Origin
Richlands, VA
Afternoon in Richlands on Sunday
Local time
3:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richlands, VA to Richmond, VA
Drive Time
5h 8m
Distance
314.4 mi
506 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 55m
★
6 AM
5h 9m
8 AM
5h 36m
10 AM
5h 18m
12 PM
5h 15m
3 PM
5h 19m
5 PM
5h 34m
8 PM
5h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richlands, VA
julio cesar resendiz resendiz
Trip Overview
The drive from Richlands, VA to Richmond, VA covers 314.4 miles and takes about 5h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Front Street, Cedar Valley Drive, US 460 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.32 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
157.2 miles from Richlands, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 34m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 8m drive with frequent turns across 314.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Front Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 8m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Richlands, VA to Richmond, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Front Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cedar Valley Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 460 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Governor George C Peery Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Governor G C Peery Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Trail of the Lonesome Pine | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 81 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 64 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Front Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richlands, VA and Richmond, VA.
1
Start on Virginia Avenue
89 ft
·
7 sec
·
Virginia Avenue
2
Turn right onto Front Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Front Street
3
Continue on Cedar Valley Drive
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Cedar Valley Drive
4
Take the ramp left toward US 460 East: Claypool Hill
249 ft
·
7 sec
·
US 460 East: Claypool Hill
5
Merge slight left onto Governor George C Peery Highway
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Governor George C Peery Highway
6
Turn left onto Governor G C Peery Highway
27 mi
·
35 min
·
Governor G C Peery Highway
7
Continue on Trail of the Lonesome Pine
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Trail of the Lonesome Pine
8
Take the exit right
2.3 mi
·
2 min
9
Take the exit left
20 mi
·
22 min
10
Continue straight
16 mi
·
17 min
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
140 mi
·
2 hr 33 min
·
I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
12
Continue straight
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
13
Keep slight right to continue on I 64 East: Richmond
99 mi
·
1 hr 49 min
·
I 64 East: Richmond
14
Take the exit slight right toward I 195 South: Laburnum Avenue
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
I 195 South: Laburnum Avenue
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 195 South
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 195 South
16
Continue on Beltline Expressway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Beltline Expressway
17
Take the exit slight right toward US 33, US 250: Broad Street, Hamilton Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 33, US 250: Broad Street, Hamilton Street
18
Turn straight onto North Hamilton Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
North Hamilton Street
19
Turn left onto West Broad Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West Broad Street
20
Turn right onto North Allen Avenue
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Allen Avenue
21
Enter the roundabout toward Marcus-David Peters Circle
276 ft
·
8 sec
·
Marcus-David Peters Circle
22
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 157.2 miles from Richlands, VA, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
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 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.2 miles or 2h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Richlands, 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 Richlands, VA
This is one driving day of about 314.4 miles and 5h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Richlands, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 157.2 mi from Richlands, VA · 2h 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
157 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 157.2 miles from Richlands, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Richmond, VA
The final approach into Richmond, 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 Richmond, 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
$50.32 one way
$100.63 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
110 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $54.82 | $109.64 |
| premium | $4.78 | $59.14 | $118.28 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $69.85 | $139.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 94.3 | 1 | $33.01 | $15.09 |
| Efficient EV | 78.6 | 0 | $27.51 | $12.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 125.8 | 1 | $44.02 | $20.12 |
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% 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
Richmond, VA
Afternoon in Richmond on Sunday
Local time
3:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°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
7 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
5h 8m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Richlands, VA to Richmond, VA covers 314.4 miles and takes about 5h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Front Street, Cedar Valley Drive, US 460 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 157.2 miles from Richlands, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $50.32 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 8m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Richlands, VA to Richmond, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Richlands, VA to Richmond, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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