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Trip from South Suffolk, VA to Blacksburg, VA

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

5h 53m

Distance

265.8 mi

428 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 41m ★
6 AM
5h 54m
8 AM
6h 20m
10 AM
6h 3m
12 PM
6h 0m
3 PM
6h 4m
5 PM
6h 19m
8 PM
5h 46m

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 South Suffolk, VA, VA

South Suffolk, VA

Mark Stebnicki

town in Virginia, United States

Blacksburg, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from South Suffolk, VA to Blacksburg, VA covers 265.8 miles and takes about 5h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 460, I 81, Richmond Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35 miles on US 460. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.57 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

132.9 miles from South Suffolk, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 3m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 53m. Total distance: 265.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from South Suffolk, VA to Blacksburg, VA covers 265.8 miles and takes about 5h 53m, 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 45 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 460 is the longest continuous segment at about 35 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 59.7 miles in near US 460.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 21 significant decision points across 265.8 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 59.7 miles (US 460): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.3 miles (US 460): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 255.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 key points

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

7
59.7 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in | US 460

Take the exit onto US 460 toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham, Blackstone

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham, Blackst...
8
66.3 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in | US 460

Take the exit onto US 460 toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg

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 61 Toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg
8
255.6 mi into trip | ~5h 35m in

Take the exit toward US 11, US 460: Christiansburg, Blacksburg

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 118C-B-A Toward US 11, US 460: Christiansburg, Blacksbur...
7
256.1 mi into trip | ~5h 36m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 11, US 460 East, US 460 Business: Christiansburg, Shawsville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 118C Toward US 11, US 460 East, US 460 Business: Chr...
7
262.7 mi into trip | ~5h 45m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 460 Business West: Blacksburg, South Main Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 5B Toward US 460 Business West: Blacksburg, South...

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between South Suffolk, VA and Blacksburg, VA, road signs point toward Blackstone and Lynchburg.

Blackstone

59.7 mi in | ~1h 31m | via US 460

Lynchburg

66.3 mi in | ~1h 40m | via US 460

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 460 35 mi 42m
I 81 31.3 mi 37m
Richmond Highway 31.1 mi 38m
New Cox Road 23 mi 26m
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike 16 mi 20m
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike 14.6 mi 18m
General Mahone Highway 14.3 mi 19m
West Colonial Trail Highway 13.1 mi 16m
Longest stretch: US 460 — 35 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Suffolk, VA and Blacksburg, VA.

1

Start on US 13 BUS; VA 32

0.9 mi · 1 min · Carolina Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
2

Continue on US 13 BUS; VA 10; VA 32

2.2 mi · 4 min · North Main Street
3

Continue on US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32

6.2 mi · 10 min · Pruden Boulevard
4

Continue on US 460

9.9 mi · 15 min · Windsor Boulevard
5

Continue on US 460

8.4 mi · 11 min · General Mahone Boulevard
6

Continue on US 460

0.1 mi · 9 sec · Mahone Highway
7

Continue on US 460

2.0 mi · 2 min · General Mahone Highway
8

Continue on US 460

1.1 mi · 2 min · South County Drive
9

Continue on US 460

6.2 mi · 8 min · General Mahone Highway
10

Continue on US 460

1.4 mi · 2 min · South County Drive
11

Continue on US 460

6.1 mi · 8 min · General Mahone Highway
12

Continue on US 460

9.5 mi · 14 min · County Drive
Use the left lane.
13

Turn left onto SR 630

1.9 mi · 3 min · Rives Road
Use the left lane.
14

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward I 95 North
15

Merge onto I 95

3.7 mi · 4 min · I 95
16

Take the exit onto US 460

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 460
Toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham, Blackstone Use the right lane.
17

Merge onto I 85; US 460

6.0 mi · 7 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
18

Take the exit onto US 460

0.2 mi · 25 sec · US 460
Exit 61 Toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg Use the slight right lane.
19

Continue on US 460

1.1 mi · 1 min · Airport Street
20

Continue on US 460

23 mi · 26 min · New Cox Road
21

Continue on US 460

4.3 mi · 5 min · East Colonial Trail Highway
22

Continue on US 460

6.9 mi · 7 min · East Colonial Trail Road
23

Continue on US 460

7.5 mi · 11 min · East Colonial Trail
24

Merge onto US 360; US 460

1.5 mi · 2 min · West Colonial Trail Highway
25

Keep slight right at fork onto US 460

12 mi · 14 min · West Colonial Trail Highway
26

Keep slight left at fork onto US 460

29 mi · 34 min · US 460
27

Keep slight right at fork onto US 460

31 mi · 38 min · Richmond Highway
Toward US 460 West: Lynchburg
28

Continue on US 460

16 mi · 20 min · East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
29

Continue on US 221; US 460

15 mi · 18 min · West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
30

Continue on US 221; US 460

5.5 mi · 7 min · Blue Ridge Boulevard
31

Continue on US 221; US 460

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Challenger Avenue Northeast
Use the straight lane.
32

Turn right onto US 220 Alt

5.0 mi · 6 min · Cloverdale Road
33

Continue on US 220

0.2 mi · 13 sec · Roanoke Road
34

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
35

Merge onto I 81

31 mi · 37 min · I 81
Use the straight lane.
36

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Exit 118C-B-A Toward US 11, US 460: Christiansburg, Blacksburg Use the slight right lane.
37

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 118C Toward US 11, US 460 East, US 460 Business: Christiansburg, Shawsville
38

Turn slight right

241 ft · 6 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39

Turn straight onto US 11; US 460 BUS

0.9 mi · 1 min · Roanoke Street
40

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward US 460 West Use the right lane.
41

Merge onto US 460

4.9 mi · 5 min · US 460
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Exit 5A-B Toward US 460 Business: Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Smart Road
43

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 5B Toward US 460 Business West: Blacksburg, South Main Street
44

Turn straight onto US 460 BUS

2.6 mi · 6 min · South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
45

Arrive at destination

US 460 BUS

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 132.9 miles from South Suffolk, VA, or about 3h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35 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 58 miles or 1h 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 132.9 miles or 3h 3m 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 49m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving South Suffolk, 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 Suffolk, VA

This is one driving day of about 265.8 miles and 5h 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from South Suffolk, 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 US 460 for about 35 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 132.9 mi from South Suffolk, VA · 3h 3m into the drive

town in Virginia, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Amherst, VA

133 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

Colonial Heights, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Amherst, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 132.9 miles from South Suffolk, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Blacksburg, VA

The final approach into Blacksburg, 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 Blacksburg, VA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Petersburg National Battlefield

Petersburg National Battlefield

National Battlefield

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...

1 mi from route ~3 min detour Free near mile 64.2
Park Closure: Eastern Front Tour Road south of Route 36 - Closed
View on nps.gov
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 155.8
View on nps.gov
Booker T Washington National Monument

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...

17 mi from route ~43 min detour Free near mile 220
View on nps.gov
Fort Monroe National Monument

Fort Monroe National Monument

National Monument

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...

26 mi from route ~65 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Colonial National Historical Park

Colonial National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

27 mi from route ~67 min detour $15 near mile 27.5
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$41.57 one way

$83.13 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 93 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $45.45 $90.90
premium $4.70 $49.19 $98.39
diesel $5.61 $58.69 $117.37

Estimated Tolls: $2.56

East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike (16 mi) $1.12
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike (14.6 mi) $1.02
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike (6 mi) $0.42

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

$42

Tolls

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$69–$94

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 93 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 79.7 0 $27.91 $12.76
Efficient EV 66.5 0 $23.26 $10.63
EV Truck/SUV 106.3 1 $37.21 $17.01

Gas CO2

93 kg

EV CO2

31 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

South Suffolk, VA

Late night in South Suffolk on Friday

Local time

2:31 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Blacksburg, VA

Late night in Blacksburg on Friday

Local time

2:31 AM

EDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

72°F

Amherst, VA

133 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

4 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

5h 53m 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 South Suffolk, VA to Blacksburg, VA covers 265.8 miles and takes about 5h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 460, I 81, Richmond Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 132.9 miles from South Suffolk, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.57 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 21 significant decision points across 265.8 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 59.7 miles (US 460): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.3 miles (US 460): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 255.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between South Suffolk, VA and Blacksburg, VA, road signs point toward Blackstone and Lynchburg.

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