Origin
South Suffolk, VA
Afternoon in South Suffolk on Saturday
Local time
2:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Suffolk, VA to Virginia Beach, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
38 mi
61 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Suffolk, VA
Mark Stebnicki
Virginia Beach, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 38-mile drive from South Suffolk, VA, to Virginia Beach, VA, will take you approximately 56 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. The route is primarily highway-focused, with about 81% of the journey on major roadways like I-264 and US 13. You can expect a fuel cost of around $6 for this short hop. Given its brevity and ease, this drive offers a convenient way to travel between two points within the Southeast region of Virginia.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 264 | 24.5 mi | 34m |
| US 13 | 6.2 mi | 9m |
| Portsmouth Boulevard | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| West Pinner Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Carolina Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| 21st Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Arctic Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 264
— 24.5 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Suffolk, VA and Virginia Beach, VA.
1
Start on US 13 BUS; VA 32
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Carolina Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn right onto VA 337
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
East Washington Street
3
Turn left onto West Pinner Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Pinner Street
4
Turn right onto US 13 BUS; US 58 BUS; US 460 BUS
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Constance Road
5
Continue on US 13 BUS; US 58 BUS; US 460 BUS
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Portsmouth Boulevard
6
Merge onto US 13; US 58; US 460
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
US 13; US 58; US 460
7
Take the exit onto US 13; US 460
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 13; US 460
Toward I 264 East, I 64, US 13 North: Portsmouth, Norfolk, Va Beach
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 13; US 460
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
US 13; US 460
Toward I 264 East, I 64, US 13 North: Portsmouth, Norfolk, Va Beach
9
Merge onto I 664; US 13; US 460
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
10
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 15A
Toward I 264 East: Portsmouth, Norfolk
11
Continue on I 264
7.2 mi
·
11 min
·
I 264
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 264; VA 337
17 mi
·
23 min
·
I 264; VA 337
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on 21st Street
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
21st Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Arctic Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Arctic Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto 25th Street
454 ft
·
12 sec
·
25th Street
16
Arrive at destination
25th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19 miles from South Suffolk, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 10.2 and 37.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
10.2 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 13; US 460
Take the exit onto US 13; US 460 toward I 264 East, I 64, US 13 North: Portsmouth, Norfolk, Va Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 264 East, I 64, US 13 North: Portsmout...
6
10.9 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
US 13; US 460
Keep slight left at fork onto US 13; US 460 toward I 264 East, I 64, US 13 North: Portsmouth, Norfolk, Va Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 264 East, I 64, US 13 North: Portsmout...
6
11.9 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward I 264 East: Portsmouth, Norfolk
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 15A
Toward I 264 East: Portsmouth, Norfolk
6
19.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
I 264; VA 337
Keep slight right at fork onto I 264; VA 337
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
37.6 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
Arctic Avenue
Turn left onto Arctic Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.94 one way
$11.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.50 | $12.99 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.03 | $14.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.39 | $16.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.32 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Virginia Beach, VA
Afternoon in Virginia Beach on Saturday
Local time
2:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Portsmouth, VA
19 mi in
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
26 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
56m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 38-mile journey, with 81% of the drive utilizing major arteries like I-264 and US 13. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 24.5 miles on I-264, offering a consistent pace. While primarily highway, the route also incorporates segments on Portsmouth Boulevard, providing a slight shift in the driving environment. This drive is best characterized by its efficiency and directness, rather than winding scenic byways.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.5 mi on I 264.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 264 and US 13. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.2 miles in near US 13; US 460.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 38 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.2 miles (US 13; US 460): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.9 miles (US 13; US 460): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Virginia Beach, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Va Beach.
Norfolk
10.2 mi in
|
~15m
|
via US 13; US 460
Va Beach
10.2 mi in
|
~15m
|
via US 13; US 460
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 38 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.5 miles on I 264. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Virginia Beach, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.2 miles (US 13; US 460): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.9 miles (US 13; US 460): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Fort Monroe National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Virginia Beach, VA before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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