Origin
Norfolk, VA
Night in Norfolk on Wednesday
Local time
11:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norfolk, VA to Galax, VA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
6h 36m
Distance
324.5 mi
522 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$51
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 25m
★
6 AM
6h 37m
8 AM
7h 1m
10 AM
6h 45m
12 PM
6h 43m
3 PM
6h 46m
5 PM
7h 0m
8 PM
6h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norfolk, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Galax, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Norfolk, VA to Galax, VA covers 324.5 miles and takes about 6h 36m 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 $50.74 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
162.2 miles from Norfolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 36m drive with frequent turns across 324.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 460 West 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 36m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Norfolk, VA to Galax, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 460 West | — | — |
| I 664 | — | — |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | — | — |
| US 13 | — | — |
| West Military Highway | — | — |
| Portsmouth Boulevard | — | — |
| Courtland Road | — | — |
| I 95 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 460 West
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norfolk, VA and Galax, VA.
1
Start on East City Hall Avenue
121 ft
·
3 sec
·
East City Hall Avenue
2
Take the ramp slight right toward US 460 West, I 264 Toll West, I 464: Portsmouth
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 460 West, I 264 Toll West, I 464: Portsmouth
3
Merge slight left
7.4 mi
·
11 min
4
Keep slight right to continue on I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond
5
Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
6
Take the exit slight right toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military Highway
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military Highway
7
Keep slight left
0.6 mi
·
1 min
8
Continue on West Military Highway
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West Military Highway
9
Continue on Portsmouth Boulevard
62 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
Portsmouth Boulevard
10
Continue on Courtland Road
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Courtland Road
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Rocky Mt N.C.
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
I 95 South: Rocky Mt N.C
12
Merge slight left
19 mi
·
20 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward US 158: Roanoke Rapids, Murfreesboro, Weldon
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 158: Roanoke Rapids, Murfreesboro, Weldon
14
Turn right onto Julian R Allsbrook Highway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Julian R Allsbrook Highway
15
Turn straight onto East Littleton Road
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East Littleton Road
16
Continue on Julian R Allsbrook Highway
24 mi
·
28 min
·
Julian R Allsbrook Highway
17
Continue straight
5.1 mi
·
5 min
18
Continue straight
1.2 mi
·
1 min
19
At the end of the road, turn left
8.7 mi
·
10 min
20
Turn right onto Flemingtown Road
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
Flemingtown Road
21
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
22
Merge slight left
1.9 mi
·
2 min
23
Keep slight right
44 mi
·
48 min
24
Keep slight left
42 mi
·
48 min
25
Keep slight right
7.7 mi
·
9 min
26
Keep slight right
13 mi
·
15 min
27
Keep slight right to continue on Salem Parkway
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Salem Parkway
28
Take the exit slight right toward NC 74 West
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
NC 74 West
29
Continue on Winston-Salem Northern Beltway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Winston-Salem Northern Beltway
30
Keep slight left to continue on US 52 North: Mount Airy
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
US 52 North: Mount Airy
31
Merge slight left onto John Gold Memorial Expressway
21 mi
·
23 min
·
John Gold Memorial Expressway
32
Keep slight left to continue on I 74 West: Wytheville
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 74 West: Wytheville
33
Take the exit slight left toward I 77 South: Statesville, Charlotte
0.7 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 77 South: Statesville, Charlotte
34
Merge slight right onto Charles M Shelton Highway
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
Charles M Shelton Highway
35
Take the exit slight right toward NC 89: Galax, Mount Airy
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
NC 89: Galax, Mount Airy
36
Turn left onto West Pine Street
12 mi
·
19 min
·
West Pine Street
37
Continue on Skyline Highway
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Skyline Highway
38
Continue on South Main Street
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
39
Turn right onto East Oldtown Street
157 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Oldtown Street
40
Turn left
36 ft
·
3 sec
41
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 162.2 miles from Norfolk, VA, or about 3h 18m 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 71 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 162.2 miles or 3h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Galax, 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 324.5 miles and 6h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Norfolk, 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 162.2 mi from Norfolk, VA · 3h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
162 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 71 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 162.2 miles from Norfolk, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Galax, VA
The final approach into Galax, 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 Galax, 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
$50.74 one way
$101.49 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
114 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $55.48 | $110.97 |
| premium | $4.70 | $60.06 | $120.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $71.65 | $143.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 97.4 | 1 | $34.07 | $15.58 |
| Efficient EV | 81.1 | 0 | $28.39 | $12.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 129.8 | 1 | $45.43 | $20.77 |
Gas CO2
114 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Galax, VA
Night in Galax on Wednesday
Local time
11:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
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
1 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
6h 36m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Norfolk, VA to Galax, VA covers 324.5 miles and takes about 6h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 460 West, I 664, Hampton Roads Beltway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 162.2 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 $50.74 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 36m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Norfolk, VA to Galax, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Norfolk, VA to Galax, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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