Origin
Lake Ridge, VA
Late night in Lake Ridge on Friday
Local time
3:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Ridge, VA to Norfolk, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 27m
Distance
173.7 mi
280 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 15m
★
6 AM
3h 28m
8 AM
3h 52m
10 AM
3h 36m
12 PM
3h 34m
3 PM
3h 37m
5 PM
3h 51m
8 PM
3h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Ridge, VA
Dominik Gryzbon
Norfolk, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 173.7-mile drive from Lake Ridge, VA to Norfolk, VA takes approximately 3 hours and 27 minutes, making it a very manageable day trip. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with about 80% of the journey on major interstates. You can expect to spend around $27 on fuel for this trip. Since both your origin and destination are in the Southeast region, you'll be staying within familiar territory throughout. This drive is straightforward and efficient, ideal for getting you to Norfolk without needing an overnight stop.
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
86.8 miles from Lake Ridge, 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 27m. Total distance: 173.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this trip, with 80% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-95 and I-64. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 72.7 miles on I-95, so be prepared for periods of consistent highway travel. While the majority of the journey is on these main arteries, the inclusion of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway offers a slight variation. Overall, this drive is characterized by its efficiency and focus on covering distance quickly.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 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 72.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 64. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 28.6 miles in near I 95.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 16 significant decision points across 173.7 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 28.6 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
28.6 mi into trip
|
~37m 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
77.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m 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...
8
92 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 28A
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
8
168.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 15m in
Take the exit toward I 564, US 460: Naval Base, Granby 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.
Exit 276
Toward I 564, US 460: Naval Base, Granby Street
9
168.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 460, VA 165: Granby Street, Little Creek Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 460, VA 165: Granby Street, Little Cr...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lake Ridge, VA and Norfolk, VA, road signs point toward Va Beach and Virginia Beach.
Va Beach
77.2 mi in
|
~1h 30m
Virginia Beach
92 mi in
|
~1h 46m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 72.7 mi | 1h 21m |
| I 64 | 66.8 mi | 1h 15m |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 13 mi | 14m |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Granby Street | 3.1 mi | 7m |
| Old Bridge Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Monticello Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 72.7 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Ridge, VA and Norfolk, VA.
1
Start on Woodfern Court
451 ft
·
23 sec
·
Woodfern Court
2
Turn left onto SR 2185
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Antietam Road
3
Turn left onto SR 641
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Bridge Road
4
Turn right onto SR 640
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Minnieville Road
5
Turn slight left
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
6
Continue on SR 1781
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Telegraph Road
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward Prince William Parkway
8
Merge onto VA 294
469 ft
·
8 sec
·
Prince William Parkway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 95 South: Richmond
10
Merge onto I 95
24 mi
·
28 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
49 mi
·
53 min
·
I 95
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
1.9 mi
·
2 min
Exit 84A
Toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
13
Merge onto I 295
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Exit 28A
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 64
67 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64; US 60
342 ft
·
5 sec
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
17
Continue on I 64; US 60
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
18
Continue on I 64; US 60
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 276
Toward I 564, US 460: Naval Base, Granby Street
Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Toward US 460, VA 165: Granby Street, Little Creek Road
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Turn straight onto US 460
3.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Granby Street
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on US 460
446 ft
·
9 sec
·
Church Street
23
Turn right onto US 460
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Monticello Avenue
Use the right lane.
24
Continue on US 460
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Saint Pauls Boulevard
Use the left lane.
25
Turn left onto East City Hall Avenue
158 ft
·
9 sec
·
East City Hall Avenue
Use the left lane.
26
Arrive at destination
East City Hall Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 27-minute drive, departing in the morning can help you avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you approach the Norfolk area. With only 173.7 miles, you have flexibility with stops, but plan for one brief break to stretch your legs. The estimated fuel cost is around $27, so ensure your tank is full before leaving Lake Ridge. A specific tip for this route is to be aware of potential congestion on I-64 as you get closer to Norfolk, particularly during peak commuting hours.
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 86.8 miles from Lake Ridge, VA, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.7 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 38 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.8 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Norfolk, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lake Ridge, 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 Lake Ridge, VA
This is one driving day of about 173.7 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Lake Ridge, 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 72.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.8 mi from Lake Ridge, VA · 1h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 86.8 miles from Lake Ridge, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.7 miles.
Arriving in Norfolk, VA
The final approach into Norfolk, 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 Norfolk, 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
$27.16 one way
$54.33 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $29.70 | $59.40 |
| premium | $4.70 | $32.15 | $64.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.35 | $76.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.1 | 0 | $18.24 | $8.34 |
| Efficient EV | 43.4 | 0 | $15.20 | $6.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.5 | 0 | $24.32 | $11.12 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
Norfolk, VA
Late night in Norfolk on Friday
Local time
3:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
28 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 27m 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 Lake Ridge, VA to Norfolk, VA covers 173.7 miles and takes about 3h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, I 64, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.8 miles from Lake Ridge, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.16 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 16 significant decision points across 173.7 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 28.6 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Lake Ridge, VA and Norfolk, VA, road signs point toward Va Beach and Virginia Beach.
How this page is built
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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