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Trip from Norfolk, VA to Wattsville, VA

Data updated 4 hours ago

Drive Time

2h 18m

Distance

97.8 mi

157 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 9m ★
6 AM
2h 19m
8 AM
2h 38m
10 AM
2h 26m
12 PM
2h 24m
3 PM
2h 26m
5 PM
2h 37m
8 PM
2h 13m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Norfolk, VA, VA

Norfolk, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Wattsville, VA, VA

Wattsville, VA

Faruk Tokluoğlu

Trip Overview

The drive from Norfolk, VA to Wattsville, VA covers 97.8 miles and takes about 2h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Lankford Highway, Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel, Northampton Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 65.1 miles on Lankford Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.29 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

48.9 miles from Norfolk, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 18m drive with frequent turns across 97.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lankford Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 65.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 97.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.5 miles (I 64 / Hampton Roads Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.4 mi into trip | ~0m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 264 East: VA Beach, NAVSTA Norfolk

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 264 East: VA Beach, NAVSTA Norfolk
6
4.9 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the exit toward I 64 West: Richmond, Norfolk International Airport

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 14 С Toward I 64 West: Richmond, Norfolk Internation...
5
5.5 mi into trip | ~8m 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 left lanes.
8
7.1 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit toward US 13: Northampton Boulevard, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 282 Toward US 13: Northampton Boulevard, Chesapeake...
8
7.2 mi into trip | ~10m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 13 North: Wesleyan Drive

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward US 13 North: Wesleyan Drive

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Norfolk, VA to Wattsville, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Norfolk International Airport along the way.

Norfolk International Airport

4.9 mi in | ~7m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Lankford Highway 65.1 mi 1h 32m
Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel 17.7 mi 24m
Northampton Boulevard 5.3 mi 8m
Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway 4.2 mi 5m
Chincoteague Road 2.4 mi 3m
Hampton Roads Beltway 1.6 mi 2m
East City Hall Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Lankford Highway — 65.1 mi, about 1h 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East City Hall Avenue

0.4 mi · 42 sec · East City Hall Avenue
2

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward I 264 East: VA Beach, NAVSTA Norfolk
3

Merge onto I 264

4.2 mi · 5 min · Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
4

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 14 С Toward I 64 West: Richmond, Norfolk International Airport
5

Merge onto I 64

1.6 mi · 2 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Exit 282 Toward US 13: Northampton Boulevard, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Use the slight right lane.
7

Keep slight right at fork

350 ft · 8 sec
Toward US 13 North: Wesleyan Drive Use the right lane.
8

Merge onto US 13; VA 166

4.9 mi · 7 min · Northampton Boulevard
Use the right lane.
9

Merge onto US 13

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Northampton Boulevard
10

Continue on US 13

18 mi · 24 min · Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
11

Continue on US 13

65 mi · 1 hr 32 min · Lankford Highway
12

Turn right onto VA 175

2.4 mi · 3 min · Chincoteague Road
13

Arrive at destination

VA 175

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 48.9 miles from Norfolk, VA, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.1 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 80 miles or 1h 53m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 48.9 miles or 1h 9m 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 53m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wattsville, 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 97.8 miles and 2h 18m.

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.
The longest stretch is on Lankford Highway for about 65.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 48.9 mi from Norfolk, VA · 1h 9m into the drive

town in Maryland, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Princess Anne, MD

49 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Princess Anne, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 48.9 miles from Norfolk, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Lankford Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.1 miles.

Arriving in Wattsville, VA

The final approach into Wattsville, 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 Wattsville, VA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Fort Monroe National Monument

Fort Monroe National Monument

National Monument

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...

11 mi from route ~27 min detour Free near mile 16.9
Park Closure: Road Closure and Fishing Pier Impact
View on nps.gov
Assateague Island National Seashore

Assateague Island National Seashore

National Seashore

Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime for...

16 mi from route ~41 min detour $25 near mile 97.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.29 one way

$30.59 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $16.72 $33.44
premium $4.70 $18.10 $36.20
diesel $5.61 $21.59 $43.19

Estimated Tolls: $4.00

Chesapeake Bay Bridge $4.00

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Tolls

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 34.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29.3 0 $10.27 $4.69
Efficient EV 24.5 0 $8.56 $3.91
EV Truck/SUV 39.1 0 $13.69 $6.26

Gas CO2

34 kg

EV CO2

11 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 data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Norfolk, VA

Night in Norfolk on Tuesday

Local time

11:24 PM

EDT

Current temp

85°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Wattsville, VA

Night in Wattsville on Tuesday

Local time

11:24 PM

EDT

Current temp

80°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

5 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

2h 18m 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 Wattsville, VA covers 97.8 miles and takes about 2h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lankford Highway, Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel, Northampton Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.9 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 $15.29 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 is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 97.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.5 miles (I 64 / Hampton Roads Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Norfolk, VA to Wattsville, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Norfolk International Airport along the way.

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