Origin
Merrifield, VA
Afternoon in Merrifield on Saturday
Local time
1:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Merrifield, VA to Suffolk, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 26m
Distance
187.9 mi
302 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 14m
★
6 AM
3h 26m
8 AM
3h 51m
10 AM
3h 35m
12 PM
3h 32m
3 PM
3h 36m
5 PM
3h 49m
8 PM
3h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Merrifield, VA
Zetong Li
Suffolk, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Merrifield, VA to Suffolk, VA covers 187.9 miles and takes about 3h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Gallows Road, US 50 East, I 495 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.38 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
94 miles from Merrifield, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Gallows Road | — | — |
| US 50 East | — | — |
| I 495 South | — | — |
| Capital Beltway | — | — |
| I 95 South | — | — |
| Henry G | — | — |
| I 295 South | — | — |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Gallows Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Merrifield, VA and Suffolk, VA.
1
Start on Gallows Road
92 ft
·
4 sec
·
Gallows Road
2
Continue on Gallows Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Gallows Road
3
Keep slight left to continue on Gallows Road
115 ft
·
3 sec
·
Gallows Road
4
Turn straight onto US 50 East: Arlington Boulevard, Richmond
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
US 50 East: Arlington Boulevard, Richmond
5
Keep slight right to continue on I 495 South: Richmond
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 495 South: Richmond
6
Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Capital Beltway
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Richmond
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95 South: Richmond
8
Keep slight left to continue on I 95 South, SR 644 East: Richmond, Franconia
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 95 South, SR 644 East: Richmond, Franconia
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 95 South: Richmond
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 95 South: Richmond
10
Merge slight left onto Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
36 mi
·
42 min
·
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
11
Keep slight left
49 mi
·
53 min
12
Take the exit slight left toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach
13
Merge slight right onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
27 mi
·
29 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
14
Take the exit slight right toward VA 10 East: Hopewell
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
VA 10 East: Hopewell
15
Merge slight left onto East Hundred Road
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East Hundred Road
16
Continue on West Randolph Road
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
West Randolph Road
17
Continue on James River Drive
15 mi
·
19 min
·
James River Drive
18
Continue on Colonial Trail West
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Colonial Trail West
19
At the end of the road, turn left onto Rolfe Highway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Rolfe Highway
20
Take the exit right
148 ft
·
6 sec
21
Merge slight left onto Colonial Trail East
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Colonial Trail East
22
Continue on Old Stage Highway
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Old Stage Highway
23
Keep slight right to continue on Benns Church Boulevard
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Benns Church Boulevard
24
Continue on Godwin Boulevard
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Godwin Boulevard
25
Continue on Godwin Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Godwin Boulevard
26
Turn left onto Pruden Boulevard
367 ft
·
6 sec
·
Pruden Boulevard
27
Continue on North Main Street
2.2 mi
·
5 min
·
North Main Street
28
Turn right onto West Washington Street
453 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Washington Street
29
Turn left onto South Saratoga Street
164 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Saratoga Street
30
Arrive at your destination
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 94 miles from Merrifield, VA, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
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 41 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94 miles or 1h 43m 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 Merrifield, 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 Merrifield, VA
This is one driving day of about 187.9 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Merrifield, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
94 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 94 miles from Merrifield, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.38 one way
$58.77 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
66 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $32.13 | $64.26 |
| premium | $4.70 | $34.78 | $69.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.49 | $82.97 |
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: 65.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.4 | 0 | $19.73 | $9.02 |
| Efficient EV | 47 | 0 | $16.44 | $7.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 75.2 | 0 | $26.31 | $12.03 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Suffolk, VA
Afternoon in Suffolk on Saturday
Local time
1:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
86°F
Colonial Heights, VA
94 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
10 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 26m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
187.9 mi in 3h 26m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Gallows Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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 Merrifield, VA to Suffolk, VA is easy. At 3h 26m 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 Merrifield, VA to Suffolk, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 26m. Total distance: 187.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Merrifield, VA to Suffolk, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Suffolk, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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