day of about 111 miles and 2h 45m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55.5 mi from Hampton, VA · 1h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 55.5 miles from Hampton, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Colonial Beach, 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 Colonial Beach, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$17.76 one way
$35.53 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $19.36 | $38.71 |
| premium | $4.78 | $20.88 | $41.76 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $24.66 | $49.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.3 | 0 | $11.65 | $5.33 |
| Efficient EV | 27.8 | 0 | $9.71 | $4.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.4 | 0 | $15.54 | $7.10 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Hampton on Saturday
Local time
4:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Colonial Beach on Saturday
Local time
4:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
59°F
Staten Island, NY
56 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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