The drive from South Suffolk, VA to Salem, VA covers 208.7 miles and takes about 4h 31m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, Spotswood Trail, Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 50.1 miles on I 64.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.64 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
104.3 miles from South Suffolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 31m. Total distance: 208.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from South Suffolk, VA to Salem, VA covers 208.7 miles and takes about 4h 31m, 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 38 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 50.1 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 76.6 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 208.7 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 76.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.2 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
76.6 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Richmond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 95 North: Richmond
9
94.2 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 79
Toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
7
144.3 mi into trip|~2h 59m in
Take the exit toward US 15: Gordonsville, Palmyra
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 15: Gordonsville, Palmyra
7
144.5 mi into trip|~2h 59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 15: Gordonsville, Palmyra
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 15: Gordonsville, Palmyra
7
208.6 mi into trip|~4h 31m in|US 211; US 340
Turn uturn onto US 211; US 340
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from South Suffolk, VA to Salem, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Palmyra along the way.
Palmyra
144.3 mi in|~2h 59m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
50.1 mi
55m
Spotswood Trail
30.6 mi
41m
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
17.3 mi
21m
Benns Church Boulevard
16.3 mi
21m
James River Drive
14.6 mi
19m
Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi
15m
4th Street
11.4 mi
17m
James Madison Highway
10.8 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 50.1 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Suffolk, VA and Salem, 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
366 ft·8 sec·Pruden Boulevard
4
Turn right onto Godwin Boulevard
8.9 mi·10 min·Godwin Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
16 mi·21 min·Benns Church Boulevard
6
Continue on VA 10
9.9 mi·11 min·Colonial Trail East
7
Turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
1.0 mi·1 min·Rolfe Highway
8
Turn right onto VA 10
13 mi·15 min·Colonial Trail West
9
Continue on VA 10
15 mi·19 min·James River Drive
10
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
2.9 mi·4 min·East Randolph Road
11
Continue on VA 10
6.6 mi·9 min·East Hundred Road
Use the left lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 95 North: RichmondUse the right lane.
13
Merge onto I 95
17 mi·21 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
50 mi·55 min·I 64
Exit 79Toward I 64 West, I 195 South: CharlottesvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 15: Gordonsville, PalmyraUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward US 15: Gordonsville, Palmyra
17
Turn straight onto US 15
11 mi·15 min·James Madison Highway
18
Continue on US 15; US 33
0.4 mi·34 sec·Martinsburg Avenue
19
Continue on US 15; US 33
0.7 mi·1 min·South Main Street
20
Enter roundabout onto US 33; VA 231
117 ft·1 sec·North Main Street
21
Continue on US 33; VA 231
0.2 mi·13 sec·North Main Street
22
Continue on US 33
5.4 mi·8 min·Spotswood Trail
23
Enter roundabout onto US 33; VA 20
83 ft·1 sec·Spotswood Trail
24
Continue on US 33; VA 20
12 mi·17 min·Spotswood Trail
25
Continue on US 33
2.2 mi·2 min·Stanardsville By-Pass
26
Continue on US 33
13 mi·16 min·Spotswood Trail
27
Take the exit onto US 33 BUS
0.2 mi·22 sec·US 33 BUS
Use the slight right lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto US 33 BUS
363 ft·11 sec·US 33 BUS
29
Continue on US 340
0.8 mi·1 min·South Stuart Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
30
Continue on US 340
4.3 mi·6 min·North East Side Highway
31
Continue on US 340
0.3 mi·23 sec·South Third Street
32
Continue on US 340
0.1 mi·18 sec·3rd Street
33
Continue on US 340
11 mi·17 min·4th Street
34
Turn right onto US 211; US 340
2.0 mi·2 min·US 211; US 340
35
Turn left onto SR 615
204 ft·11 sec·Egypt Bend Road
36
Turn sharp right
189 ft·15 sec
37
Turn uturn onto US 211; US 340
224 ft·11 sec·US 211; US 340
38
Arrive at destination
US 211; US 340
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 104.3 miles from South Suffolk, VA, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.1 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 46 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.3 miles or 2h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salem, 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 208.7 miles and 4h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 I 64 for about 50.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 104.3 mi from South Suffolk, VA
· 2h 14m 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.
Shenandoah National Park
National Park
Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
$30
near mile 194.3
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
$15
near mile 28.8
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...
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 14.4
Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley has a long and rich heritage that still inspires today. Native Americans first shaped the land, followed by colonists and settlers. The fertile valley became an important...
28 mi from route
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 208.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.64 one way
$65.27 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$35.68
$71.37
premium
$4.70
$38.63
$77.25
diesel
$5.61
$46.08
$92.16
Estimated Tolls: $1.21
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(17.3 mi)$1.21
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
$33
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
40 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Tesla Destination Charger
Richmond, Virginia
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Suffolk, Virginia
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Richmond, Virginia
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Richmond, Virginia
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Richmond, Virginia
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Richmond, Virginia
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
EVgo Charging Station
Richmond, Virginia
EVgo
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Richmond, Virginia
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 12
Other: 12
Tesla Destination: 7
Blink: 5
EVgo: 2
Tesla: 1
EV Connect: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.6
0
$21.91
$10.02
Efficient EV
52.2
0
$18.26
$8.35
EV Truck/SUV
83.5
1
$29.22
$13.36
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
South Suffolk, VA
Evening
in South Suffolk on Friday
Local time
8:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Salem, VA
Evening
in Salem on Friday
Local time
8:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Ashland, VA
104 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
14 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
4h 31m 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 Salem, VA covers 208.7 miles and takes about 4h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, Spotswood Trail, Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 104.3 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 $32.64 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 16 significant decision points across 208.7 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 76.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.2 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from South Suffolk, VA to Salem, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Palmyra along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
