Origin
Norton, VA
Late night in Norton on Saturday
Local time
2:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norton, VA to Suffolk, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 41m
Distance
430.8 mi
693 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$67
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 34m
★
6 AM
8h 41m
8 AM
8h 57m
10 AM
8h 47m
12 PM
8h 45m
3 PM
8h 48m
5 PM
8h 56m
8 PM
8h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norton, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Suffolk, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Norton, VA to Suffolk, VA covers 430.8 miles and takes about 8h 41m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 85, I 81, US 58 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57.5 miles on I 85. At current regular gas prices, budget about $67.37 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
215.4 miles from Norton, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 23m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 8h 41m highway drive covering 430.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 85 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 57.5 miles on I 85.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 46 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 85 is the longest continuous segment at about 57.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 50.2 miles in near US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 30 significant decision points across 430.8 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 50.2 miles (US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 115.5 miles (I 77): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 181.1 miles (NC 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 30 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
50.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
115.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 25m in
|
I 77
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77 toward I 77 South: Charlotte North Carolina
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 81
Toward I 77 South: Charlotte North Carolina
7
181.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 41m in
|
NC 74
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 74 toward NC 74 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NC 74 East
8
206.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 12m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
7
253.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 7m in
|
I 85; NC 86 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; NC 86 Truck toward I 85 North: Durham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 85 North: Durham
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Norton, VA and Suffolk, VA, road signs point toward Martinsville, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Martinsville
206.9 mi in
|
~4h 12m
|
via I 40
Norfolk
373.2 mi in
|
~7h 23m
Virginia Beach
373.3 mi in
|
~7h 24m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 57.5 mi | 1h 4m |
| I 81 | 57.2 mi | 1h 1m |
| US 58 | 54.6 mi | 1h 11m |
| I 40 | 46.3 mi | 54m |
| North Andy Griffith Parkway | 31.6 mi | 35m |
| I 77 | 30.6 mi | 34m |
| US 158 | 29.2 mi | 34m |
| Congressman G K Butterfield Highway | 19.3 mi | 20m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 57.5 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norton, VA and Suffolk, VA.
1
Start on this road
145 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto 8th Street Southwest
130 ft
·
10 sec
·
8th Street Southwest
3
Turn right onto US 23 BUS
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue Northwest
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 58 ALT
8.3 mi
·
12 min
·
Norton Coeburn Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 58 ALT
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Bull Run Road
6
Continue on US 58 ALT
365 ft
·
6 sec
·
Trail of the Lonesome Pine
7
Continue on US 58 ALT
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
US Highway 58 Alternate
8
Continue on US 58 ALT; VA 71
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Trail of the Lonesome Pine
9
Turn right onto US 19
13 mi
·
18 min
·
US 19
10
Turn left onto US 11
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
11
Turn right onto Preston Street Southwest
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Preston Street Southwest
12
At end of road, turn left onto Bradley Street Southwest
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Bradley Street Southwest
13
At end of road, turn right onto US 58 ALT; VA 75
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Cummings Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
15
Merge onto I 81; US 58
57 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
I 81; US 58
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on I 77; I 81; US 11; US 52
7.1 mi
·
7 min
·
I 77; I 81; US 11; US 52
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77
24 mi
·
27 min
·
I 77
Exit 81
Toward I 77 South: Charlotte North Carolina
Use the slight right lane.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward VA 148, SR 775: Fancy Gap
19
Turn straight onto VA 148
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Chance Creek Road
20
At end of road, turn right onto US 52
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Fancy Gap Highway
21
Continue on US 52
32 mi
·
35 min
·
North Andy Griffith Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 74
13 mi
·
15 min
·
NC 74
Toward NC 74 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 53B
Toward US 421 South: Greensboro
24
Merge onto US 421; NC 150
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Salem Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Merge onto I 40; US 29; US 220
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 40; US 29; US 220
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi
·
42 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; NC 86 Truck
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
I 85; NC 86 Truck
Toward I 85 North: Durham
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; US 70
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 85; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on I 85; US 15; US 70; US 501
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
I 85; US 15; US 70; US 501
Use the straight lane.
31
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; US 15
37 mi
·
40 min
·
I 85; US 15
32
Turn straight onto I 85
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
I 85
33
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward US 1, US 158: Norlina
34
Turn left onto US 1; US 158
8.6 mi
·
10 min
·
US 1; US 158
35
Turn right onto US 158; US 401
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 158; US 401
36
Continue on US 158 Bypass
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
US 158 Bypass
37
At end of road, turn left onto US 158
28 mi
·
33 min
·
US 158
38
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
39
Merge onto I 95; US 158
19 mi
·
20 min
·
Congressman G K Butterfield Highway
40
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward US 58 East: Emporia, Norfolk
41
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward US 58 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
42
Merge onto US 58
55 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
US 58
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Continue on US 58 BUS
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Holland Road
44
Continue on US 58 Business
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Washington Street
45
Turn right onto South Saratoga Street
165 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Saratoga Street
46
Arrive at destination
South Saratoga Street
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 215.4 miles from Norton, VA, or about 4h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.5 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 95 miles or 2h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 215.4 miles or 4h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 215.4 miles or 4h 23m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Suffolk, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Norton, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Norton, VA
Aim for roughly 215 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Suffolk, VA
Aim for roughly 215 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 95 miles from Norton, VA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 85 for about 57.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 215.4 mi from Norton, VA · 4h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
215 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in King, NCOvernight Options
Night 1
215 mi · about 4.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near King, NC after about 215 miles or 4.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 95 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 215.4 miles from Norton, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 215 miles or 4.3 hours on the road.
Arriving in Suffolk, VA
The final approach into Suffolk, 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 Suffolk, VA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Suffolk, VA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$67.37 one way
$134.74 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
151 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $73.66 | $147.32 |
| premium | $4.70 | $79.73 | $159.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $95.12 | $190.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$67
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$197–$307
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 150.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 129.2 | 1 | $45.23 | $20.68 |
| Efficient EV | 107.7 | 1 | $37.70 | $17.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 172.3 | 2 | $60.31 | $27.57 |
Gas CO2
151 kg
EV CO2
50 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
Suffolk, VA
Late night in Suffolk on Saturday
Local time
2:32 AM
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
9 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
8h 41m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Norton, VA to Suffolk, VA covers 430.8 miles and takes about 8h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 85, I 81, US 58. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 215 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 215.4 miles from Norton, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $67.37 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 30 significant decision points across 430.8 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 50.2 miles (US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 115.5 miles (I 77): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 181.1 miles (NC 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Norton, VA and Suffolk, VA, road signs point toward Martinsville, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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