Trip from Hollins, VA to Richmond, VA

Drive Time

3h 20m

Distance

179.1 mi

288 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$29

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 9m ★
6 AM
3h 21m
8 AM
3h 45m
10 AM
3h 29m
12 PM
3h 27m
3 PM
3h 31m
5 PM
3h 44m
8 PM
3h 14m

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

Trip Overview

Spanning 179.1 miles across Virginia, this trip from Hollins to Richmond is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, it functions perfectly as a one-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget approximately $29 for fuel, making this a budget-friendly option for your travel plans. Since both Hollins and Richmond are located within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent environment throughout the drive. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this highway-focused route is designed for efficiency rather than leisure.

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

89.5 miles from Hollins, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highly efficient experience, as 98% of this journey is spent on major highways. You will primarily navigate via I-81 and I-64, with short transitions on Plantation Road to get you started. The route is defined by its interstate focus, including a long, uninterrupted 99.6-mile stretch on I-64 that allows for steady cruising. Because the vast majority of the drive is highway-based, it lacks the technical complexities of local backroads, offering a predictable and direct path between the two cities. You should be prepared for a consistent flow of traffic as you transition across the state.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 99.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 81. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 76.6 miles in near I 64.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 179.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 76.6 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 175.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 176.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

7
76.6 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in | I 64

Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 East: Richmond

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane. Toward I 64 East: Richmond
7
175.9 mi into trip | ~3h 14m in

Take the exit toward I 195 South: Laburnum Avenue

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 186 Toward I 195 South: Laburnum Avenue
8
176.1 mi into trip | ~3h 14m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 195 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Toward I 195 South
7
177 mi into trip | ~3h 15m in

Take the exit toward US 33, US 250: Broad Street, Hamilton Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 33, US 250: Broad Street, Hamilton St...
6
178.9 mi into trip | ~3h 20m in | North Allen Avenue

Turn right onto North Allen Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 64 99.6 mi 1h 49m
I 81 74.4 mi 1h 20m
Plantation Road 1.5 mi 2m
West Broad Street 1.5 mi 3m
Beltline Expressway 0.7 mi 1m
North Hamilton Street 0.2 mi <1m
North Allen Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
Marcus-David Peters Circle <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 64 — 99.6 mi, about 1h 49m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hollins, VA and Richmond, VA.

1

Start on VA 115

1.5 mi · 2 min · Plantation Road
Use the none lane.
2

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Use the right lane.
3

Merge onto I 81; US 220

27 mi · 29 min · I 81; US 220
Use the straight lane.
4

Continue on I 81; US 11

48 mi · 51 min · I 81; US 11
5

Continue on I 64; I 81

0.3 mi · 17 sec · I 64; I 81
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 64

99 mi · 1 hr 49 min · I 64
Toward I 64 East: Richmond Use the none lane.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 14 sec
Exit 186 Toward I 195 South: Laburnum Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 16 sec
Toward I 195 South Use the straight lane.
9

Continue on I 195

0.7 mi · 1 min · Beltline Expressway
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward US 33, US 250: Broad Street, Hamilton Street Use the slight right lane.
11

Turn straight onto North Hamilton Street

0.2 mi · 31 sec · North Hamilton Street
12

Turn left onto US 33; US 250

1.5 mi · 3 min · West Broad Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
13

Turn right onto North Allen Avenue

0.1 mi · 17 sec · North Allen Avenue
Use the none lane.
14

Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle

274 ft · 7 sec · Marcus-David Peters Circle
15

Arrive at destination

Marcus-David Peters Circle

Trip Plan

Given the 3-hour and 20-minute drive time, you have plenty of flexibility when planning your departure. I recommend scheduling at least one stop to break up the monotony of the highway stretches and keep yourself refreshed behind the wheel. Since you are spending nearly the entire trip on interstates, monitor your fuel levels before merging onto I-64 for that longest 99.6-mile segment to ensure you don't need to exit prematurely. Planning your departure to avoid peak commuting hours in either Hollins or Richmond will help you maintain a smoother pace. Use that single planned stop as a chance to stretch your legs, as the highway-heavy nature of this route means you will be seated for the majority of your travel time.

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 89.5 miles from Hollins, VA, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 89.5 miles or 1h 38m 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 42m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Hollins, 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 Hollins, VA

This is one driving day of about 179.1 miles and 3h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hollins, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 99.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 89.5 mi from Hollins, VA · 1h 38m into the drive

Downtown Cumberland, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cumberland, MD

90 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

Oakland, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Westernport, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 89.5 miles from Hollins, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.6 miles.

Arriving in Richmond, VA

The final approach into Richmond, 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 Richmond, 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

$28.66 one way

$57.33 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 63 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $31.23 $62.46
premium $4.78 $33.69 $67.38
diesel $5.64 $39.79 $79.58

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$29

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 62.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 53.7 0 $18.81 $8.60
Efficient EV 44.8 0 $15.67 $7.16
EV Truck/SUV 71.6 0 $25.07 $11.46

Gas CO2

63 kg

EV CO2

21 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Hollins, VA

Evening in Hollins on Sunday

Local time

5:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Richmond, VA

Evening in Richmond on Sunday

Local time

5:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

61°F

Cumberland, MD

90 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

7 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 20m 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 Hollins, VA to Richmond, VA covers 179.1 miles and takes about 3h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, I 81, Plantation Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 89.5 miles from Hollins, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.66 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 179.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 76.6 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 175.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 176.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Hollins, VA to Richmond, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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