Trip from Newport News, VA to Cedar Bluff, VA

Drive Time

4h 48m

Distance

258.2 mi

416 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$41

one way

Downtown Cedar Bluff, VA, VA

Photo: Jon Eliya

Trip Overview

The drive from Newport News, VA to Cedar Bluff, VA covers 258.2 miles and takes about 4h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 64, I 81, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 176.9 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.32 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

129.1 miles from Newport News, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 25m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 4h 48m highway drive covering 258.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 176.9 miles on I 64.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 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 176.9 miles.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,615 ft 28 ft

Total Climb

2,012 ft

Total Descent

1,076 ft

Highest Point

1,615 ft

~182.9 mi in

Elevation Range

1,587 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 258.2 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 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

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

6
1.4 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond

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

Toward I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond
8
58.2 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in

Take the exit toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC

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 200 Toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC
7
58.7 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 295 North: Washington

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 295 North: Washington
6
82.6 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 64 West: Charlottesville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 53A Toward I 64 West: Charlottesville
8
251.1 mi into trip | ~4h 38m in | US 220

Take the exit onto US 220 toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke

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

Use the slight left lane. Exit 143 Toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Newport News, VA to Cedar Bluff, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Rocky Mount along the way.

Rocky Mount

58.2 mi in | ~1h 6m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 64 176.9 mi 3h 13m
I 81 47.7 mi 52m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway 22.6 mi 24m
US 220 6.6 mi 8m
J Clyde Morris Boulevard 0.7 mi 1m
Diligence Drive 0.4 mi 1m
5th Street Southeast 0.2 mi <1m
Elm Avenue Southeast 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 64 — 176.9 mi, about 3h 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Newport News, VA and Cedar Bluff, VA.

1

Start on this road

82 ft · 12 sec · this road
2

Turn left

413 ft · 31 sec
3

At end of road, turn right onto Thimble Shoals Boulevard

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Thimble Shoals Boulevard
4

Turn left onto Diligence Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · Diligence Drive
5

Turn left onto US 17

0.7 mi · 1 min · J Clyde Morris Boulevard
Use the left lane.
6

Continue on US 17

168 ft · 10 sec · J Clyde Morris Boulevard
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond
8

Merge onto I 64

57 mi · 1 hr 2 min · I 64
Use the right lane.
9

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 32 sec
Exit 200 Toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork

1.3 mi · 2 min
Toward I 295 North: Washington Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Merge onto I 295

23 mi · 24 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
12

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 55 sec
Exit 53A Toward I 64 West: Charlottesville
13

Merge onto I 64

120 mi · 2 hr 10 min · I 64
Toward I 64 West: Charlottesville Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

48 mi · 52 min · I 81
Use the straight lane.
15

Take the exit onto US 220

6.6 mi · 8 min · US 220
Exit 143 Toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke Use the slight left lane.
16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward VA 24: Elm Avenue Use the slight right lane.
17

Turn left onto VA 24

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Elm Avenue Southeast
Use the straight lane.
18

Continue on Elm Avenue Southeast

258 ft · 12 sec · Elm Avenue Southeast
19

Turn right onto 5th Street Southeast

0.2 mi · 35 sec · 5th Street Southeast
20

Arrive at destination

5th Street Southeast

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 129.1 miles from Newport News, VA, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.9 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 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 129.1 miles or 2h 25m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 55m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Newport News, 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 Newport News, VA

This is one driving day of about 258.2 miles and 4h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Newport News, 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 176.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 129.1 mi from Newport News, VA · 2h 25m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Poolesville, MD

129 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

Middletown, MD

Fuel and coffee

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

La Plata, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 129.1 miles from Newport News, 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 176.9 miles.

Arriving in Cedar Bluff, VA

The final approach into Cedar Bluff, 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 Cedar Bluff, VA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$41.32 one way

$82.64 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 90 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $45.02 $90.04
premium $4.78 $48.57 $97.14
diesel $5.64 $57.36 $114.73

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$41

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$66–$91

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 90.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 77.5 0 $27.11 $12.39
Efficient EV 64.6 0 $22.59 $10.33
EV Truck/SUV 103.3 1 $36.15 $16.52

Gas CO2

90 kg

EV CO2

30 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 10 hours ago

Origin

Newport News, VA

Afternoon in Newport News on Sunday

Local time

2:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cedar Bluff, VA

Afternoon in Cedar Bluff on Sunday

Local time

2:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Partly Cloudy

E 3 mph 0% chance 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

16 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 48m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Newport News, VA to Cedar Bluff, VA covers 258.2 miles and takes about 4h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, I 81, 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 129.1 miles from Newport News, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.32 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 258.2 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 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Newport News, VA to Cedar Bluff, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Rocky Mount along the way.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 28 ft to 1,615 ft elevation with about 2,012 ft of total climbing.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Cedar Bluff, VA to Newport News, VA

Plan the drive back the other way.

257.7 mi 4h 47m

Explore more options from Newport News, VA or browse trips ending in Cedar Bluff, VA.

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