Trip from Virginia Beach, VA to Wattsville, VA

Data updated 4 hours ago

Drive Time

2h 23m

Distance

97.8 mi

157 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min

4 AM

2h 14m ★

6 AM

2h 24m

8 AM

2h 43m

10 AM

2h 31m

12 PM

2h 29m

3 PM

2h 32m

5 PM

2h 42m

8 PM

2h 18m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Virginia Beach, VA to Wattsville, VA covers 97.8 miles and takes about 2h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Lankford Highway, Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel, Shore Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 65.1 miles on Lankford Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.29 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

48.9 miles from Virginia Beach, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 2h 23m drive with frequent turns across 97.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Lankford Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 65.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 US 60 / Pacific Avenue.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 97.8 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 (US 60 / Pacific Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (22nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These 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

2.5 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward First Colonial Road, Oceana Naval Air Station

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 21 Toward First Colonial Road, Oceana Naval Air St...

5

2.7 mi into trip | ~4m in | First Colonial Road

Turn right onto First Colonial Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

7

11.7 mi into trip | ~22m in

Take the exit toward US 13 North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward US 13 North

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Lankford Highway	65.1 mi	1h 32m
Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel	17.7 mi	24m
Shore Drive	3.4 mi	7m
North Great Neck Road	3.2 mi	5m
Chincoteague Road	2.4 mi	3m
First Colonial Road	2.3 mi	4m
Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway	1.7 mi	2m
Northampton Boulevard	0.7 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Lankford Highway — 65.1 mi, about 1h 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Virginia Beach, VA and Wattsville, 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

1.7 mi · 2 min · Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway

5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Exit 21 Toward First Colonial Road, Oceana Naval Air Station Use the slight right lane.

6

Turn right onto First Colonial Road

2.3 mi · 4 min · First Colonial Road

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

7

Turn right onto VA 279

3.2 mi · 5 min · North Great Neck Road

Use the straight / right lanes.

8

Turn left onto US 60

3.4 mi · 7 min · Shore Drive

Use the left / straight lanes.

9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward US 13 North Use the right lane.

10

Merge onto US 13

0.4 mi · 30 sec · Northampton Boulevard

11

Merge onto US 13

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Northampton Boulevard

12

Continue on US 13

18 mi · 24 min · Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel

13

Continue on US 13

65 mi · 1 hr 32 min · Lankford Highway

14

Turn right onto VA 175

2.4 mi · 3 min · Chincoteague Road

15

Arrive at destination

VA 175

Trip Plan

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 48.9 miles from Virginia Beach, VA, or about 1h 14m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.1 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 58m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 48.9 miles or 1h 14m 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 58m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wattsville, 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 97.8 miles and 2h 23m.

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 Lankford Highway for about 65.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 48.9 mi from Virginia Beach, VA · 1h 14m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Princess Anne, MD

49 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Princess Anne, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 48.9 miles from Virginia Beach, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Wattsville, VA

The final approach into Wattsville, 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 Wattsville, VA.

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.

Fort Monroe National Monument

National Monument

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...

11 mi from route ~27 min detour Free near mile 16.9

Park Closure: Road Closure and Fishing Pier Impact

View on nps.gov

Assateague Island National Seashore

National Seashore

Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime for...

16 mi from route ~41 min detour $25 near mile 97.8

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.29 one way

$30.59 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$16.72	$33.44
premium	$4.70	$18.10	$36.20
diesel	$5.61	$21.59	$43.19

Estimated Tolls: $4.00

Chesapeake Bay Bridge $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

$15

Tolls

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 34.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	29.3	$10.27	$4.69
Efficient EV	24.5	$8.56	$3.91
EV Truck/SUV	39.1	$13.69	$6.26

Gas CO2

34 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (68% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Virginia Beach, VA

Night in Virginia Beach on Tuesday

Local time

11:18 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Wattsville, VA

Night in Wattsville on Tuesday

Local time

11:18 PM

EDT

Current temp

80°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

28 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 23m 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 Wattsville, VA covers 97.8 miles and takes about 2h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Lankford Highway, Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel, Shore Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 48.9 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 $15.29 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 97.8 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.

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 2.5 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 Wattsville, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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