Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 41m
Distance
84.6 mi
136 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independent Hill, VA
Anthony Brown
Richmond, VA to Independent Hill, VA is 84.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 41 minutes via Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I-95, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region and within the state of Virginia. It's a straightforward drive that's ideal for a single-day excursion. Expect a direct journey with minimal detours, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently. The primary focus is on covering ground quickly.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.3 miles from Richmond, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 84.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 87% of the route utilizing major roadways like the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I-95. You'll experience a significant stretch of 53.1 miles on the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. The character of the drive is predominantly that of efficient travel on well-maintained highways. While there are brief transitions, the majority of your time will be spent on these faster-moving roads, making it a predictable journey.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Meadow Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.6 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 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 VA 234 North: Manassas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike | 53.1 mi | 58m |
| I 95 | 20.2 mi | 23m |
| Dumfries Road | 7.3 mi | 11m |
| Hermitage Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Bristow Road | 0.6 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 Independent Hill, 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
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; US 17
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Continue on VA 234
Turn left onto SR 846
Arrive at destination
Given the short 1 hour 41 minute duration, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon will give you plenty of flexibility. There are no recommended stops in the provided data, so plan your own based on personal needs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 53 miles. For a quick trip like this, packing snacks and drinks can eliminate the need for unplanned rest stops.
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.
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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.3 miles or 50m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Independent Hill, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Richmond, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Richmond, VA
This is one driving day of about 84.6 miles and 1h 41m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.3 mi from Richmond, VA · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 42.3 miles from Richmond, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Independent Hill, 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
$13.23 one way
$26.46 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $14.47 | $28.93 |
| premium | $4.70 | $15.66 | $31.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.68 | $37.36 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.69
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.88 | $4.06 |
| Efficient EV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.40 | $3.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.8 | 0 | $11.84 | $5.41 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Richmond on Friday
Local time
9:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
Destination
Night in Independent Hill on Friday
Local time
9:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
79°F
Fredericksburg, VA
42 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.
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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