Origin
Highland Springs, VA
Afternoon in Highland Springs on Friday
Local time
1:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Highland Springs, VA to Charlottesville, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
82.2 mi
132 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Highland Springs, VA
Michał Robak
Charlottesville, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Highland Springs, VA to Charlottesville, VA covers 82.2 miles and takes about 1h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Nine Mile Road, I 64 West, VA 20 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.85 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 82.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 19m drive with frequent turns across 82.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Nine Mile 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Highland Springs, VA to Charlottesville, VA is easy. At 1h 19m 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 Highland Springs, VA to Charlottesville, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Nine Mile Road | — | — |
| I 64 West | — | — |
| VA 20 | — | — |
| Monticello Avenue | — | — |
| East Market Street | — | — |
| 7th Street Northeast | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Nine Mile Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highland Springs, VA and Charlottesville, VA.
1
Start on South Holly Avenue
30 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Holly Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Nine Mile Road
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
West Nine Mile Road
3
Take the ramp slight right toward I 64 West: Downtown
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 64 West: Downtown
4
Merge slight left
6.0 mi
·
8 min
5
Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
65 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
6
Take the exit slight right toward VA 20: Charlottesville, Scottsville
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
VA 20: Charlottesville, Scottsville
7
Turn right onto Monticello Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Monticello Avenue
8
Turn slight right
0.4 mi
·
1 min
9
Turn left onto East Market Street
459 ft
·
25 sec
·
East Market Street
10
Turn left onto 7th Street Northeast
285 ft
·
16 sec
·
7th Street Northeast
11
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.1 mi from Highland Springs, VA · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.1 miles from Highland Springs, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Charlottesville, VA
The final approach into Charlottesville, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.85 one way
$25.71 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $14.05 | $28.11 |
| premium | $4.70 | $15.21 | $30.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.15 | $36.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.7 | 0 | $8.63 | $3.95 |
| Efficient EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.19 | $3.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.9 | 0 | $11.51 | $5.26 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Charlottesville, VA
Afternoon in Charlottesville on Friday
Local time
1:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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 19m 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 Highland Springs, VA to Charlottesville, VA covers 82.2 miles and takes about 1h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Nine Mile Road, I 64 West, VA 20. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.1 miles from Highland Springs, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.85 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.
The drive from Highland Springs, VA to Charlottesville, VA is easy. At 1h 19m 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 Highland Springs, VA to Charlottesville, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Highland Springs, VA to Charlottesville, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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