The drive from Independent Hill, VA to Suffolk, VA covers 176.2 miles and takes about 3h 32m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, James River Drive for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 66.8 miles on I 95.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.55 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
88.1 miles from Independent Hill, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 176.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Independent Hill, VA to Suffolk, VA covers 176.2 miles and takes about 3h 32m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 66.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8 miles in near I 95.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 176.2 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 8 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.2 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
8 mi into trip|~12m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
26.2 mi into trip|~33m in|I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
74.7 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 84A
Toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va B...
5
76.6 mi into trip|~1h 28m 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
103.7 mi into trip|~1h 58m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Independent Hill, VA and Suffolk, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Va Beach.
Norfolk
74.7 mi in|~1h 26m
Va Beach
74.7 mi in|~1h 26m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
66.8 mi
1h 14m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
27.1 mi
29m
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
Godwin Boulevard
8.9 mi
10m
Dumfries Road
7 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 66.8 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independent Hill, VA and Suffolk, VA.
1
Start on SR 846
0.6 mi·59 sec·Bristow Road
2
Turn right onto VA 234
7.0 mi·10 min·Dumfries Road
3
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
4
Merge onto I 95
18 mi·20 min·I 95
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
49 mi·53 min·I 95
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
1.9 mi·2 min
Exit 84AToward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va BeachUse the slight left / straight lanes.
7
Merge onto I 295
27 mi·29 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 15AToward VA 10 East: HopewellUse the right lane.
9
Merge onto VA 10
2.9 mi·3 min·East Hundred Road
10
Continue on VA 10
2.9 mi·4 min·West Randolph Road
11
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
15 mi·19 min·James River Drive
12
Continue on VA 10
13 mi·15 min·Colonial Trail West
13
At end of road, turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
1.0 mi·1 min·Rolfe Highway
14
Take the exit
149 ft·6 sec
15
Merge onto VA 10
9.8 mi·11 min·Colonial Trail East
16
Continue on VA 10
12 mi·15 min·Old Stage Highway
Use the left lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 10
4.3 mi·5 min·Benns Church Boulevard
18
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
8.4 mi·9 min·Godwin Boulevard
19
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
0.5 mi·48 sec·Godwin Boulevard
20
Turn left onto US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
366 ft·6 sec·Pruden Boulevard
21
Continue on US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
2.2 mi·5 min·North Main Street
22
Turn right onto VA 337
454 ft·17 sec·West Washington Street
23
Turn left onto South Saratoga Street
165 ft·4 sec·South Saratoga Street
24
Arrive at destination
South Saratoga Street
Trip Plan
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 88.1 miles from Independent Hill, VA, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.8 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 39 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.1 miles or 1h 41m 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 49m
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 Independent Hill, 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 Independent Hill, VA
This is one driving day of about 176.2 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Independent Hill, 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 95 for about 66.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 88.1 mi from Independent Hill, VA
· 1h 41m into the drive
The midpoint is around 88.1 miles from Independent Hill, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.8 miles.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Suffolk, VA.
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
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 145.8
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
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 103.3
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...
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 164
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.55 one way
$55.11 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$30.13
$60.25
premium
$4.70
$32.61
$65.22
diesel
$5.61
$38.90
$77.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.9
0
$18.50
$8.46
Efficient EV
44.1
0
$15.42
$7.05
EV Truck/SUV
70.5
0
$24.67
$11.28
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Independent Hill, VA
Evening
in Independent Hill on Friday
Local time
7:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Suffolk, VA
Evening
in Suffolk on Friday
Local time
7:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Waverly, VA
88 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
35 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 32m 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 Independent Hill, VA to Suffolk, VA covers 176.2 miles and takes about 3h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, James River Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88.1 miles from Independent Hill, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.55 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 is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 176.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.2 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Independent Hill, VA and Suffolk, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Va Beach.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Colonial National Historical Park, Petersburg National Battlefield and Fort Monroe National Monument.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
