The drive from Norfolk, VA to Fort Lee, VA covers 88.2 miles and takes about 1h 50m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, Hampton Roads Beltway, Tidewater Drive for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.7 miles on I 64.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.79 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.
Midpoint
44.1 miles from Norfolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 88.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 50m highway drive covering 88.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and Hampton Roads Beltway. The longest continuous stretch is about 64.7 miles on I 64.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 64.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Hampton Roads Beltway. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88.2 miles you will encounter 6 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 0.5 miles (VA 337 / Tidewater Drive): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles (I 64 / Hampton Roads Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in
Keep slight left at fork toward VA 337: Tidewater Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward VA 337: Tidewater Drive
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|VA 337 / Tidewater Drive
Merge onto VA 337 / Tidewater Drive
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
5.3 mi into trip|~11m in|I 64 / Hampton Roads Beltway
Merge onto I 64 / Hampton Roads Beltway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
20.2 mi into trip|~32m in|I 64
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
84.9 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward VA 156 North: Sandston, Highland Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 197
Toward VA 156 North: Sandston, Highland Springs
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
64.7 mi
1h 11m
Hampton Roads Beltway
11.4 mi
15m
Tidewater Drive
4.6 mi
10m
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
3.5 mi
4m
South Airport Drive
2.6 mi
4m
East City Hall Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Charles City Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 64.7 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norfolk, VA and Fort Lee, VA.
1
Start on East City Hall Avenue
0.4 mi·42 sec·East City Hall Avenue
2
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·28 sec
Toward VA 337: Tidewater Drive
3
Merge onto VA 337
4.6 mi·10 min·Tidewater Drive
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left
0.2 mi·28 sec
5
Merge onto I 64
5.6 mi·7 min·Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 64; US 60
3.5 mi·4 min·Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
7
Continue on I 64; US 60
5.9 mi·7 min·Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
65 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 197Toward VA 156 North: Sandston, Highland SpringsUse the right lane.
10
Turn left onto VA 156
2.6 mi·4 min·South Airport Drive
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto Charles City Road
0.4 mi·38 sec·Charles City Road
12
Arrive at destination
Charles City Road
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 44.1 miles from Norfolk, VA, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.7 miles.
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 19 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.1 miles or 58m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Lee, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Norfolk, VA
This is one driving day of about 88.2 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Norfolk, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 64.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.1 mi from Norfolk, VA
· 58m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Colonial National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On May 13, 1607, Jamestown was established as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Three cultures came together – European, Virginia Indian and African–to create a new society that...
Fort Monroe's story spans from prehistory to the 2000s. Kecoughtan Indians occupied Old Point Comfort before the arrival of English colonists. The first enslaved Africans arrived in 1619. Those escapi...
Two hundred ninety-two days, eight offensives, over 70,000 casualties, U. S. Colored Troops, and the decline of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. U.S. forces c...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 88.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.79 one way
$27.59 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.08
$30.16
premium
$4.70
$16.32
$32.65
diesel
$5.61
$19.47
$38.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.5
0
$9.26
$4.23
Efficient EV
22.1
0
$7.72
$3.53
EV Truck/SUV
35.3
0
$12.35
$5.64
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Norfolk, VA
Late night
in Norfolk on Saturday
Local time
5:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Lee, VA
Late night
in Fort Lee on Saturday
Local time
5:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°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
31 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
1h 50m 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 Fort Lee, VA covers 88.2 miles and takes about 1h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, Hampton Roads Beltway, Tidewater Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.1 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 $13.79 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88.2 miles you will encounter 6 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 0.5 miles (VA 337 / Tidewater Drive): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles (I 64 / Hampton Roads Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Norfolk, VA to Fort Lee, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Colonial National Historical Park, Fort Monroe National Monument and Petersburg National Battlefield.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
