Origin
Virginia Beach, VA
Evening in Virginia Beach on Sunday
Local time
8:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Virginia Beach, VA to Norfolk, VA
Drive Time
25m
Distance
18 mi
29 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norfolk, VA
Music HQ
Trip Overview
Traveling between Virginia Beach and Norfolk is a quick, straightforward 18-mile trip that typically takes about 25 minutes. You will primarily navigate via the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway, supplemented by local access roads like 22nd Street and Pacific Avenue. Since this journey is entirely contained within the Southeast region of Virginia, it functions perfectly as a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting about $3 for fuel is sufficient for the transit, making it a very economical commute. Because there are no mandatory stops required to complete the drive, you have the flexibility to plan your arrival time based entirely on your personal schedule.
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
9 miles from Virginia Beach, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 18-mile route is heavily highway-focused, with 93% of the trip spent on high-speed roads. You will find yourself on the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway for the vast majority of the time, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 16.8 miles. While the start and end points involve local streets like Pacific Avenue and 22nd Street, the experience is largely a fast, functional transit rather than a winding scenic tour. Expect a consistent, efficient pace as you transition from the coastal environment of Virginia Beach into the urban landscape of Norfolk. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive designed for speed and directness.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 16.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway and 22nd Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 60 / Pacific Avenue.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 25m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 60 / Pacific Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (22nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 60 / Pacific Avenue
Turn right onto US 60 / Pacific Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
22nd Street
Turn right onto 22nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
17.6 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward City Hall Avenue, Purple Heart Trail
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10
Toward City Hall Avenue, Purple Heart Trail
3
18 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
East City Hall Avenue
Continue onto East City Hall Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway | 16.8 mi | 22m |
| 22nd Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Pacific Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East City Hall Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 25th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
— 16.8 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Virginia Beach, VA and Norfolk, VA.
1
Start on 25th Street
121 ft
·
8 sec
·
25th Street
2
Turn right onto US 60
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Pacific Avenue
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto 22nd Street
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
22nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on I 264
17 mi
·
22 min
·
Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
Use the none lane.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 10
Toward City Hall Avenue, Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn straight onto East City Hall Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
East City Hall Avenue
7
Continue on East City Hall Avenue
217 ft
·
15 sec
·
East City Hall Avenue
Use the left lane.
8
Arrive at destination
East City Hall Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 25-minute duration, you have significant flexibility regarding when you hit the road. Since the entire distance is only 18 miles, there is no need to plan for intermediate rest stops or long-distance fuel management. Keep in mind that the heavy reliance on the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway means your travel time could be influenced by peak commuter traffic, so check your GPS before departing. Because you won't need to stop for a break, you can easily complete this trip in a single session. A great way to prepare is to ensure your vehicle is fueled up for the $3 estimated cost before you leave, allowing you to drive straight through without any interruptions.
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 9 miles from Virginia Beach, VA, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.8 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9 miles or 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Norfolk, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 18 miles and 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway for about 16.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9 mi from Virginia Beach, VA · 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
9 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9 miles from Virginia Beach, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Norfolk, VA
The final approach into Norfolk, 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 Norfolk, 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
$2.88 one way
$5.76 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $3.14 | $6.28 |
| premium | $4.78 | $3.39 | $6.77 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.00 | $8.00 |
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: 6.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
| Efficient EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.58 | $0.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.52 | $1.15 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Destination
Norfolk, VA
Evening in Norfolk on Sunday
Local time
8:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
2 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
25m 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 Virginia Beach, VA to Norfolk, VA covers 18 miles and takes about 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway, 22nd Street, Pacific Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9 miles from Virginia Beach, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.88 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 straightforward 25m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 60 / Pacific Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (22nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Virginia Beach, VA to Norfolk, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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