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Summer Road Trips in Virginia

Routes

30

Avg Distance

441 mi

Avg Drive

8h 27m

Destinations

12

Virginia in the summer offers a diverse range of road trips, with 30 routes averaging 441 miles and over 8 hours of driving. This season provides ample daylight for exploring, with routes featuring highway-focused stretches and some with gently rolling terrain reaching up to 2,600 feet. Many trips include access to parks, making them ideal for summer adventures.

Planning Tips

Carry extra water — summer heat in the car and at rest stops dehydrates faster than you think.
Start drives early or late to avoid peak afternoon heat, especially through desert or plains stretches.
Check your tire pressure before long summer drives — hot pavement increases blowout risk with underinflated tires.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've identified 30 routes in Virginia that work well for summer travel, based on drive quality, typical weather conditions, and distance (averaging 441 miles).

Drive times and distances come from actual road network data via OSRM. Fuel costs use current state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. All data is recalculated regularly.

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.

Summer Routes

Editor's pick

Pennington Gap, VA → Virginia Beach, VA

487.8 mi 9h 19m Score: 7/10

This highway-focused drive scores a 7 and spans 487.8 miles, offering a substantial journey across the state with park access along the way.

Editor's pick

Virginia Beach, VA → Appalachia, VA

476.3 mi 9h 20m Score: 8/10

Boasting a high drive score of 8, this mostly highway route covers 476.3 miles and includes access to parks, perfect for a summer exploration.

Editor's pick

Clintwood, VA → Virginia Beach, VA

476.1 mi 9h 17m Score: 7/10

With gently rolling terrain and a maximum elevation of 2,600 feet, this 476.1-mile trip scores a 7 and provides access to parks for summer outings.

Norton, VA → Virginia Beach, VA

466.5 mi 9h 2m Score: 7/10

Clintwood, VA → Chesapeake, VA

464.9 mi 9h 5m Score: 7/10

Appalachia, VA → Norfolk, VA

462 mi 9h 2m Score: 7/10

Portsmouth Heights, VA → Clintwood, VA

461.8 mi 9h Score: 7/10

Gate City, VA → Virginia Beach, VA

455.2 mi 8h 36m Score: 7/10

Weber City, VA → Virginia Beach, VA

454.5 mi 8h 33m Score: 7/10

Coeburn, VA → Chesapeake, VA

445.8 mi 8h 35m Score: 7/10

Big Stone Gap, VA → East Hampton, VA

445.3 mi 8h 34m Score: 7/10

Castlewood, VA → Virginia Beach, VA

445.1 mi 8h 32m Score: 7/10

Norfolk, VA → Gate City, VA

440.5 mi 8h 21m Score: 7/10

Norton, VA → East Hampton, VA

436.8 mi 8h 23m Score: 7/10

Honaker, VA → Virginia Beach, VA

436.1 mi 8h 27m Score: 7/10

East Hampton, VA → Norton, VA

436 mi 8h 23m Score: 7/10

Wise, VA → Hampton, VA

434.7 mi 8h 22m Score: 7/10

Raven, VA → Virginia Beach, VA

433.7 mi 8h 19m Score: 7/10

Bristol, VA → Virginia Beach, VA

430.8 mi 8h 3m Score: 7/10

Richlands, VA → Virginia Beach, VA

430.1 mi 8h 12m Score: 7/10

Coeburn, VA → East Hampton, VA

427.2 mi 8h 9m Score: 7/10

Alexandria, VA → Clintwood, VA

424.3 mi 8h 17m Score: 7/10

Hampton, VA → Gate City, VA

424.2 mi 7h 55m Score: 8/10

Weber City, VA → Hampton, VA

424.1 mi 7h 53m Score: 8/10

Lebanon, VA → Norfolk, VA

421.9 mi 8h 3m Score: 7/10

Norfolk, VA → Honaker, VA

421.5 mi 8h 11m Score: 7/10

Bristol, VA → Portsmouth, VA

420.5 mi 7h 49m Score: 8/10

Portsmouth, VA → Richlands, VA

419.8 mi 7h 58m Score: 9/10

Richlands, VA → Portsmouth, VA

419.8 mi 7h 58m Score: 9/10

Chesapeake, VA → Richlands, VA

418.5 mi 8h 2m Score: 8/10

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