Origin
Norfolk, VA
Evening in Norfolk on Sunday
Local time
7:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norfolk, VA to Alexandria, VA
Drive Time
3h 1m
Distance
195.9 mi
315 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 51m
★
6 AM
3h 2m
8 AM
3h 25m
10 AM
3h 10m
12 PM
3h 8m
3 PM
3h 11m
5 PM
3h 24m
8 PM
2h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norfolk, VA
Music HQ
Alexandria, VA
Jimmy Elizarraras
Trip Overview
The drive from Norfolk, VA to Alexandria, VA covers 195.9 miles and takes about 3h 1m 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 $31.35 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
97.9 miles from Norfolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 1m drive with frequent turns across 195.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 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 Alexandria, VA is easy. At 3h 1m 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 Alexandria, 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 |
| I 295 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 295 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 95 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Capital Beltway (Local) | 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 Alexandria, 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
15 mi
·
20 min
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
6
Keep slight left
61 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
7
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
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 295 North: Washington
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 295 North: Washington
9
Merge slight left onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit slight left toward I 95 North: Washington
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
I 95 North: Washington
11
Merge slight right
46 mi
·
49 min
12
Keep slight right
1.6 mi
·
1 min
13
Keep slight left
1.0 mi
·
1 min
14
Merge slight left
35 mi
·
41 min
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 95 North, I 495 East: Baltimore
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I 95 North, I 495 East: Baltimore
16
Keep slight right to continue on Capital Beltway (Local)
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Capital Beltway (Local)
17
Take the exit slight right toward US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir
18
Keep slight left to continue on US 1 North: Alexandria
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 1 North: Alexandria
19
Merge slight left onto Richmond Highway
440 ft
·
8 sec
·
Richmond Highway
20
Continue on South Patrick Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
South Patrick Street
21
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Franklin Street
22
Turn left onto South Washington Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Washington Street
23
Arrive at your destination
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 97.9 miles from Norfolk, VA, or about 1h 30m 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 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.9 miles or 1h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, 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 195.9 miles and 3h 1m.
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.
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 97.9 mi from Norfolk, VA · 1h 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
98 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 97.9 miles from Norfolk, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Alexandria, VA
The final approach into Alexandria, 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 Alexandria, 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
$31.35 one way
$62.70 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
69 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $34.16 | $68.32 |
| premium | $4.78 | $36.85 | $73.70 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $43.52 | $87.04 |
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: 68.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58.8 | 0 | $20.57 | $9.40 |
| Efficient EV | 49 | 0 | $17.14 | $7.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 78.4 | 0 | $27.43 | $12.54 |
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Alexandria, VA
Evening in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
7:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
86°F
Middletown, MD
98 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
2 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
3h 1m 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.
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 Alexandria, VA covers 195.9 miles and takes about 3h 1m 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 97.9 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 $31.35 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Norfolk, VA to Alexandria, VA is easy. At 3h 1m 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 Alexandria, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Norfolk, VA to Alexandria, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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