Skip to main content

Trip from Suffolk, VA to Idylwood, VA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 56m

Distance

196.3 mi

316 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 44m ★
6 AM
3h 57m
8 AM
4h 22m
10 AM
4h 6m
12 PM
4h 3m
3 PM
4h 7m
5 PM
4h 21m
8 PM
3h 49m

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

independent city in Virginia, United States

Suffolk, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Idylwood, VA, VA

Idylwood, VA

Yaroslav Shuraev

Trip Overview

The drive from Suffolk, VA to Idylwood, VA covers 196.3 miles and takes about 3h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West Washington Street, North Main Street, Pruden Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.70 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

98.1 miles from Suffolk, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 196.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 56m drive with frequent turns across 196.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Washington Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Suffolk, VA to Idylwood, VA is easy. At 3h 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Suffolk, VA to Idylwood, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West Washington Street
North Main Street
Pruden Boulevard
Godwin Boulevard
Benns Church Boulevard
Colonial Trail East
Rolfe Highway
Colonial Trail West

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: West Washington Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Saratoga Street

164 ft · 11 sec · South Saratoga Street
2

Turn right onto West Washington Street

453 ft · 17 sec · West Washington Street
3

Turn left onto North Main Street

2.2 mi · 4 min · North Main Street
4

Continue on Pruden Boulevard

367 ft · 9 sec · Pruden Boulevard
5

Turn right onto Godwin Boulevard

8.9 mi · 10 min · Godwin Boulevard
6

Continue on Benns Church Boulevard

16 mi · 21 min · Benns Church Boulevard
7

Continue on Colonial Trail East

9.9 mi · 11 min · Colonial Trail East
8

Turn left onto Rolfe Highway

1.0 mi · 1 min · Rolfe Highway
9

Turn right onto Colonial Trail West

13 mi · 15 min · Colonial Trail West
10

Continue on James River Drive

15 mi · 19 min · James River Drive
11

Continue on East Randolph Road

2.9 mi · 4 min · East Randolph Road
12

Continue on East Hundred Road

2.5 mi · 3 min · East Hundred Road
13

Take the exit slight right toward I 295 North: Washington

0.2 mi · 32 sec · I 295 North: Washington
14

Continue on I 295 North: Washington

0.4 mi · 47 sec · I 295 North: Washington
15

Merge slight left onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

26 mi · 28 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
16

Take the exit slight left toward I 95 North: Washington

2.4 mi · 2 min · I 95 North: Washington
17

Merge slight right

46 mi · 49 min
18

Keep slight right

1.6 mi · 1 min
19

Keep slight left

1.0 mi · 1 min
20

Merge slight left

35 mi · 41 min
21

Keep slight right to continue on Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

0.6 mi · 52 sec · Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
22

Take the exit slight right toward I 495 North: Tysons Corner

1.4 mi · 1 min · I 495 North: Tysons Corner
23

Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway

1.0 mi · 1 min · Capital Beltway
24

Keep slight right to continue on Capital Beltway

6.0 mi · 7 min · Capital Beltway
25

Take the exit slight right toward I 66: Washington, Front Royal, Vienna

0.1 mi · 18 sec · I 66: Washington, Front Royal, Vienna
26

Keep slight right to continue on I 66 East: Washington

0.2 mi · 32 sec · I 66 East: Washington
27

Merge slight left onto Custis Memorial Parkway

1.1 mi · 1 min · Custis Memorial Parkway
28

Take the exit slight right toward VA 7: Falls Church, Leesburg Pike

489 ft · 12 sec · VA 7: Falls Church, Leesburg Pike
29

Keep slight right to continue on VA 7: Leesburg Pike, Falls Church

0.1 mi · 13 sec · VA 7: Leesburg Pike, Falls Church
30

Keep slight left to continue on VA 7 West: Tysons Corner

269 ft · 9 sec · VA 7 West: Tysons Corner
31

Turn left onto Leesburg Pike

0.3 mi · 46 sec · Leesburg Pike
32

Turn left onto Idylwood Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Idylwood Road
33

Arrive at your destination

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 98.1 miles from Suffolk, VA, or about 1h 58m into the drive.

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 43 miles or 51m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 98.1 miles or 1h 58m 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 14m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving 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 Suffolk, VA

This is one driving day of about 196.3 miles and 3h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 98.1 mi from Suffolk, VA · 1h 58m into the drive

independent city in Virginia, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Colonial Heights, VA

98 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

Newport News, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Colonial Heights, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 98.1 miles from Suffolk, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Idylwood, VA

The final approach into Idylwood, 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 Idylwood, 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

$30.70 one way

$61.39 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 69 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $33.56 $67.13
premium $4.70 $36.33 $72.66
diesel $5.61 $43.34 $86.68

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 68.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 58.9 0 $20.61 $9.42
Efficient EV 49.1 0 $17.18 $7.85
EV Truck/SUV 78.5 0 $27.48 $12.56

Gas CO2

69 kg

EV CO2

23 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 16, 2026

Origin

Suffolk, VA

Late night in Suffolk on Saturday

Local time

5:02 AM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Idylwood, VA

Late night in Idylwood on Saturday

Local time

5:02 AM

EDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

84°F

Colonial Heights, VA

98 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

3h 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Suffolk, VA to Idylwood, VA covers 196.3 miles and takes about 3h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are West Washington Street, North Main Street, Pruden Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 98.1 miles from Suffolk, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.70 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The drive from Suffolk, VA to Idylwood, VA is easy. At 3h 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Suffolk, VA to Idylwood, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Suffolk, VA to Idylwood, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Suffolk, VA or browse trips ending in Idylwood, VA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VA road trips.