Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
43.8 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
The drive from Virginia Beach, VA to Cape Charles, VA covers 43.8 miles and takes about 1h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pacific Avenue, 22nd Street, Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.83 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
21.9 miles from Virginia Beach, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .
Expect a 1h 8m drive with frequent turns across 43.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 22nd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| First Colonial Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Great Neck Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Shore Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 13 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northampton Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Virginia Beach, VA and Cape Charles, VA.
Start on 25th Street
Turn right onto Pacific Avenue
Turn right onto 22nd Street
Continue on Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward First Colonial Road, Oceana Naval Air Station
Turn right onto First Colonial Road
Turn right onto North Great Neck Road
Turn left onto Shore Drive
Take the exit right toward US 13 North
Merge slight left onto Northampton Boulevard
Merge slight left onto Northampton Boulevard
Continue on Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
Continue on Lankford Highway
Turn left onto Stone Road
Continue on Randolph Avenue
Turn left onto Fig Street
Continue on Mason Avenue
Turn right onto Strawberry Street
Turn right onto Park Row
Arrive at your 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 43.8 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 21.9 miles or 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cape Charles, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach, VA
This is one driving day of about 43.8 miles and 1h 8m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.9 mi from Virginia Beach, VA · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 43.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.9 miles from Virginia Beach, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Cape Charles, 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 Cape Charles, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$6.83 one way
$13.66 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $7.64 | $15.27 |
| premium | $4.78 | $8.24 | $16.48 |
| diesel | $5.62 | $9.70 | $19.40 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.60 | $2.10 |
| Efficient EV | 11 | 0 | $3.83 | $1.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.13 | $2.80 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Virginia Beach on Saturday
Local time
10:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Cape Charles on Saturday
Local time
10:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
84°F
Princess Anne, MD
22 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.
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