Origin
Suffolk, VA
Late night in Suffolk on Friday
Local time
12:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 50m
Distance
85.8 mi
138 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Suffolk, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Lee, VA
Phil Evenden
The drive from Suffolk, VA to Fort Lee, VA covers 85.8 miles and takes about 1h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Benns Church Boulevard, James River Drive, Colonial Trail West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.3 miles on Benns Church Boulevard. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.42 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.
Midpoint
42.9 miles from Suffolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 85.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (2%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 1h 50m drive with frequent turns across 85.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near VA 337 / West Washington Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.8 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (VA 337 / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 13 BUS; VA 10; VA 32 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (Godwin Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto VA 337 / West Washington Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 13 BUS; VA 10; VA 32 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Godwin Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward VA 895 Toll West: Richmond, Richmond International Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward VA 281: Richmond International Airport, Airport Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Benns Church Boulevard | 16.3 mi | 21m |
| James River Drive | 14.6 mi | 19m |
| Colonial Trail West | 13.3 mi | 15m |
| Colonial Trail East | 9.9 mi | 11m |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 9.5 mi | 10m |
| Godwin Boulevard | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| East Randolph Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| East Hundred Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Suffolk, VA and Fort Lee, VA.
Start on South Saratoga Street
Turn right onto VA 337
Turn left onto US 13 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
Continue on US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
Turn right onto Godwin Boulevard
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
Continue on VA 10
Turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
Turn right onto VA 10
Continue on VA 10
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
Continue on VA 10
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 295
Take the exit
Continue on VA 895
Take the exit
Continue on VA 281
Turn right onto Charles City Road
Arrive at destination
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.
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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.9 miles or 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 1h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Lee, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Suffolk, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Suffolk, VA
This is one driving day of about 85.8 miles and 1h 50m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.9 mi from Suffolk, VA · 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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.
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 42.9 miles from Suffolk, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Fort Lee, VA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$13.42 one way
$26.83 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $14.67 | $29.34 |
| premium | $4.70 | $15.88 | $31.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.94 | $37.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.7 | 0 | $9.01 | $4.12 |
| Efficient EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.51 | $3.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.3 | 0 | $12.01 | $5.49 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Suffolk on Friday
Local time
12:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Fort Lee on Friday
Local time
12:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
52°F
Waverly, VA
43 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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