Origin
Hampton, VA
Morning in Hampton on Friday
Local time
8:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 37m
Distance
446 mi
718 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$70
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hampton, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Appalachia, VA
Sherry
The drive from Hampton, VA to Appalachia, VA covers 446 miles and takes about 8h 37m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 64, I 81, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 181.4 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $69.74 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
223 miles from Hampton, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 7m into the drive .
This is a 8h 37m highway drive covering 446 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 181.4 miles on I 64.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in near I 64.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 446 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 3.9 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 65 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.5 miles: 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.
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 295 North: Washington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 64 West: Charlottesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
At end of road, turn left onto Valley Street Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hampton, VA and Appalachia, VA, road signs point toward Rocky Mount and Holston Dam.
Rocky Mount
Holston Dam
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 181.4 mi | 3h 18m |
| I 81 | 172.9 mi | 3h 9m |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 22.6 mi | 24m |
| US Highway 58 | 14.7 mi | 20m |
| Castlewood Drive | 12.5 mi | 17m |
| Porterfield Highway | 10.3 mi | 14m |
| Kent Junction Road | 7.8 mi | 11m |
| Norton Coeburn Road | 6.5 mi | 9m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hampton, VA and Appalachia, VA.
Start on North King Street
Turn left onto VA 351
Turn right onto VA 134
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 64
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 295
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 64
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
Continue on I 77; I 81; US 52
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 52
Take the exit onto US 58 ALT
Turn right onto US 58 ALT; VA 75
At end of road, turn left onto Valley Street Northwest
At end of road, turn right onto US 58 ALT
Turn slight right onto US 19; US 58 ALT
Continue on US 19; US 58 ALT
Turn left onto US 58 ALT
Continue on US 58 ALT
Continue on US 58 ALT
Continue on US 58 ALT
Turn left onto VA 74
Turn right onto US 58 Alternate Business
Turn left onto Main Avenue Southwest
Turn right onto SR 621
Turn left onto US 23 BUS
Continue on US 23 BUS
Continue on VA 78
Turn straight onto East Main Street
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 98 miles or 1h 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 223 miles or 4h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 223 miles or 4h 7m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Appalachia, 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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hampton, VA
Aim for roughly 223 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Appalachia, VA
Aim for roughly 223 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 223 mi from Hampton, VA · 4h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
223 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Eden, NCNight 1
223 mi · about 4.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eden, NC after about 223 miles or 4.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 98 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 223 miles from Hampton, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 181.4 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 223 miles or 4.3 hours on the road.
The final approach into Appalachia, 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 Appalachia, VA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Appalachia, VA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$69.74 one way
$139.49 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $76.26 | $152.52 |
| premium | $4.70 | $82.55 | $165.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $98.47 | $196.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$200–$310
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 156 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 133.8 | 1 | $46.83 | $21.41 |
| Efficient EV | 111.5 | 1 | $39.03 | $17.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 178.4 | 2 | $62.44 | $28.54 |
Gas CO2
156 kg
EV CO2
52 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Hampton on Friday
Local time
8:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Appalachia on Friday
Local time
8:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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