Drive Time
4h 11m
Distance
192.5 mi
310 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
Photo: Photography Maghradze PH
The drive from Norfolk, VA to Amherst, VA covers 192.5 miles and takes about 4h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on VA 337, Tidewater Drive, Hampton Roads Beltway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.81 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
96.3 miles from Norfolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 11m drive with frequent turns across 192.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 11m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Norfolk, VA to Amherst, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| VA 337 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tidewater Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| VA 33 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nine Mile Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North 25th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Norfolk, VA and Amherst, VA.
Start on East City Hall Avenue
Keep slight left to continue on VA 337: Tidewater Drive
Merge slight left onto Tidewater Drive
Turn left
Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway
Continue on Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway
Keep slight left
Take the exit slight right toward VA 33 West: Nine Mile Road
Turn straight onto Nine Mile Road
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward North 25th Street
Exit the roundabout onto North 25th Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward North 25th Street
Exit the roundabout onto North 25th Street
Turn right onto East Main Street
Turn left onto South 21st Street
At the end of the road, turn right onto Dock Street
At the end of the road, turn right onto South 14th Street
Turn left onto East Canal Street
Take the ramp left toward VA 195 Toll West
Merge slight left onto Downtown Expressway
Keep slight left to continue on Powhite Parkway
Merge slight left onto Powhite Parkway
Keep slight left to continue on E-ZPass Only (Powhite Parkway)
Merge slight right onto Powhite Parkway
Take the exit slight right toward US 60: Midlothian Turnpike
Continue on US 60: Midlothian Turnpike
Keep slight right to continue on US 60 West: Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian
Merge slight left onto Midlothian Turnpike
Continue on Anderson Highway
Continue on East James Anderson Highway
Continue on West James Anderson Highway
Continue on Anderson Highway
Continue on Richmond Highway
Turn sharp left onto Washington Street
Turn right onto 2nd Street
Turn right onto Goodwin Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.3 miles or 2h 5m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Amherst, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Norfolk, 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 Norfolk, VA
This is one driving day of about 192.5 miles and 4h 11m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 96.3 mi from Norfolk, VA · 2h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 96.3 miles from Norfolk, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Amherst, 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 Amherst, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$30.81 one way
$61.62 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $33.57 | $67.13 |
| premium | $4.78 | $36.21 | $72.42 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $42.77 | $85.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.8 | 0 | $20.21 | $9.24 |
| Efficient EV | 48.1 | 0 | $16.84 | $7.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77 | 0 | $26.95 | $12.32 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
23 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Norfolk on Sunday
Local time
2:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Amherst on Sunday
Local time
2:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
88°F
Middletown, MD
96 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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