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Trip from Richmond, VA to Orange County, VA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h 41m

Distance

70 mi

113 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 34m ★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m

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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Downtown Orange County, VA, VA

Orange County, VA

Alex Raugust

Trip Overview

The drive from Richmond, VA to Orange County, VA covers 70 miles and takes about 1h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 64, Cross County Road, Zachary Taylor Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.5 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.95 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.

Midpoint

35 miles from Richmond, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 70 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 (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

The drive from Richmond, VA to Orange County, VA covers 70 miles and takes about 1h 41m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 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 27.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 16 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.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 70 miles you will encounter 16 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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

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

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Meadow Street

Turn right onto North Meadow Street

Navigation decision point

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
8
29.9 mi into trip | ~37m in

Take the exit toward US 522: Gum Spring, Mineral

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 159 Toward US 522: Gum Spring, Mineral

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Richmond, VA to Orange County, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Mineral along the way.

Mineral

29.9 mi in | ~37m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 64 27.5 mi 31m
Cross County Road 14.6 mi 20m
Zachary Taylor Highway 14.2 mi 19m
Kendall Road 3.5 mi 8m
Pendleton Road 3.2 mi 4m
Lahore Road 2.3 mi 5m
Hermitage Road 1.1 mi 2m
Mineral Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 64 — 27.5 mi, about 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, VA and Orange County, 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

27 mi · 31 min · I 64
Exit 79 Toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Exit 159 Toward US 522: Gum Spring, Mineral Use the slight right lane.
11

Turn right onto US 522

15 mi · 20 min · Cross County Road
12

At end of road, turn left onto US 33; US 522

0.6 mi · 54 sec · Jefferson Highway
13

Turn right onto US 522

3.2 mi · 4 min · Pendleton Road
14

Continue on US 522

0.7 mi · 1 min · Mineral Avenue
15

Turn right onto US 522; VA 208

431 ft · 20 sec · East 1st Street
16

Turn left onto US 522; VA 208

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Louisa Avenue
17

Continue on US 522; VA 208

5.0 mi · 7 min · Zachary Taylor Highway
18

Turn right

107 ft · 8 sec
19

Turn left

93 ft · 2 sec
20

Turn right onto US 522

9.2 mi · 12 min · Zachary Taylor Highway
21

Turn left onto SR 629

2.3 mi · 5 min · Lahore Road
22

Turn right onto SR 600

3.5 mi · 8 min · Kendall Road
23

Turn right onto Bickers Lane

0.2 mi · 52 sec · Bickers Lane
24

Arrive at destination

Bickers Lane

Trip Plan

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 35 miles from Richmond, VA, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.5 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 15 miles or 20m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 35 miles or 44m 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 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orange County, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Richmond, VA

This is one driving day of about 70 miles and 1h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Richmond, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 27.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 35 mi from Richmond, VA · 44m into the drive

town in Louisa County, Virginia, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Louisa, VA

35 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

Wyndham, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Louisa, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 35 miles from Richmond, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Orange County, VA

The final approach into Orange County, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.95 one way

$21.89 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $11.97 $23.94
premium $4.70 $12.96 $25.91
diesel $5.61 $15.46 $30.91

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 24.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21 0 $7.35 $3.36
Efficient EV 17.5 0 $6.13 $2.80
EV Truck/SUV 28 0 $9.80 $4.48

Gas CO2

24 kg

EV CO2

8 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 as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Richmond, VA

Night in Richmond on Thursday

Local time

11:08 PM

EDT

Current temp

93°F

Sunny

SW 12 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 1:12PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 9:43AM EDT until April 16 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC

Destination

Orange County, VA

Night in Orange County on Thursday

Local time

11:08 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

67°F

Louisa, VA

35 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

49 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 41m 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 Orange County, VA covers 70 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, Cross County Road, Zachary Taylor Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35 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 $10.95 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 70 miles you will encounter 16 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 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.
On the drive from Richmond, VA to Orange County, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Mineral along the way.

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