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Trip from South Hill, VA to Richmond, VA

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

2h 4m

Distance

97.8 mi

157 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 55m ★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 22m
10 AM
2h 11m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 21m
8 PM
1h 59m

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

town in Virginia

South Hill, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from South Hill, VA to Richmond, VA covers 97.8 miles and takes about 2h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 64, Hampton Roads Beltway, Granby Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 72.4 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.29 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

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

48.9 miles from South Hill, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 2h 4m highway drive covering 97.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and Hampton Roads Beltway. The longest continuous stretch is about 72.4 miles on I 64.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 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 72.4 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 3.2 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 97.8 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 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.9 miles (US 460 ALT): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles (US 460 ALT): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

9
3.2 mi into trip | ~5m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 264 East: Waterside Drive, Saint Paul Boulevard, Downtown, Norfolk

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

Use the slight left lane. Exit 6B Toward I 264 East: Waterside Drive, Saint Paul...
9
3.9 mi into trip | ~6m in | US 460 ALT

Keep slight left at fork onto US 460 ALT toward Waterside Drive, St Paul's Boulevard

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

Use the slight left lane. Exit 9 Toward Waterside Drive, St Paul's Boulevard
8
4.1 mi into trip | ~6m in | US 460 ALT

Keep slight left at fork onto US 460 ALT toward Saint Paul's Boulevard

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Saint Paul's Boulevard
6
23.6 mi into trip | ~38m in | I 64

Keep slight left at fork onto I 64

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
96 mi into trip | ~2h in

Take the exit toward US 1, US 301: Chamberlayne Avenue

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 76A Toward US 1, US 301: Chamberlayne Avenue

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 64 72.4 mi 1h 21m
Hampton Roads Beltway 9.6 mi 12m
Granby Street 4 mi 9m
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel 3.5 mi 4m
Bainbridge Boulevard 1.5 mi 2m
Monticello Avenue 1.2 mi 2m
I 464 1.2 mi 1m
North Lombardy Street 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 64 — 72.4 mi, about 1h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Edgewood Avenue

0.2 mi · 53 sec · Edgewood Avenue
2

Turn right onto US 460; VA 166

1.5 mi · 2 min · Bainbridge Boulevard
3

Turn left onto VA 337

72 ft · 9 sec · Poindexter Street
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 18 sec
Toward I 464 North
5

Merge onto I 464

1.2 mi · 1 min · I 464
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 6B Toward I 264 East: Waterside Drive, Saint Paul Boulevard, Downtown, Norfolk Use the slight left lane.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto US 460 ALT

0.2 mi · 26 sec · US 460 ALT
Exit 9 Toward Waterside Drive, St Paul's Boulevard Use the slight left lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto US 460 ALT

0.3 mi · 53 sec · US 460 ALT
Toward Saint Paul's Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Turn right onto US 460 ALT

0.6 mi · 1 min · Saint Pauls Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Continue on US 460

1.2 mi · 2 min · Monticello Avenue
11

Turn left onto US 460

486 ft · 13 sec · Church Street
12

Continue on US 460

4.0 mi · 9 min · Granby Street
Use the left lane.
13

Turn left

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward I 64
14

Merge onto I 64

3.8 mi · 5 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on I 64; US 60

3.5 mi · 4 min · Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
16

Continue on I 64; US 60

5.9 mi · 7 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight left at fork onto I 64

72 mi · 1 hr 21 min · I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Exit 76A Toward US 1, US 301: Chamberlayne Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Turn right onto Chamberlayne Avenue

314 ft · 10 sec · Chamberlayne Avenue
Use the right lane.
20

Continue on Brook Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Brook Road
21

Turn left onto Admiral Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Admiral Street
Use the left lane.
22

Enter roundabout onto North Lombardy Street

138 ft · 3 sec · North Lombardy Street
23

Continue on North Lombardy Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Lombardy Street
24

Turn slight right onto Monument Avenue

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Monument Avenue
25

Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle

463 ft · 13 sec · Marcus-David Peters Circle
26

Arrive at destination

Marcus-David Peters Circle

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 48.9 miles from South Hill, VA, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.4 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 80 miles or 1h 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 48.9 miles or 1h 7m 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 42m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, VA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving South Hill, 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 Hill, VA

This is one driving day of about 97.8 miles and 2h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from South Hill, 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 72.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 48.9 mi from South Hill, VA · 1h 7m into the drive

Downtown Middletown, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Middletown, MD

49 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

Middletown, 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 48.9 miles from South Hill, 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 72.4 miles.

Arriving in Richmond, VA

The final approach into Richmond, 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 Richmond, 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

$15.29 one way

$30.59 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $16.72 $33.44
premium $4.70 $18.10 $36.20
diesel $5.61 $21.59 $43.19

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: 34.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29.3 0 $10.27 $4.69
Efficient EV 24.5 0 $8.56 $3.91
EV Truck/SUV 39.1 0 $13.69 $6.26

Gas CO2

34 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (68% 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 1 day ago

Origin

South Hill, VA

Morning in South Hill on Wednesday

Local time

6:44 AM

EDT

Current temp

85°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Richmond, VA

Morning in Richmond on Wednesday

Local time

6:44 AM

EDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

86°F

Middletown, MD

49 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

13 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

2h 4m 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 South Hill, VA to Richmond, VA covers 97.8 miles and takes about 2h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, Hampton Roads Beltway, Granby Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.9 miles from South Hill, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.29 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 15 significant decision points across 97.8 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 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.9 miles (US 460 ALT): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles (US 460 ALT): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from South Hill, VA to Richmond, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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