Trip from Richmond, VA to Cedar Bluff, VA

Drive Time

3h 32m

Distance

187.3 mi

301 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 20m ★
6 AM
3h 32m
8 AM
3h 57m
10 AM
3h 41m
12 PM
3h 38m
3 PM
3h 42m
5 PM
3h 56m
8 PM
3h 25m

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

Downtown Cedar Bluff, VA, VA

Cedar Bluff, VA

Jon Eliya

Trip Overview

The drive from Richmond, VA to Cedar Bluff, VA covers 187.3 miles and takes about 3h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 64, I 81, US 220 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 130.2 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.98 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

93.7 miles from Richmond, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 3h 32m highway drive covering 187.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 130.2 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 16 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 130.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 81. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 187.3 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 1.7 miles (VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

7
1.7 mi into trip | ~4m in | VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard

Turn right onto VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
1.9 mi into trip | ~4m in

Turn left toward I 95 North, I 64 West

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward I 95 North, I 64 West
9
2.4 mi into trip | ~5m 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
132.6 mi into trip | ~2h 29m in | I 81

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
180.2 mi into trip | ~3h 21m in | US 220

Take the exit onto US 220 toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke

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

Use the slight left lane. Exit 143 Toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 64 130.2 mi 2h 23m
I 81 47.7 mi 52m
US 220 6.6 mi 8m
Hermitage Road 1.1 mi 2m
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike 0.3 mi <1m
North Meadow Street 0.2 mi <1m
5th Street Southeast 0.2 mi <1m
Elm Avenue Southeast 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 64 — 130.2 mi, about 2h 23m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, VA and Cedar Bluff, VA.

1

Start on Marcus-David Peters Circle

525 ft · 14 sec · Marcus-David Peters Circle
2

Continue on Monument Avenue

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Monument Avenue
3

Turn right onto North Meadow Street

0.2 mi · 29 sec · North Meadow Street
4

Continue on Hermitage Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · Hermitage Road
5

Turn left onto Robin Hood Road

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Robin Hood Road
Toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe Boulevard
6

Turn right onto VA 161

0.2 mi · 29 sec · North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Use the left lane.
7

Turn left

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward I 95 North, I 64 West Use the left lane.
8

Merge onto I 64; I 95

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 64

130 mi · 2 hr 23 min · I 64
Exit 79 Toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

48 mi · 52 min · I 81
Use the straight lane.
11

Take the exit onto US 220

6.6 mi · 8 min · US 220
Exit 143 Toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke Use the slight left lane.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward VA 24: Elm Avenue Use the slight right lane.
13

Turn left onto VA 24

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Elm Avenue Southeast
Use the straight lane.
14

Continue on Elm Avenue Southeast

258 ft · 12 sec · Elm Avenue Southeast
15

Turn right onto 5th Street Southeast

0.2 mi · 35 sec · 5th Street Southeast
16

Arrive at destination

5th Street Southeast

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 93.7 miles from Richmond, VA, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.2 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 80 miles or 1h 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 93.7 miles or 1h 46m 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 52m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar Bluff, VA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Richmond, 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 Richmond, VA

This is one driving day of about 187.3 miles and 3h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Richmond, 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 130.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 93.7 mi from Richmond, VA · 1h 46m into the drive

Downtown Westernport, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Westernport, MD

94 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

Cumberland, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Westernport, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 93.7 miles from Richmond, 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 130.2 miles.

Arriving in Cedar Bluff, VA

The final approach into Cedar Bluff, 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 Cedar Bluff, VA.

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

$29.98 one way

$59.95 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 66 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $32.66 $65.32
premium $4.78 $35.23 $70.47
diesel $5.64 $41.61 $83.22

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 65.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 56.2 0 $19.67 $8.99
Efficient EV 46.8 0 $16.39 $7.49
EV Truck/SUV 74.9 0 $26.22 $11.99

Gas CO2

66 kg

EV CO2

22 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 data refreshed 11 hours ago

Origin

Richmond, VA

Afternoon in Richmond on Sunday

Local time

3:57 PM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cedar Bluff, VA

Afternoon in Cedar Bluff on Sunday

Local time

3:57 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Partly Cloudy

E 3 mph 0% chance 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

16 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 32m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Richmond, VA to Cedar Bluff, VA covers 187.3 miles and takes about 3h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, I 81, US 220. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 93.7 miles from Richmond, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.98 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 187.3 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 1.7 miles (VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Richmond, VA to Cedar Bluff, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Cedar Bluff, VA to Richmond, VA

Plan the drive back the other way.

186.9 mi 3h 31m

Explore more options from Richmond, VA or browse trips ending in Cedar Bluff, VA.

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