The drive from Rocky Mount, VA to Hampton, VA covers 249.5 miles and takes about 5h 19m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, Anderson Highway, Lynchburg Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 74.8 miles on I 64.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.02 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
124.7 miles from Rocky Mount, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 19m. Total distance: 249.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Rocky Mount, VA to Hampton, VA covers 249.5 miles and takes about 5h 19m, 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 39 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 74.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 172.1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 249.5 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 172.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 173.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 173.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
172.1 mi into trip|~3h 49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Washington, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Richmond International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 95 North: Washington, Charlottesville,...
8
173.1 mi into trip|~3h 51m in
Take the exit toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach, 7th 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 75
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach, 7th...
9
173.2 mi into trip|~3h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
8
248.3 mi into trip|~5h 16m in
Take the exit toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 265C
Toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base
9
248.4 mi into trip|~5h 16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Rocky Mount, VA and Hampton, VA, road signs point toward Appomattox, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Richmond International Airport and Virginia Beach.
Appomattox
79.3 mi in|~1h 50m|via VA 24
Charlottesville
172.1 mi in|~3h 49m
Norfolk
172.1 mi in|~3h 49m
Richmond International Airport
172.1 mi in|~3h 49m
Virginia Beach
173.1 mi in|~3h 51m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
74.8 mi
1h 24m
Anderson Highway
36.7 mi
48m
Lynchburg Highway
28.8 mi
37m
VA 122
25.6 mi
34m
VA 24
18.9 mi
21m
Moneta Road
15.9 mi
23m
Powhite Parkway
11.5 mi
15m
East James Anderson Highway
8.1 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 74.8 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rocky Mount, VA and Hampton, VA.
1
Start on VA 40
0.4 mi·43 sec·Franklin Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 220 BUS; VA 40
184 ft·10 sec·North Main Street
3
Turn left onto VA 40
0.7 mi·1 min·Pell Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto VA 40
0.2 mi·28 sec·Pell Avenue
5
Continue on VA 40
1.3 mi·3 min·Old Franklin Turnpike
6
Turn left onto VA 122
11 mi·16 min·VA 122
7
Enter roundabout onto VA 122
54 ft·0 sec·Booker T Washington Highway
8
Continue on VA 122
5.6 mi·8 min·Booker T Washington Highway
9
Continue on VA 122
0.2 mi·19 sec·Halesford Bridge
10
Continue on VA 122
16 mi·23 min·Moneta Road
11
Continue on VA 122
0.6 mi·1 min·Burks Hill Road
12
Take the ramp onto VA 122
14 mi·18 min·VA 122
Toward US 460 East, VA 122 North
13
Continue on US 460
29 mi·37 min·Lynchburg Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit onto VA 24
0.2 mi·21 sec·VA 24
Toward VA 24 East, VA 131 South: To Route 60, Appomattox
15
Turn slight left onto VA 24
19 mi·21 min·VA 24
16
Continue on US 60
7.7 mi·9 min·West James Anderson Highway
17
Continue on US 60
8.1 mi·9 min·East James Anderson Highway
18
Continue on US 60
37 mi·48 min·Anderson Highway
19
Continue on US 60
0.9 mi·1 min·Midlothian Turnpike
20
Turn right onto SR 652
2.5 mi·3 min·Old Hundred Road
Use the straight lane.
21
Enter roundabout onto SR 652
147 ft·5 sec·Old Hundred Road
22
Continue on SR 652
2.5 mi·4 min·Old Hundred Road
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on VA 76
9.7 mi·12 min·Powhite Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 76
1.8 mi·2 min·Powhite Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 146
0.9 mi·1 min·VA 146
Use the slight right lane.
26
Merge onto VA 195
2.9 mi·3 min·Downtown Expressway
Use the straight lane.
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 95 North: Washington, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Richmond International AirportUse the slight left lane.
28
Merge onto I 95
0.7 mi·54 sec·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Exit 75Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach, 7th StreetUse the slight right lane.
30
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Merge onto I 64
75 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 64
Use the straight lane.
32
Take the exit
0.1 mi·25 sec
Exit 265CToward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force BaseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight right at fork
199 ft·6 sec
Toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force BaseUse the left / right lanes.
34
Turn straight onto Rip Rap Road
0.2 mi·21 sec·Rip Rap Road
35
Turn sharp left onto VA 134
0.4 mi·1 min·North Armistead Avenue
36
Turn left onto VA 351
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Pembroke Avenue
37
Turn right onto North King Street
524 ft·19 sec·North King Street
38
Continue on North King Street
432 ft·18 sec·North King Street
39
Arrive at destination
North King Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 124.7 miles from Rocky Mount, VA, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.8 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 55 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.7 miles or 2h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hampton, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rocky Mount, 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 Rocky Mount, VA
This is one driving day of about 249.5 miles and 5h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Rocky Mount, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 74.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 124.7 mi from Rocky Mount, VA
· 2h 45m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Booker T Washington National Monument
National Monument
Booker T. Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later...
Fort Monroe's story spans from prehistory to the 2000s. Kecoughtan Indians occupied Old Point Comfort before the arrival of English colonists. The first enslaved Africans arrived in 1619. Those escapi...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 249.5
On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the effective end of the nation's largest war. Question...
On May 13, 1607, Jamestown was established as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Three cultures came together – European, Virginia Indian and African–to create a new society that...
Two hundred ninety-two days, eight offensives, over 70,000 casualties, U. S. Colored Troops, and the decline of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. U.S. forces c...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 163.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.02 one way
$78.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$42.66
$85.32
premium
$4.70
$46.18
$92.35
diesel
$5.61
$55.09
$110.17
Estimated Tolls: $0.21
Old Franklin Turnpike
(1.3 mi)$0.09
Midlothian Turnpike
(0.9 mi)$0.07
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(0.7 mi)$0.05
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
$39
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
54 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Tesla Supercharger
Richmond, Virginia
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Midlothian, Virginia
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
North Chesterfield, Virginia
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
North Chesterfield, Virginia
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Richmond, Virginia
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
EVgo Charging Station
Richmond, Virginia
EVgo
1 DCFC
EVgo Charging Station
Lynchburg, Virginia
EVgo
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Richmond, Virginia
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 21
Other: 9
Tesla Destination: 7
Tesla: 4
EV Connect: 4
Blink: 4
EVgo: 3
InCharge: 2
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.9
0
$26.20
$11.98
Efficient EV
62.4
0
$21.83
$9.98
EV Truck/SUV
99.8
1
$34.93
$15.97
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Rocky Mount, VA
Late night
in Rocky Mount on Friday
Local time
3:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hampton, VA
Late night
in Hampton on Friday
Local time
3:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
20 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 19m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Rocky Mount, VA to Hampton, VA covers 249.5 miles and takes about 5h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, Anderson Highway, Lynchburg Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 124.7 miles from Rocky Mount, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.02 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 249.5 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 172.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 173.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 173.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Rocky Mount, VA and Hampton, VA, road signs point toward Appomattox, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Richmond International Airport and Virginia Beach.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the
methodology page.
