Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
55.9 mi
90 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Falmouth, VA
Stephen Noulton
Planning a quick trip from Richmond, VA to Falmouth, VA? This 55.9-mile drive typically takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes, making it an easy day trip. You'll primarily be on major highways, with an estimated fuel cost of $9. The route sticks to the Southeast region, staying within Virginia the entire time. Its highway-focused profile suggests a straightforward journey, ideal if you're looking for efficiency and don't need extensive stops along the way. This is a solid option for a short, direct transit between these two Virginia locations.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 55.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Expect a largely highway-focused experience on this journey, with 85% of the drive utilizing major roadways. The primary arteries you'll navigate include the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, Emancipation Highway, and Patriot Highway. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 47.3 miles on the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, indicating long, uninterrupted segments of fast travel. This profile suggests a drive where maintaining speed is generally possible, with minimal time spent on slower, local roads.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and Emancipation Highway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Meadow Street.
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 55.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.2 miles (North Meadow Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto North Meadow Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left toward I 95 North, I 64 West
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 1 North: Fredericksburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike | 47.3 mi | 52m |
| Emancipation Highway | 3.3 mi | 6m |
| Patriot Highway | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Hermitage Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Cambridge Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Meadow Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Arthur Ashe Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Robin Hood Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, VA and Falmouth, VA.
Start on Marcus-David Peters Circle
Continue on Monument Avenue
Turn right onto North Meadow Street
Continue on Hermitage Road
Turn left onto Robin Hood Road
Turn right onto VA 161
Turn left
Merge onto I 64; I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Take the exit
Turn straight onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1; US 17 BUS
Turn right onto Carter Street
Turn left onto VA 218
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28 mi from Richmond, VA · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 28 miles from Richmond, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Falmouth, 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.
Regular Gas
$8.74 one way
$17.48 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.56 | $19.12 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.35 | $20.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.34 | $24.68 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.29
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$3
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.87 | $2.68 |
| Efficient EV | 14 | 0 | $4.89 | $2.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.83 | $3.58 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Richmond on Friday
Local time
1:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Falmouth on Friday
Local time
1:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
53°F
Ashland, VA
28 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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