Trip from Richmond, VA to Norfolk, VA

Drive Time

1h 55m

Distance

93.2 mi

150 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 48m ★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 13m
10 AM
2h 2m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 3m
5 PM
2h 12m
8 PM
1h 51m

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

Downtown Norfolk, VA, VA

Norfolk, VA

Music HQ

Trip Overview

Connecting Richmond to Norfolk, this 93.2-mile trek is a straightforward journey across Southeast Virginia that typically takes about 1 hour and 55 minutes. Because the drive is relatively short, you can easily complete it as a day trip without needing an overnight stay. You should expect to spend roughly $15 on fuel for the one-way transit. The route relies heavily on major infrastructure, making it a functional connection between the state capital and the coast. Whether you are heading out for business or a coastal getaway, this drive offers a reliable and efficient way to traverse the region.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

46.6 miles from Richmond, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a focused interstate experience, as 84% of this drive is spent on highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-64, including a significant 78.1-mile uninterrupted stretch that defines the character of the trip. The journey transitions from the inland environment of Richmond toward the coastal geography of the Hampton Roads area. Navigating the Hampton Roads Beltway and the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel serves as the primary technical challenge of the route. Prepare for a consistent, high-speed pace that shifts from open highway travel to the more complex traffic patterns found near the tunnel.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 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 78.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Hampton Roads Beltway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 93.2 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 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.6 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

5
1.2 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp toward I 95 South, I 64 East: Petersburg, Norfolk

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 95 South, I 64 East: Petersburg, Norfo...
9
1.6 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 64

Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 East: Williamsburg, Norfolk

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 75 Toward I 64 East: Williamsburg, Norfolk
8
87.6 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in

Take the exit toward I 564, US 460: Naval Base, Granby Street

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 276 Toward I 564, US 460: Naval Base, Granby Street
9
87.8 mi into trip | ~1h 44m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 460, VA 165: Granby Street, Little Creek Road

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

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward US 460, VA 165: Granby Street, Little Cr...
5
91.2 mi into trip | ~1h 52m in | US 460 / Monticello Avenue

Turn right onto US 460 / Monticello Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 64 78.1 mi 1h 29m
Hampton Roads Beltway 4.5 mi 6m
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel 3.5 mi 4m
Granby Street 3.1 mi 7m
Monticello Avenue 1.2 mi 2m
Saint Pauls Boulevard 0.7 mi 1m
West Leigh Street 0.6 mi 1m
North Lombardy Street 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 64 — 78.1 mi, about 1h 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Marcus-David Peters Circle

139 ft · 4 sec · Marcus-David Peters Circle
2

Continue on Monument Avenue

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Monument Avenue
3

Turn right onto North Lombardy Street

0.4 mi · 49 sec · North Lombardy Street
4

Turn right onto West Leigh Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Leigh Street
5

Turn left onto US 1; US 301

187 ft · 10 sec · North Belvidere Street
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 95 South, I 64 East: Petersburg, Norfolk
7

Merge onto I 64; I 95

511 ft · 8 sec · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 64

78 mi · 1 hr 29 min · I 64
Exit 75 Toward I 64 East: Williamsburg, Norfolk Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 64; US 60

342 ft · 5 sec · Hampton Roads Beltway
10

Continue on I 64; US 60

3.5 mi · 4 min · Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
11

Continue on I 64; US 60

4.4 mi · 5 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Exit 276 Toward I 564, US 460: Naval Base, Granby Street Use the slight right lane.
13

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 18 sec
Toward US 460, VA 165: Granby Street, Little Creek Road Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14

Turn straight onto US 460

3.1 mi · 7 min · Granby Street
Use the left / none lanes.
15

Continue on US 460

446 ft · 9 sec · Church Street
Use the none lane.
16

Turn right onto US 460

1.2 mi · 2 min · Monticello Avenue
Use the right lane.
17

Continue on US 460

0.7 mi · 1 min · Saint Pauls Boulevard
Use the none lane.
18

Turn left onto East City Hall Avenue

158 ft · 9 sec · East City Hall Avenue
Use the left lane.
19

Arrive at destination

East City Hall Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a quick sub-two-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule. However, given that the route utilizes the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, it is wise to check local traffic reports before you leave to avoid peak congestion times. You will not need to plan for any formal stops along the 93.2-mile path, allowing you to drive straight through if you prefer. Keep your fuel budget around $15 to ensure you are covered for the duration of the trip. Always stay alert when merging onto the Hampton Roads Beltway, as this area requires extra attention due to the high volume of regional commuter traffic.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.6 miles from Richmond, VA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.1 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 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 46.6 miles or 55m 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 29m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Norfolk, 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 93.2 miles and 1h 55m.

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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 78.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 46.6 mi from Richmond, VA · 55m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Middletown, MD

47 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

Princess Anne, MD

Fuel and coffee

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

Middletown, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 46.6 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 78.1 miles.

Arriving in Norfolk, VA

The final approach into Norfolk, 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 Norfolk, 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

$14.92 one way

$29.83 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $16.25 $32.50
premium $4.78 $17.53 $35.06
diesel $5.64 $20.71 $41.41

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 32.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28 0 $9.79 $4.47
Efficient EV 23.3 0 $8.16 $3.73
EV Truck/SUV 37.3 0 $13.05 $5.96

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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 3 days ago

Origin

Richmond, VA

Evening in Richmond on Sunday

Local time

6:21 PM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Norfolk, VA

Evening in Norfolk on Sunday

Local time

6:21 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

86°F

Middletown, MD

47 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

1 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

1h 55m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

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 Norfolk, VA covers 93.2 miles and takes about 1h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, Hampton Roads Beltway, Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 46.6 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 $14.92 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 93.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.6 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Richmond, VA to Norfolk, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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