Trip from Suffolk, VA to Chesapeake, VA

Drive Time

32m

Distance

20.2 mi

33 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 8 min
4 AM
0h 30m ★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m

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

Downtown Suffolk, VA, VA

Suffolk, VA

Mark Stebnicki

Downtown Chesapeake, VA, VA

Chesapeake, VA

Willians Huerta

Trip Overview

Traveling between Suffolk and Chesapeake is a quick, straightforward journey covering 20.2 miles. You can comfortably complete this trip in about 32 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $3 for fuel should be sufficient to cover your transit across these two Southeast Virginia cities. Since the route stays entirely within the Southeast region, you will find a consistent atmosphere throughout the drive. It functions perfectly as a simple point-to-point transit, offering enough ease that you do not need to worry about complex itinerary planning. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a short excursion, this drive is efficient and requires minimal preparation.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

10.1 miles from Suffolk, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a mixed driving experience as you navigate this 20.2-mile stretch. With a highway share of 49%, you will encounter a blend of faster interstate transit and local road navigation. You will utilize a combination of US 13, I 264, and Portsmouth Boulevard to reach your destination. Your longest uninterrupted segment occurs on US 13, spanning 6.2 miles, which provides a brief period of steady cruising. The road transitions between these different types of infrastructure, so stay alert as the flow of traffic shifts from highway speeds to the local pace of city boulevards.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 13 is the longest continuous segment at about 6.2 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 early in the drive near VA 337 / West Washington Street.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 20.2 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: near the start (VA 337 / West Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles (US 13; US 460): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

7
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | VA 337 / West Washington Street

Turn right onto VA 337 / West Washington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
8
10.1 mi into trip | ~15m 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. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none lane. Toward I 264 East, I 64, US 13 North: Portsmout...
6
11.2 mi into trip | ~17m 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
8
15.6 mi into trip | ~23m in

Take the exit toward VA 164 West, US 17: Martin Luther King Jr Expressway, Norfolk, Frederick Boulevard

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 6; 5 Toward VA 164 West, US 17: Martin Luther King J...
9
15.8 mi into trip | ~24m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 17: Frederick Boulevard

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 5 Toward US 17: Frederick Boulevard

Towns Along This Route

Between Suffolk, VA and Chesapeake, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Va Beach.

Norfolk

9.4 mi in | ~14m | via US 13; US 460

Va Beach

9.4 mi in | ~14m | via US 13; US 460

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 13 6.2 mi 9m
I 264 3.7 mi 4m
Portsmouth Boulevard 2.7 mi 4m
Frederick Boulevard 1.2 mi 1m
West Pinner Street 1.1 mi 2m
South Norfolk Jordan Bridge 1.1 mi 2m
Elm Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
Poindexter Street 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: US 13 — 6.2 mi, about 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Saratoga Street

165 ft · 10 sec · South Saratoga Street
2

Turn right onto VA 337

0.3 mi · 40 sec · West Washington Street
Use the none lane.
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
Use the none lane.
6

Merge onto US 13; US 58; US 460

5.0 mi · 6 min · US 13; US 58; US 460
Use the none lane.
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 Use the none lane.
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

3.7 mi · 4 min · I 264
Use the none lane.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Exit 6; 5 Toward VA 164 West, US 17: Martin Luther King Jr Expressway, Norfolk, Frederick Boulevard Use the slight right lane.
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 5 Toward US 17: Frederick Boulevard Use the slight right lane.
14

Turn right onto US 17

1.2 mi · 1 min · Frederick Boulevard
Use the right lane.
15

At end of road, turn left onto VA 141

0.4 mi · 50 sec · George Washington Highway
Use the none lane.
16

Turn right onto VA 337

0.8 mi · 1 min · Elm Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
17

Continue on VA 337

1.1 mi · 2 min · South Norfolk Jordan Bridge
18

Turn straight onto VA 337

0.7 mi · 1 min · Poindexter Street
Use the straight lane.
19

Turn left onto D Street

412 ft · 18 sec · D Street
20

Arrive at destination

D Street

Trip Plan

Because this drive only takes 32 minutes, you have significant flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily fit this transit into any part of your day without needing to worry about long-distance pacing or fatigue. Since there are no designated stops required, you can head straight through, but keep an eye on traffic patterns when transitioning between the highway and local streets. A practical tip for this specific route is to familiarize yourself with the junction points between US 13 and I 264 before you pull out of your driveway. Keeping your fuel tank topped off for $3 ensures you are ready to go whenever you decide to hit the road.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 10.1 miles from Suffolk, VA, or about 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.2 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 20.2 miles or 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 10.1 miles or 15m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 26m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chesapeake, 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 20.2 miles and 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Suffolk, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 13 for about 6.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 10.1 mi from Suffolk, VA · 15m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Princess Anne, MD

10 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

Princess Anne, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Middletown, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 10.1 miles from Suffolk, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Chesapeake, VA

The final approach into Chesapeake, 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 Chesapeake, 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

$3.23 one way

$6.47 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $3.52 $7.04
premium $4.78 $3.80 $7.60
diesel $5.64 $4.49 $8.98

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$28–$53

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 6.1 0 $2.12 $0.97
Efficient EV 5.1 0 $1.77 $0.81
EV Truck/SUV 8.1 0 $2.83 $1.29

Gas CO2

7 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (71% 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Suffolk, VA

Evening in Suffolk on Sunday

Local time

5:16 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chesapeake, VA

Evening in Chesapeake on Sunday

Local time

5:16 PM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

1 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

32m 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 Chesapeake, VA covers 20.2 miles and takes about 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 13, I 264, Portsmouth Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.1 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 $3.23 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 20.2 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: near the start (VA 337 / West Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles (US 13; US 460): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Suffolk, VA and Chesapeake, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Va Beach.

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