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Fall Road Trips in Virginia

Routes

30

Avg Distance

369 mi

Avg Drive

7h 5m

Destinations

27

Virginia in the fall offers a vibrant tapestry of color across its diverse landscapes. With 30 routes covering an average of 369 miles and lasting around 7 hours, you can experience everything from the Appalachian highlands to the Atlantic coast. Elevations reach up to 2,605 feet, providing dramatic vistas. This collection highlights drives that showcase the state's autumnal beauty and varying terrain.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$4.04/gal

Diesel: $5.35/gal

Typical trip cost

$43–$82

One-way, ~369 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~129 kg

ICE vehicle, one-way average

Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-06-01

Climate through the year: Virginia

Virginia peaks at around 90°F in Jul and cools to 48°F / 29°F in Jan. Wettest month is Aug at ~4.9 in of rain. Table highlights Fall months.

Month High °F Low °F Rain in Snow in
Jan 48 29 3.2 3.7
Feb 52 30 2.6 2.2
Mar 60 37 4 1.1
Apr 70 46 3.2 —
May 78 56 4 —
Jun 86 65 4.6 —
Jul 90 69 4.4 —
Aug 88 68 4.9 —
Sep peak 81 61 4.6 —
Oct peak 71 49 3.4 —
Nov peak 60 39 3.1 —
Dec 52 32 3.5 1.8

Source: NOAA NCEI Monthly Climate Normals, 1991–2020 reference period. Sampled at the major-airport station for VA — microclimates along specific routes can vary significantly.

Planning Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

We've identified 30 routes in Virginia that work well for fall travel, based on drive quality, typical weather conditions, and distance (averaging 369 miles).
Current regular gas averages $4.04/gallon in Virginia (week of 2026-06-01). Diesel: $5.35/gallon. A typical one-way trip on these routes costs between $43 and $82. Source: US Energy Information Administration.
Across Sep, Oct, Nov, Virginia typically sees daytime highs in the 60–81°F range with about 3.7 in of rain per month on average. Based on NOAA 1991–2020 monthly climate normals.
Drive times and distances come from OSRM routing over real OpenStreetMap road networks. Fuel costs use weekly US Energy Information Administration state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. EV charging data is sourced from NREL. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI (1991–2020 reference period). Hazard data comes from FEMA and USGS public feeds.
Yes. Click any route to see its full trip page with turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost estimates, elevation profile, stop suggestions, weather conditions, and more.

Fall Routes

Editor's pick

Pennington Gap, VA → Virginia Beach, VA

487.8 mi 9h 19m Score: 7/10 ~$82 fuel

Through: Norfolk

5 tricky spots

This 488-mile drive, with a drive score of 7, navigates gently rolling terrain from the mountains to the coast. Its inclusion of park access makes it a great option for enjoying the fall scenery.

Editor's pick

Virginia Beach, VA → Appalachia, VA

476.3 mi 9h 20m Score: 8/10 ~$80 fuel

Through: Rocky Mount → Holston Dam

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Boasting a high drive score of 8, this 476-mile route traverses hilly terrain with significant elevation changes, peaking at 2,605 feet. It also features park access, offering opportunities to explore the autumn landscape.

Editor's pick

Appalachia, VA → Norfolk, VA

462 mi 9h 2m Score: 7/10 ~$77 fuel

Through: Virginia Beach

5 tricky spots

Covering 462 miles with a drive score of 7, this route moves through gently rolling terrain. The availability of parks along the way provides a chance to appreciate the fall colors during this journey.

Portsmouth Heights, VA → Clintwood, VA

461.8 mi 9h Score: 7/10 ~$77 fuel

Through: Rocky Mount → Holston Dam

5 tricky spots

Virginia Beach, VA → Coeburn, VA

455.8 mi 8h 48m Score: 7/10 ~$73 fuel

Through: Rocky Mount → Holston Dam

5 tricky spots

Bristol, VA → Portsmouth, VA

420.5 mi 7h 49m Score: 8/10 ~$67 fuel

Through: Norfolk → Virginia Beach → Suffolk +1 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Portsmouth, VA → Richlands, VA

419.8 mi 7h 58m Score: 9/10 ~$67 fuel

Through: Richmond → Rocky Mount → Charleston W. Va.

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Chesapeake, VA → Richlands, VA

418.5 mi 8h 2m Score: 8/10 ~$70 fuel

Through: Rocky Mount → Charleston W. Va.

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Chesapeake, VA → Bristol, VA

418.5 mi 7h 52m Score: 8/10 ~$67 fuel

Through: Rocky Mount

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Chesapeake, VA → Claypool Hill, VA

414.2 mi 7h 55m Score: 9/10 ~$69 fuel

Through: Rocky Mount → Charleston W. Va.

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Chesapeake, VA → Tazewell, VA

401.9 mi 7h 40m Score: 8/10 ~$67 fuel

Through: Rocky Mount → Charleston W. Va.

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Chesapeake, VA → Bluefield, VA

384.4 mi 7h 18m Score: 8/10 ~$61 fuel

Through: Rocky Mount → Charleston W. Va.

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Dryden, VA → Richmond, VA

383 mi 7h 18m Score: 8/10 ~$64 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Pennington Gap, VA → Richmond, VA

379.2 mi 7h 13m Score: 8/10 ~$64 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Portsmouth Heights, VA → Atkins, VA

367.6 mi 6h 54m Score: 8/10 ~$62 fuel

Through: Richmond → Rocky Mount

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Colonial Heights, VA → McLean, VA

363.1 mi 6h 43m Score: 8/10 ~$61 fuel

Through: Washington

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Portsmouth, VA → Wytheville, VA

349.4 mi 6h 32m Score: 8/10 ~$56 fuel

Through: Richmond → Rocky Mount

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Virginia Beach, VA → Pulaski, VA

341.2 mi 6h 31m Score: 8/10 ~$54 fuel

Through: Rocky Mount

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Roanoke, VA → Exmore, VA

334.8 mi 6h 34m Score: 9/10 ~$53 fuel

Through: Norfolk → Virginia Beach

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Alexandria, VA → Cana, VA

331.6 mi 6h 15m Score: 8/10 ~$56 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Chesapeake, VA → Narrows, VA

330.9 mi 6h 36m Score: 9/10 ~$53 fuel

Through: Rocky Mount → New Castle

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Chesapeake, VA → Pulaski, VA

329.1 mi 6h 18m Score: 8/10 ~$55 fuel

Through: Rocky Mount

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Chesapeake, VA → Radford, VA

318.5 mi 6h 7m Score: 8/10 ~$51 fuel

Through: Rocky Mount

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Roanoke, VA → Cape Charles, VA

317.4 mi 6h 10m Score: 9/10 ~$50 fuel

Through: Norfolk → Virginia Beach

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Big Stone Gap, VA → Charlottesville, VA

299.4 mi 5h 53m Score: 8/10 ~$50 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Arlington, VA → Horse Pasture, VA

290.4 mi 5h 43m Score: 8/10 ~$46 fuel

Through: Roanoke

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Arlington, VA → Bassett, VA

283.7 mi 5h 36m Score: 8/10 ~$48 fuel

Through: Roanoke

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Hampton, VA → Stuart, VA

281.6 mi 5h 48m Score: 9/10 ~$45 fuel

Through: Roxbury → Chase City → Danville +2 more

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Portsmouth, VA → Cloverdale, VA

273.2 mi 5h 7m Score: 8/10 ~$46 fuel

Through: Richmond → Rocky Mount

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Chesapeake, VA → Covington, VA

272.5 mi 5h 12m Score: 8/10 ~$43 fuel

Through: Rocky Mount → Charleston

5 tricky spots High drive quality

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