Origin
Suffolk, VA
Afternoon in Suffolk on Saturday
Local time
1:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Suffolk, VA to Merrifield, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 53m
Distance
193 mi
311 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 41m
★
6 AM
3h 53m
8 AM
4h 19m
10 AM
4h 2m
12 PM
4h 0m
3 PM
4h 4m
5 PM
4h 18m
8 PM
3h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Suffolk, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Merrifield, VA
Zetong Li
Trip Overview
The drive from Suffolk, VA to Merrifield, VA covers 193 miles and takes about 3h 53m 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 mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.18 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
96.5 miles from Suffolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .
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 Merrifield, 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
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Capital Beltway
25
Take the exit slight right toward SR 650: Gallows Road
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
SR 650: Gallows Road
26
Turn left onto Gallows Road
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Gallows Road
27
Continue on Gallows Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Gallows Road
28
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 96.5 miles from Suffolk, VA, or about 1h 56m 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 42 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.5 miles or 1h 56m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Merrifield, 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 193 miles and 3h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 96.5 miles from 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.18 one way
$60.36 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $33.00 | $66.00 |
| premium | $4.70 | $35.72 | $71.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.61 | $85.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.9 | 0 | $20.26 | $9.26 |
| Efficient EV | 48.3 | 0 | $16.89 | $7.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.2 | 0 | $27.02 | $12.35 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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
Merrifield, VA
Afternoon in Merrifield on Saturday
Local time
1:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
86°F
Colonial Heights, VA
97 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
10 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 53m 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?
193 mi in 3h 53m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: West Washington Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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 Merrifield, VA is easy. At 3h 53m 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 Merrifield, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 53m. Total distance: 193 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Suffolk, VA to Merrifield, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Merrifield, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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.
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