Drive Time
3h 48m
Distance
169.1 mi
272 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
The drive from Norfolk, VA to Appomattox, VA covers 169.1 miles and takes about 3h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 460 West, I 664, Hampton Roads Beltway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.37 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
84.5 miles from Norfolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 54m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 48m drive with frequent turns across 169.1 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
The drive from Norfolk, VA to Appomattox, VA is easy. At 3h 48m 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 Norfolk, VA to Appomattox, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 460 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 664 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 13 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Military Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Portsmouth Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 460 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Rives Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Norfolk, VA and Appomattox, VA.
Start on East City Hall Avenue
Take the ramp slight right toward US 460 West, I 264 Toll West, I 464: Portsmouth
Merge slight left
Keep slight right to continue on I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond
Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway
Take the exit slight right toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military Highway
Keep slight left
Continue on West Military Highway
Continue on Portsmouth Boulevard
Take the exit slight right toward US 460: Petersburg
Keep slight right to continue on US 460 West: Petersburg, Albert G Horton Junior Memorial, Veterans Cemetery
Turn left onto Rives Road
Take the ramp right toward I 95 North
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham, Blackstone
Merge slight right onto Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Take the exit slight right toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg
Continue on Airport Street
Continue on New Cox Road
Continue on East Colonial Trail Highway
Continue on East Colonial Trail Road
Continue on East Colonial Trail
Merge slight left onto West Colonial Trail Highway
Keep slight right to continue on West Colonial Trail Highway
Keep slight left
Keep slight left to continue on US 460 Business: Appomattox
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 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.5 miles or 1h 54m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Appomattox, 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 169.1 miles and 3h 48m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.5 mi from Norfolk, VA · 1h 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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 84.5 miles from Norfolk, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Appomattox, 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 Appomattox, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$26.37 one way
$52.74 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $29.49 | $58.97 |
| premium | $4.78 | $31.81 | $63.62 |
| diesel | $5.62 | $37.44 | $74.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.7 | 0 | $17.76 | $8.12 |
| Efficient EV | 42.3 | 0 | $14.80 | $6.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.6 | 0 | $23.67 | $10.82 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Afternoon in Norfolk on Saturday
Local time
3:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Appomattox on Saturday
Local time
3:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
88°F
Middletown, MD
85 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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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