Trip from Pantops, VA to Suffolk, VA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 16m

Distance

158.5 mi

255 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

3h 5m ★

6 AM

3h 17m

8 AM

3h 41m

10 AM

3h 25m

12 PM

3h 23m

3 PM

3h 26m

5 PM

3h 39m

8 PM

3h 10m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Pantops, VA

Photography Maghradze PH

independent city in Virginia, United States

Suffolk, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 158.5-mile drive from Pantops, VA, to Suffolk, VA, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 16 minutes. You'll navigate primarily via I 64 and the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, with a portion on James River Drive, making for a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $25, this route offers an economical way to travel within the Southeast region. The single recommended stop suggests a straightforward journey, ideal for those looking for a relatively quick and efficient trip between these two Virginia locations.

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

79.2 miles from Pantops, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 158.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Drive Character

The drive features a 51% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster-paced roads. Expect a longest stretch of 65.5 miles on I 64, offering a consistent pace for a significant part of your journey. The profile is described as a 'mixed drive,' indicating a blend of interstate travel and potentially some more local or scenic road segments. This combination suggests a dynamic driving experience, shifting from efficient highway cruising to possibly more varied road conditions as you progress towards Suffolk.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 22 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 65.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 250 / Richmond Road.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 158.5 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: near the start (US 250 / Richmond Road): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.5 miles (I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

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

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 250 / Richmond Road

Turn left onto US 250 / Richmond Road

Navigation decision point

2 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 64

Merge onto I 64

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

67.5 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in | I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

82.1 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in

Take the exit toward VA 10 East: Hopewell

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 61A Toward VA 10 East: Hopewell

158.4 mi into trip | ~3h 16m in | South Saratoga Street

Turn left onto South Saratoga Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 64	65.5 mi	1h 13m
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike	14.6 mi	18m
James River Drive	14.6 mi	19m
Colonial Trail West	13.3 mi	15m
Old Stage Highway	12 mi	15m
Colonial Trail East	9.8 mi	11m
Godwin Boulevard	8.9 mi	10m
West Hundred Road	6.8 mi	10m

Longest stretch: I 64 — 65.5 mi, about 1h 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pantops, VA and Suffolk, VA.

Start on VA 20

34 ft · 6 sec · Stony Point Road

Turn left onto US 250

1.7 mi · 3 min · Richmond Road

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward I 64 East

Merge onto I 64

65 mi · 1 hr 13 min · I 64

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95

15 mi · 18 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Exit 61A Toward VA 10 East: Hopewell Use the right lane.

Continue on VA 10

6.8 mi · 10 min · West Hundred Road

Use the left / uturn lanes.

Continue on VA 10

2.9 mi · 4 min · West Randolph Road

Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS

15 mi · 19 min · James River Drive

Continue on VA 10

13 mi · 15 min · Colonial Trail West

At end of road, turn left onto VA 10; VA 31

1.0 mi · 1 min · Rolfe Highway

Take the exit

149 ft · 6 sec

Merge onto VA 10

9.8 mi · 11 min · Colonial Trail East

Continue on VA 10

12 mi · 15 min · Old Stage Highway

Use the left lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto VA 10

4.3 mi · 5 min · Benns Church Boulevard

Continue on VA 10; VA 32

8.4 mi · 9 min · Godwin Boulevard

Continue on VA 10; VA 32

0.5 mi · 48 sec · Godwin Boulevard

Turn left onto US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32

366 ft · 6 sec · Pruden Boulevard

Continue on US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32

2.2 mi · 5 min · North Main Street

Turn right onto VA 337

454 ft · 17 sec · West Washington Street

Turn left onto South Saratoga Street

165 ft · 4 sec · South Saratoga Street

Arrive at destination

South Saratoga Street

Trip Plan

Given the manageable 3-hour and 16-minute duration, you can comfortably depart Pantops at your leisure, perhaps in the mid-morning to avoid peak rush hour traffic in the Richmond area. Plan for one stop to stretch your legs and refuel; a good point might be around the halfway mark. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 65.5 miles on I 64, as services can be spaced out on interstates. The estimated $25 fuel cost is a helpful budget guide for this 158.5-mile trip.

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 79.2 miles from Pantops, VA, or about 1h 32m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.5 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 35 miles or 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 79.2 miles or 1h 32m 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 37m

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 Pantops, 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 Pantops, VA

This is one driving day of about 158.5 miles and 3h 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Pantops, 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.

The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 65.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 79.2 mi from Pantops, VA · 1h 32m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hopewell, VA

79 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

Ashland, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bensley, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 79.2 miles from Pantops, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.5 miles.

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.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$24.79 one way

$49.57 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 56 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$27.10	$54.20
premium	$4.70	$29.33	$58.67
diesel	$5.61	$34.99	$69.99

Estimated Tolls: $1.02

Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike (14.6 mi) $1.02

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

$25

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 55.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	47.6	$16.64	$7.61
Efficient EV	39.6	$13.87	$6.34
EV Truck/SUV	63.4	$22.19	$10.14

Gas CO2

55 kg

EV CO2

19 kg (65% 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 13, 2026

Origin

Pantops, VA

Evening in Pantops on Thursday

Local time

7:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

87°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Suffolk, VA

Evening in Suffolk on Thursday

Local time

7:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

80°F

Hopewell, VA

79 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

7 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

3h 16m 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 Pantops, VA to Suffolk, VA covers 158.5 miles and takes about 3h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 64, Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, James River Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 79.2 miles from Pantops, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.79 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 route from Pantops, VA to Suffolk, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Pantops, VA or browse trips ending in Suffolk, VA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VA road trips.

Explore maps for Pantops, VA or Suffolk, VA on MapSof.net.

Trip from Pantops, VA to Suffolk, VA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Suffolk, VA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Pantops, VA

Suffolk, VA

Same local time

7 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 16m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore More

Continue From Suffolk, VA

More from Pantops, VA

More trips to Suffolk, VA