Origin
Virginia Beach, VA
Night in Virginia Beach on Sunday
Local time
10:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Virginia Beach, VA to Richmond, VA
Drive Time
2h 14m
Distance
108.5 mi
175 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 5m
★
6 AM
2h 15m
8 AM
2h 34m
10 AM
2h 21m
12 PM
2h 20m
3 PM
2h 22m
5 PM
2h 33m
8 PM
2h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
Connecting the coast to the state capital, this 108.5-mile journey from Virginia Beach to Richmond is a straightforward transit across Southeast Virginia. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 14 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your travel budget should account for approximately $17 in fuel costs for the one-way trek. Navigating this route involves a blend of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway, the Hampton Roads Beltway, and I-64. Since the trip remains entirely within the Southeast region, you will find the transition between these two major hubs to be efficient and predictable.
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
54.2 miles from Virginia Beach, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive, as 76% of your route is spent on major interstates and expressways. You will settle into a consistent rhythm once you clear the initial urban sprawl, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 72.4 miles on I-64. While the route lacks the technical challenges of mountain roads, the interstate environment requires steady focus as you transition from the coastal landscape toward Richmond. The drive moves quickly, trading local expressway connectivity for the steady pace of the primary interstate corridor. It is a functional, direct commute that prioritizes speed and efficiency over scenic detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 72.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Hampton Roads Beltway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 60 / Pacific Avenue.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 108.5 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: near the start (US 60 / Pacific Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 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.
8
11.4 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 64 West, US 13: Newtown Road, Richmond, Military Highway
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 15-14-13
Toward I 64 West, US 13: Newtown Road, Richmond...
8
11.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 64 West, US 13: Richmond, Military Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none lane.
Toward I 64 West, US 13: Richmond, Military Hig...
9
12.7 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 64 West: Norfolk International Airport, Hampton, Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 14B
Toward I 64 West: Norfolk International Airport...
8
106.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward US 1, US 301: Chamberlayne Avenue
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 76A
Toward US 1, US 301: Chamberlayne Avenue
Towns Along This Route
Between Virginia Beach, VA and Richmond, VA, road signs point toward Military Highway and Hampton.
Military Highway
11.4 mi in
|
~15m
Hampton
12.7 mi in
|
~18m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 72.4 mi | 1h 21m |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | 17.7 mi | 24m |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway | 10.6 mi | 14m |
| Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| North Lombardy Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Brook Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 22nd Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Pacific Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 72.4 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Virginia Beach, VA and Richmond, 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
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
Use the none lane.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 15-14-13
Toward I 64 West, US 13: Newtown Road, Richmond, Military Highway
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 64 West, US 13: Richmond, Military Highway
Use the none lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 14B
Toward I 64 West: Norfolk International Airport, Hampton, Richmond
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 64
12 mi
·
17 min
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
9
Continue on I 64; US 60
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
10
Continue on I 64; US 60
5.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the none lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
72 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
I 64
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 76A
Toward US 1, US 301: Chamberlayne Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto Chamberlayne Avenue
314 ft
·
10 sec
·
Chamberlayne Avenue
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on Brook Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Brook Road
15
Turn left onto Admiral Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Admiral Street
Use the left lane.
16
Enter roundabout onto North Lombardy Street
138 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Lombardy Street
17
Continue on North Lombardy Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Lombardy Street
Use the none lane.
18
Turn slight right onto Monument Avenue
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Monument Avenue
19
Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle
463 ft
·
13 sec
·
Marcus-David Peters Circle
20
Arrive at destination
Marcus-David Peters Circle
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns in the Hampton Roads area. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops given the manageable 2-hour and 14-minute duration, allowing you to drive straight through if you prefer. Keep a close eye on the Hampton Roads Beltway, as traffic volume here can fluctuate significantly depending on the time of day. Budgeting around $17 for gas is a safe bet for a standard vehicle, but always double-check your tank before merging onto I-64 for that 72.4-mile stretch. Taking advantage of a mid-morning departure can often help you avoid the heaviest congestion on the expressway segments.
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 54.2 miles from Virginia Beach, VA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.4 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 80 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.2 miles or 1h 11m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, 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 108.5 miles and 2h 14m.
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 I 64 for about 72.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 54.2 mi from Virginia Beach, VA · 1h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 54.2 miles from Virginia Beach, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.4 miles.
Arriving in Richmond, VA
The final approach into Richmond, 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 Richmond, 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
$17.36 one way
$34.73 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $18.92 | $37.84 |
| premium | $4.78 | $20.41 | $40.82 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $24.10 | $48.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.6 | 0 | $11.39 | $5.21 |
| Efficient EV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.49 | $4.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.4 | 0 | $15.19 | $6.94 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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
Richmond, VA
Night in Richmond on Sunday
Local time
10:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
86°F
Middletown, MD
54 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 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
2h 14m 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 Richmond, VA covers 108.5 miles and takes about 2h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, Hampton Roads Beltway, Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 54.2 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 $17.36 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 13 significant decision points across 108.5 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: near the start (US 60 / Pacific Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Virginia Beach, VA and Richmond, VA, road signs point toward Military Highway and Hampton.
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