The drive from West Lynchburg, VA to Lakeside, VA covers 117.4 miles and takes about 2h 32m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Anderson Highway, VA 24, Richmond Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.7 miles on Anderson Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.36 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
58.7 miles from West Lynchburg, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 117.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from West Lynchburg, VA to Lakeside, VA covers 117.4 miles and takes about 2h 32m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Anderson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 24.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in near US 460 BUS.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 117.4 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 3.7 miles (US 460 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles (US 29; US 460 / Richmond Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.1 miles (VA 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
3.7 mi into trip|~7m in|US 460 BUS
Take the exit onto US 460 BUS toward US 29 North, US 460 East: charlottesville, appomattox
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 29 North, US 460 East: charlottesvill...
5
4 mi into trip|~8m in|US 29; US 460 / Richmond Highway
Merge onto US 29; US 460 / Richmond Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
22.1 mi into trip|~32m in|VA 24
Take the exit onto VA 24 toward VA 24 East, VA 131 South: To Route 60, Appomattox
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward VA 24 East, VA 131 South: To Route 60, A...
6
81.6 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|US 522 / Maidens Road
Turn left onto US 522 / Maidens Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
115.4 mi into trip|~2h 28m in
Take the exit toward US 33 West: Dickens Road, Staples Mill Road
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 185A
Toward US 33 West: Dickens Road, Staples Mill R...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from West Lynchburg, VA to Lakeside, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Appomattox along the way.
Appomattox
22.1 mi in|~32m|via VA 24
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Anderson Highway
24.7 mi
31m
VA 24
18.9 mi
21m
Richmond Highway
18.1 mi
24m
I 64
17.3 mi
19m
Maidens Road
11.6 mi
16m
East James Anderson Highway
8.1 mi
9m
West James Anderson Highway
7.7 mi
9m
Fairground Road
3.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Anderson Highway
— 24.7 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Lynchburg, VA and Lakeside, VA.
1
Start on Lakeside Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Lakeside Drive
2
Continue on Park Avenue
0.3 mi·49 sec·Park Avenue
3
Enter roundabout onto US 501 BUS
70 ft·4 sec·Langhorne Road
4
Continue on US 501 BUS
0.1 mi·19 sec·Langhorne Road
5
Continue on US 501 BUS
2.5 mi·4 min·Campbell Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto US 460 BUS
0.3 mi·38 sec·US 460 BUS
Toward US 29 North, US 460 East: charlottesville, appomattox
7
Merge onto US 29; US 460
18 mi·24 min·Richmond Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit onto VA 24
0.2 mi·21 sec·VA 24
Toward VA 24 East, VA 131 South: To Route 60, Appomattox
9
Turn slight left onto VA 24
19 mi·21 min·VA 24
10
Continue on US 60
7.7 mi·9 min·West James Anderson Highway
11
Continue on US 60
8.1 mi·9 min·East James Anderson Highway
12
Continue on US 60
25 mi·31 min·Anderson Highway
13
Turn left onto US 522
12 mi·16 min·Maidens Road
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto SR 632
3.4 mi·4 min·Fairground Road
15
Turn right onto US 250
0.9 mi·1 min·Broad Street Road
16
Turn left onto SR 617
0.4 mi·41 sec·Oilville Road
17
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
18
Merge onto I 64
17 mi·19 min·I 64
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
0.1 mi·20 sec
Exit 185AToward US 33 West: Dickens Road, Staples Mill RoadUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn left onto Dickens Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Dickens Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
21
Turn left onto US 33
0.2 mi·22 sec·Staples Mill Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Turn right onto Dumbarton Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Dumbarton Road
23
Turn left onto Cedar Croft Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Cedar Croft Street
24
Arrive at destination
Cedar Croft Street
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58.7 miles from West Lynchburg, VA, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.7 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 26 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.7 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 2h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakeside, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Lynchburg, 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 West Lynchburg, VA
This is one driving day of about 117.4 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from West Lynchburg, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Anderson Highway for about 24.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58.7 mi from West Lynchburg, VA
· 1h 14m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
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...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 117.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.36 one way
$36.72 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$20.07
$40.15
premium
$4.70
$21.73
$43.46
diesel
$5.61
$25.92
$51.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.2
0
$12.33
$5.64
Efficient EV
29.4
0
$10.27
$4.70
EV Truck/SUV
47
0
$16.44
$7.51
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
West Lynchburg, VA
Late night
in West Lynchburg on Friday
Local time
3:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lakeside, VA
Late night
in Lakeside on Friday
Local time
3:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
25 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
2h 32m 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 West Lynchburg, VA to Lakeside, VA covers 117.4 miles and takes about 2h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Anderson Highway, VA 24, Richmond Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.7 miles from West Lynchburg, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.36 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 117.4 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 3.7 miles (US 460 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles (US 29; US 460 / Richmond Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.1 miles (VA 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from West Lynchburg, VA to Lakeside, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Appomattox along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Appomattox Court House National Historical Park and Petersburg National Battlefield.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the
methodology page.
