Richmond, VA to South Hill, VA is 82.2 miles and takes about 1h 39m via Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive stays entirely within Virginia, making it a straightforward trip. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, so expect a consistent pace. With a drive time under two hours and minimal stops recommended, this route is ideal for a quick transfer or a short segment of a larger journey through the Southeast. The estimated fuel cost is quite low, making it an economical option.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.1 miles from Richmond, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 82.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is predominantly a highway drive, with 96% of the journey on high-speed roads. You'll navigate using the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike for the longest stretch, a continuous segment of 78.4 miles. Expect a consistent, fast-paced experience for the majority of your travel time. The focus is on efficient transit rather than varied scenery, so prepare for a straightforward driving experience on well-maintained highways connecting these two Virginia locations.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 78.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and East Atlantic Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near East Byrd Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.2 miles (East Byrd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|East Byrd Street
Turn left onto East Byrd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.3 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward VA 195 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward VA 195 East
5
2.3 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South: Petersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 95 South: Petersburg
9
24.7 mi into trip|~34m in|I 85 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 51
Toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham
8
80.9 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward US 58 West, SR 47: South Hill, Chase City
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 12B
Toward US 58 West, SR 47: South Hill, Chase Cit...
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
78.4 mi
1h 29m
East Atlantic Street
1 mi
2m
Downtown Expressway
0.8 mi
1m
West Franklin Street
0.6 mi
2m
North Belvidere Street
0.4 mi
1m
East Byrd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Monument Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Marcus-David Peters Circle
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
— 78.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, VA and South Hill, VA.
1
Start on Marcus-David Peters Circle
139 ft·4 sec·Marcus-David Peters Circle
2
Continue on Monument Avenue
0.2 mi·22 sec·Monument Avenue
3
Turn slight right onto West Franklin Street
0.6 mi·2 min·West Franklin Street
4
Turn right onto US 1; US 301
0.4 mi·1 min·North Belvidere Street
5
Turn left onto East Byrd Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·East Byrd Street
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward VA 195 EastUse the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto VA 195
0.8 mi·1 min·Downtown Expressway
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward I 95 South: Petersburg
9
Merge onto I 95
22 mi·28 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
56 mi·1 hr 1 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Exit 51Toward I 85 South, US 460 West: DurhamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 12BToward US 58 West, SR 47: South Hill, Chase CityUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·20 sec
13
Turn straight onto US 58 BUS
1.0 mi·2 min·East Atlantic Street
14
Arrive at destination
US 58 BUS
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 39 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Richmond in the morning or early afternoon will easily get you to South Hill with plenty of daylight to spare. There are no recommended stops, so you can push through if needed, but consider a brief pause if you feel fatigued. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike is quite extensive, and it's always wise to refuel before embarking on longer highway segments, especially if you're on a tight schedule.
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 41.1 miles from Richmond, VA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.4 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.1 miles or 51m 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 South Hill, 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 82.2 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Richmond, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike for about 78.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.1 mi from Richmond, VA
· 51m into the drive
The midpoint is around 41.1 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 Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.4 miles.
Arriving in South Hill, VA
The final approach into South 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.85 one way
$25.71 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.05
$28.11
premium
$4.70
$15.21
$30.43
diesel
$5.61
$18.15
$36.30
Estimated Tolls: $5.49
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(56.1 mi)$3.93
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(22.2 mi)$1.56
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
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.7
0
$8.63
$3.95
Efficient EV
20.6
0
$7.19
$3.29
EV Truck/SUV
32.9
0
$11.51
$5.26
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 Friday
Local time
10:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
SW 12 mph0% chanceLive 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
South Hill, VA
Night
in South Hill on Friday
Local time
10:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
SW 8 to 12 mph0% chanceLive 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
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
2 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 39m 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 South Hill, VA covers 82.2 miles and takes about 1h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, East Atlantic Street, Downtown Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.1 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 $12.85 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 82.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.2 miles (East Byrd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Richmond, VA to South Hill, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
