Drive Time
3h 9m
Distance
172 mi
277 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
Photo: Kelly
The drive from South Boston, VA to Newport News, VA covers 172 miles and takes about 3h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Main Street, Seymour Drive, James D Hagood Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.82 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
86 miles from South Boston, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 9m drive with frequent turns across 172 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Seymour Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| James D Hagood Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| John Randolph Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bill Tuck Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Clarksville Bypass | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 1 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Hill Bypass | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between South Boston, VA and Newport News, VA.
Start on North Main Street
Continue on Main Street
Turn left onto Seymour Drive
Turn right onto James D Hagood Highway
Continue on John Randolph Boulevard
Turn left onto Bill Tuck Highway
Continue on Clarksville Bypass
Keep slight right to continue on Clarksville Bypass
Continue on Highway 1
Continue on South Hill Bypass
Continue on East Atlantic Street
Take the exit slight right
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward Wythe Street, Washigton Street, Historic Old Towne Petersburg
Keep slight right to continue on US 301 South: Wythe Street
Merge slight left onto East Wythe Street
Continue on East Washington Street
Continue on Oaklawn Boulevard
Continue on Winston Churchill Drive
Turn right onto East Randolph Road
Continue on James River Drive
Turn left onto Jordan Point Road
Continue on Roxbury Road
Continue on Emmaus Church Road
Take the ramp right
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 17 South: J Clyde Morris Boulevard
Turn straight onto J Clyde Morris Boulevard
Turn right onto Diligence Drive
At the end of the road, turn right onto Thimble Shoals Boulevard
Turn left
At the end of the road, turn right
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86 miles or 1h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Newport News, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving South Boston, 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 South Boston, VA
This is one driving day of about 172 miles and 3h 9m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86 mi from South Boston, VA · 1h 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 86 miles from South Boston, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Newport News, 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 Newport News, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$26.82 one way
$53.65 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $29.99 | $59.98 |
| premium | $4.78 | $32.35 | $64.71 |
| diesel | $5.62 | $38.08 | $76.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.6 | 0 | $18.06 | $8.26 |
| Efficient EV | 43 | 0 | $15.05 | $6.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.8 | 0 | $24.08 | $11.01 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in South Boston on Saturday
Local time
11:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Newport News on Saturday
Local time
11:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
88°F
Middletown, MD
86 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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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