The drive from Suffolk, VA to Norton, VA covers 407.5 miles and takes about 8h 39m behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 81, Richmond Highway, US 460 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 131.7 miles on I 81.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $63.72 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
203.8 miles from Suffolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 30m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
8h 39m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 8h 39m drive with frequent turns across 407.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 56 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 131.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near US 58 BUS / West Constance Road.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 407.5 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: at 0.9 miles (US 58 BUS / West Constance Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 53.3 miles (SR 630 / Rives Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 59.2 miles (US 460): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 27 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|US 58 BUS / West Constance Road
Turn right onto US 58 BUS / West Constance Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
53.3 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|SR 630 / Rives Road
Turn left onto SR 630 / Rives Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
59.2 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|US 460
Take the exit onto US 460 toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham, Blackstone
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham, Blackst...
8
65.8 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|US 460
Take the exit onto US 460 toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg
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 61
Toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg
7
357.8 mi into trip|~7h 25m in|Valley Street Northwest
At end of road, turn left onto Valley Street Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Suffolk, VA and Norton, VA, road signs point toward Blackstone, Lynchburg and Holston Dam.
Blackstone
59.2 mi in|~1h 30m|via US 460
Lynchburg
65.8 mi in|~1h 38m|via US 460
Holston Dam
356.8 mi in|~7h 23m|via US 58 ALT
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
131.7 mi
2h 24m
Richmond Highway
31.1 mi
38m
US 460
30 mi
36m
New Cox Road
23 mi
26m
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
16 mi
20m
US Highway 58
14.7 mi
20m
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
14.6 mi
18m
General Mahone Highway
14.3 mi
19m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 131.7 mi, about 2h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Suffolk, VA and Norton, VA.
1
Start on South Saratoga Street
165 ft·9 sec·South Saratoga Street
2
Turn left onto VA 337
0.8 mi·1 min·West Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Turn right onto US 58 BUS
0.3 mi·46 sec·West Constance Road
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto SR 604
3.9 mi·6 min·Pitchkettle Road
5
At end of road, turn right onto SR 634
0.1 mi·15 sec·Kings Fork Road
6
Turn left onto Providence Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Providence Road
7
Turn left onto US 460
3.1 mi·5 min·Pruden Boulevard
8
Continue on US 460
9.9 mi·15 min·Windsor Boulevard
9
Continue on US 460
8.4 mi·11 min·General Mahone Boulevard
10
Continue on US 460
0.1 mi·9 sec·Mahone Highway
11
Continue on US 460
2.0 mi·2 min·General Mahone Highway
12
Continue on US 460
1.1 mi·2 min·South County Drive
13
Continue on US 460
6.2 mi·8 min·General Mahone Highway
14
Continue on US 460
1.4 mi·2 min·South County Drive
15
Continue on US 460
6.1 mi·8 min·General Mahone Highway
16
Continue on US 460
9.5 mi·14 min·County Drive
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto SR 630
1.9 mi·3 min·Rives Road
Use the left lane.
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 95 North
19
Merge onto I 95
3.7 mi·4 min·I 95
20
Take the exit onto US 460
0.6 mi·1 min·US 460
Toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham, BlackstoneUse the right lane.
21
Merge onto I 85; US 460
6.0 mi·7 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
22
Take the exit onto US 460
0.2 mi·25 sec·US 460
Exit 61Toward US 460 West: Blackstone, LynchburgUse the slight right lane.
23
Continue on US 460
1.1 mi·1 min·Airport Street
24
Continue on US 460
23 mi·26 min·New Cox Road
25
Continue on US 460
4.3 mi·5 min·East Colonial Trail Highway
26
Continue on US 460
6.9 mi·7 min·East Colonial Trail Road
27
Continue on US 460
7.5 mi·11 min·East Colonial Trail
28
Merge onto US 360; US 460
1.5 mi·2 min·West Colonial Trail Highway
29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
12 mi·14 min·West Colonial Trail Highway
30
Keep slight left at fork onto US 460
29 mi·34 min·US 460
31
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
31 mi·38 min·Richmond Highway
Toward US 460 West: Lynchburg
32
Continue on US 460
16 mi·20 min·East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
33
Continue on US 221; US 460
15 mi·18 min·West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
34
Continue on US 221; US 460
5.5 mi·7 min·Blue Ridge Boulevard
35
Continue on US 221; US 460
0.3 mi·32 sec·Challenger Avenue Northeast
Use the straight lane.
36
Turn right onto US 220 Alt
5.0 mi·6 min·Cloverdale Road
37
Continue on US 220
0.2 mi·13 sec·Roanoke Road
38
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
39
Merge onto I 81
76 mi·1 hr 25 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
40
Continue on I 77; I 81; US 52
1.3 mi·1 min·I 77; I 81; US 52
Use the straight lane.
41
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 52
56 mi·59 min·I 81; US 52
Use the straight lane.
42
Take the exit onto US 58 ALT
0.2 mi·25 sec·US 58 ALT
Toward US 58 Alternate, VA 75: Abingdon, South Holston Dam
43
Turn right onto US 58 ALT; VA 75
0.8 mi·2 min·Cummings Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
44
At end of road, turn left onto Valley Street Northwest
0.3 mi·48 sec·Valley Street Northwest
Use the left lane.
45
At end of road, turn right onto US 58 ALT
0.9 mi·2 min·Russell Road Northwest
Use the right lane.
46
Turn slight right onto US 19; US 58 ALT
10 mi·14 min·Porterfield Highway
47
Continue on US 19; US 58 ALT
1.9 mi·2 min·US 19; US 58 ALT
48
Turn left onto US 58 ALT
15 mi·20 min·US Highway 58
Use the left lane.
49
Continue on US 58 ALT
348 ft·6 sec·Trail of the Lonesome Pine
50
Continue on US 58 ALT
13 mi·17 min·Castlewood Drive
51
Continue on US 58 ALT
8.0 mi·11 min·Norton Coeburn Road
52
Continue on US 58 ALT
0.4 mi·43 sec·Norton Coeburn Road
53
Continue on US 23 BUS
0.6 mi·2 min·Park Avenue Northwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
54
Turn left onto 8th Street Southwest
130 ft·9 sec·8th Street Southwest
55
Turn left
145 ft·10 sec
56
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 203.8 miles from Suffolk, VA, or about 4h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 90 miles or 2h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 203.8 miles or 4h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 203.8 miles or 4h 30m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Norton, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Suffolk, VA
Aim for roughly 204 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Norton, VA
Aim for roughly 204 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 90 miles from Suffolk, VA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 131.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 203.8 mi from Suffolk, VA
· 4h 30m into the drive
The midpoint is around 203.8 miles from Suffolk, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 131.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stop
For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 204 miles or 4.3 hours on the road.
Arriving in Norton, VA
The final approach into Norton, 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 Norton, VA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Norton, VA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the effective end of the nation's largest war. Question...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 154.6
Two hundred ninety-two days, eight offensives, over 70,000 casualties, U. S. Colored Troops, and the decline of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. U.S. forces c...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 70.3
Booker T. Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 196.7
Fort Monroe's story spans from prehistory to the 2000s. Kecoughtan Indians occupied Old Point Comfort before the arrival of English colonists. The first enslaved Africans arrived in 1619. Those escapi...
On May 13, 1607, Jamestown was established as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Three cultures came together – European, Virginia Indian and African–to create a new society that...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
$15
near mile 28.1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
122.3
1
$42.79
$19.56
Efficient EV
101.9
1
$35.66
$16.30
EV Truck/SUV
163
2
$57.05
$26.08
Gas CO2
143 kg
EV CO2
48 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
1:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Norton, VA
Late night
in Norton on Saturday
Local time
1:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
9 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
8h 39m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 Norton, VA covers 407.5 miles and takes about 8h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, Richmond Highway, US 460. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 204 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 203.8 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 $63.72 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 407.5 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: at 0.9 miles (US 58 BUS / West Constance Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 53.3 miles (SR 630 / Rives Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 59.2 miles (US 460): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Suffolk, VA and Norton, VA, road signs point toward Blackstone, Lynchburg and Holston Dam.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
