Trip from Norfolk, VA to Ashland, VA

Drive Time

2h 9m

Distance

105 mi

169 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

Downtown Ashland, VA, VA

Photo: Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Norfolk, VA to Ashland, VA covers 105 miles and takes about 2h 9m 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 $16.80 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

52.5 miles from Norfolk, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 9m drive with frequent turns across 105 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
VA 337 is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Norfolk, VA to Ashland, VA is easy. At 2h 9m 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 Ashland, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
VA 337 Unavailable Refreshing
Tidewater Drive Unavailable Refreshing
Hampton Roads Beltway Unavailable Refreshing
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Unavailable Refreshing
I 295 Unavailable Refreshing
I 295 North Unavailable Refreshing
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway Unavailable Refreshing
I 95 North Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: VA 337 — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Norfolk, VA and Ashland, VA.

1

Start on East City Hall Avenue

0.4 mi · 43 sec · East City Hall Avenue
2

Keep slight left to continue on VA 337: Tidewater Drive

0.1 mi · 28 sec · VA 337: Tidewater Drive
3

Merge slight left onto Tidewater Drive

4.6 mi · 10 min · Tidewater Drive
4

Turn left

0.2 mi · 28 sec
5

Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway

5.6 mi · 7 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
6

Continue on Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel

3.5 mi · 4 min · Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
7

Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway

5.9 mi · 7 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
8

Keep slight left

61 mi · 1 hr 7 min
9

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

0.5 mi · 32 sec · I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC
10

Keep slight right to continue on I 295 North: Washington

1.3 mi · 2 min · I 295 North: Washington
11

Merge slight left onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

12 mi · 12 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
12

Take the exit slight left toward I 95 North: Washington

2.4 mi · 2 min · I 95 North: Washington
13

Merge slight right

6.1 mi · 6 min
14

Take the exit slight right toward VA 54 West: Ashland

0.3 mi · 37 sec · VA 54 West: Ashland
15

Continue on East Patrick Henry Road

0.3 mi · 26 sec · East Patrick Henry Road
16

Continue on England Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · England Street
17

Turn sharp right

69 ft · 5 sec
18

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.5 miles from Norfolk, VA, or about 1h 4m 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 80 miles or 1h 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 52.5 miles or 1h 4m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 46m

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

Before You Leave

+

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 105 miles and 2h 9m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Norfolk, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 52.5 mi from Norfolk, VA · 1h 4m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Middletown, MD

53 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.

Middletown, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 52.5 miles from Norfolk, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Ashland, VA

The final approach into Ashland, 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 Ashland, 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

$16.80 one way

$33.61 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 37 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $18.31 $36.62
premium $4.78 $19.75 $39.50
diesel $5.64 $23.33 $46.65

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 36.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 31.5 0 $11.02 $5.04
Efficient EV 26.3 0 $9.19 $4.20
EV Truck/SUV 42 0 $14.70 $6.72

Gas CO2

37 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (68% 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

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Norfolk, VA

Late night in Norfolk on Sunday

Local time

2:19 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Forecast unavailable right now

EDT Live forecast

Destination

Ashland, VA

Late night in Ashland on Sunday

Local time

2:19 AM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Forecast unavailable right now

EDT Live forecast

Along the Route

88°F

Middletown, MD

53 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

3 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

2h 9m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Norfolk, VA to Ashland, VA covers 105 miles and takes about 2h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are VA 337, Tidewater Drive, Hampton Roads Beltway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.5 miles from Norfolk, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.80 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Norfolk, VA to Ashland, VA is easy. At 2h 9m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Norfolk, VA to Ashland, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Norfolk, VA to Ashland, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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