Trip from Richlands, VA to Virginia Beach, VA

Drive Time

8h 12m

Distance

430.1 mi

692 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$69

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

4 AM

8h 5m ★

6 AM

8h 12m

8 AM

8h 28m

10 AM

8h 18m

12 PM

8h 16m

3 PM

8h 19m

5 PM

8h 28m

8 PM

8h 8m

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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Richlands, VA

julio cesar resendiz resendiz

Trip Overview

The drive from Richlands, VA to Virginia Beach, VA covers 430.1 miles and takes about 8h 12m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on I 64, I 81, Governor G C Peery Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 157.1 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $68.83 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 miles from Richlands, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 5m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 8h 12m highway drive covering 430.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 157.1 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 27 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 157.1 miles.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,425 ft 8 ft

Total Climb

498 ft

Total Descent

2,915 ft

Highest Point

2,425 ft

~17.9 mi in

Elevation Range

2,416 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 79 miles in near I 81; US 11.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 430.1 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 79 miles (I 81; US 11): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 219 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 309 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

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

79 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in | I 81; US 11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 11 toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke

219 mi into trip | ~4h 10m in | I 64

Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 East: Richmond

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Toward I 64 East: Richmond

309 mi into trip | ~5h 48m in

Take the exit toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk

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 177 Toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk

333.1 mi into trip | ~6h 14m in

Take the exit toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 28A Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach

416.7 mi into trip | ~7h 52m in

Take the exit toward I 264 East, I 264 West: Va Beach, Downtown Norfolk, Portsmouth

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 284A Toward I 264 East, I 264 West: Va Beach, Downto...

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Richlands, VA to Virginia Beach, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Norfolk along the way.

Norfolk

309 mi in | ~5h 48m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 64	157.1 mi	2h 53m
I 81	139.7 mi	2h 33m
Governor G C Peery Highway	27.3 mi	35m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway	22.9 mi	25m
US 52	19.7 mi	22m
I 77	16 mi	17m
Hampton Roads Beltway	12 mi	15m
Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway	11.8 mi	16m

Longest stretch: I 64 — 157.1 mi, about 2h 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Richlands, VA and Virginia Beach, VA.

Start on Virginia Avenue

88 ft · 6 sec · Virginia Avenue

Turn right onto US 460 BUS

1.2 mi · 1 min · Front Street

Continue on US 460 BUS

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Cedar Valley Drive

Take the ramp

250 ft · 7 sec

Toward US 460 East: Claypool Hill

Merge onto US 460

2.4 mi · 4 min · Governor George C Peery Highway

Turn left onto US 19; US 460

27 mi · 35 min · Governor G C Peery Highway

Continue on US 19; US 460

9.8 mi · 11 min · Trail of the Lonesome Pine

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit onto US 52 Truck

2.3 mi · 2 min · US 52 Truck

Take the exit onto US 52

20 mi · 22 min · US 52

Continue on I 77

16 mi · 17 min · I 77

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 11

140 mi · 2 hr 33 min · I 81; US 11

Toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke Use the straight lane.

Continue on I 64; I 81

0.3 mi · 17 sec · I 64; I 81

Keep slight right at fork onto I 64

90 mi · 1 hr 38 min · I 64

Toward I 64 East: Richmond Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

1.2 mi · 1 min

Exit 177 Toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk Use the slight right lane.

Continue on I 295

23 mi · 25 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

1.3 mi · 2 min

Exit 28A Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 64

67 mi · 1 hr 15 min · I 64

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 64; US 60

342 ft · 5 sec · Hampton Roads Beltway

Continue on I 64; US 60

3.5 mi · 4 min · Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel

Continue on I 64; US 60

12 mi · 15 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 14 sec

Exit 284A Toward I 264 East, I 264 West: Va Beach, Downtown Norfolk, Portsmouth Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 264 East: Va Beach Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto I 264

12 mi · 16 min · Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway

Continue on 21st Street

0.4 mi · 54 sec · 21st Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto Arctic Avenue

0.3 mi · 46 sec · Arctic Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto 25th Street

454 ft · 12 sec · 25th Street

Arrive at destination

25th 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 miles from Richlands, VA, or about 4h 5m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 157.1 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 1h 53m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 215 miles or 4h 5m 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 miles or 4h 5m

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 6h 57m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Virginia Beach, 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.

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 Richlands, VA

Aim for roughly 215 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Virginia Beach, VA

Aim for roughly 215 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 95 miles from Richlands, 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 64 for about 157.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 215 mi from Richlands, VA · 4h 5m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Oakland, MD

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 Oakland, MD

Overnight Options

Night 1

Oakland, MD

215 mi · about 4.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Oakland, MD after about 215 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Winston-Salem, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 95 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Oakland, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 215 miles from Richlands, 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 157.1 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 215 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.

Arriving in Virginia Beach, VA

The final approach into Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach, VA.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Virginia Beach, VA with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$68.83 one way

$137.67 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 151 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$75.00	$149.99
premium	$4.78	$80.91	$161.81
diesel	$5.64	$95.55	$191.11

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$69

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$199–$309

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 150.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	129	1	$45.16	$20.64
Efficient EV	107.5	1	$37.63	$17.20
EV Truck/SUV	172	2	$60.21	$27.53

Gas CO2

150 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Richlands, VA

Evening in Richlands on Sunday

Local time

6:34 PM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Virginia Beach, VA

Evening in Virginia Beach on Sunday

Local time

6:34 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

76°F

Oakland, MD

215 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.

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

4 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 12m 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 Richlands, VA to Virginia Beach, VA covers 430.1 miles and takes about 8h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 64, I 81, Governor G C Peery Highway. 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 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 $68.83 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.

On the drive from Richlands, VA to Virginia Beach, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Norfolk along the way.

Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 8 ft to 2,425 ft elevation with about 498 ft of total climbing.

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Trip from Richlands, VA to Virginia Beach, VA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

Elevation Profile

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Virginia Beach, VA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Richlands, VA

Virginia Beach, VA

Same local time

4 degrees warmer at arrival

8h 12m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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