The drive from Petersburg, VA to Charlottesville, VA covers 94.1 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, Monticello Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 65.2 miles on I 64.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.72 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
47.1 miles from Petersburg, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 94.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 52m highway drive covering 94.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch is about 65.2 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 65.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 1; US 301 ALT / South Adams Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 94.1 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (US 1; US 301 ALT / South Adams Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (US 460 BUS; VA 36 / East Wythe Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.2 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 mi into trip|~0m in|US 1; US 301 ALT / South Adams Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 1; US 301 ALT / South Adams Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 460 BUS; VA 36 / East Wythe Street
Turn left onto US 460 BUS; VA 36 / East Wythe Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
9
27.2 mi into trip|~35m in|I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 79
Toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
6
92.6 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|VA 20 / Monticello Avenue
Turn right onto VA 20 / Monticello Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
94.1 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|7th Street Northeast
Turn left onto 7th Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
65.2 mi
1h 12m
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
26.3 mi
33m
Monticello Avenue
1 mi
2m
VA 20
0.4 mi
1m
East Wythe Street
0.4 mi
<1m
East Market Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
South Adams Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
7th Street Northeast
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 65.2 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Petersburg, VA and Charlottesville, VA.
1
Start on this road
139 ft·12 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 1; US 301 ALT
408 ft·21 sec·South Adams Street
3
Turn left onto US 460 BUS; VA 36
0.4 mi·34 sec·East Wythe Street
Use the left lane.
4
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 95 North: Richmond
5
Merge onto I 95
26 mi·33 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
65 mi·1 hr 12 min·I 64
Exit 79Toward I 64 West, I 195 South: CharlottesvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Toward VA 20: Charlottesville, Scottsville
8
Turn right onto VA 20
1.0 mi·2 min·Monticello Avenue
Use the right lane.
9
Turn slight right onto VA 20
0.4 mi·1 min·VA 20
10
Turn left onto US 250 BUS
458 ft·25 sec·East Market Street
11
Turn left onto 7th Street Northeast
286 ft·15 sec·7th Street Northeast
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
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 47.1 miles from Petersburg, VA, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.2 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 21 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.1 miles or 57m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charlottesville, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Petersburg, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Petersburg, VA
This is one driving day of about 94.1 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Petersburg, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 65.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47.1 mi from Petersburg, VA
· 57m into the drive
The midpoint is around 47.1 miles from Petersburg, 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 65.2 miles.
Arriving in Charlottesville, VA
The final approach into Charlottesville, VA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Petersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
Park Closure: Eastern Front Tour Road south of Route 36 - Closed
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.2
0
$9.88
$4.52
Efficient EV
23.5
0
$8.23
$3.76
EV Truck/SUV
37.6
0
$13.17
$6.02
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Petersburg, VA
Afternoon
in Petersburg on Friday
Local time
3:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Charlottesville, VA
Afternoon
in Charlottesville on Friday
Local time
3:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
8 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 52m 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 Petersburg, VA to Charlottesville, VA covers 94.1 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, Monticello Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.1 miles from Petersburg, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.72 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 94.1 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (US 1; US 301 ALT / South Adams Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (US 460 BUS; VA 36 / East Wythe Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.2 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Petersburg, VA to Charlottesville, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
