Bensley, VA to Hampton, VA is 79 miles and takes about 1h 34m via I 64 and Pocahontas Parkway, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip entirely within Virginia's Southeast region. Expect a quick journey that’s ideal for a single-day excursion, getting you between these two points with minimal fuss. The route primarily utilizes major roadways, making it a practical choice for efficient travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.5 miles from Bensley, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
64.2 mi
1h 11m
Pocahontas Parkway
8.1 mi
9m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
2.1 mi
2m
North Armistead Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
Route 1
0.3 mi
<1m
West Pembroke Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
North King Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Rip Rap Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 64.2 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bensley, VA and Hampton, VA.
1
Start on this road
237 ft·17 sec·this road
2
Turn right
306 ft·24 sec
3
Turn right
444 ft·34 sec
4
Turn right onto US 1; US 301
0.3 mi·29 sec·Route 1
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward VA 150 South: Richmond International
6
Continue on VA 150
8.1 mi·9 min·Pocahontas Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward I 295 North: WashingtonUse the slight left lane.
8
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·45 sec·this road
9
Merge onto I 295
2.1 mi·2 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 28Toward I 64, US 60: Norfolk, Richmond, Richmond International AirportUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 64, US 60 West: Norfolk, Richmond, Seven Pines
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 64: Richmond, Norfolk
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 64 East: NorfolkUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 64
64 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·25 sec
Exit 265CToward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force BaseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
199 ft·6 sec
Toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force BaseUse the left / right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto Rip Rap Road
0.2 mi·21 sec·Rip Rap Road
18
Turn sharp left onto VA 134
0.4 mi·1 min·North Armistead Avenue
19
Turn left onto VA 351
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Pembroke Avenue
20
Turn right onto North King Street
524 ft·19 sec·North King Street
21
Continue on North King Street
432 ft·18 sec·North King Street
22
Arrive at destination
North King Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of this 1h 34m drive, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Bensley in the morning or afternoon will still allow you to reach Hampton well before evening. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, it’s wise to ensure you have a full tank before setting off, as designated stops are not part of this route. Keep an eye on I 64 for any traffic updates, as it's the primary artery for this entire 79-mile journey.
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 39.5 miles from Bensley, VA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.2 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.5 miles or 48m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hampton, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bensley, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bensley, VA
This is one driving day of about 79 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Bensley, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 64.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.8 and 78 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
8.8 mi into trip|~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 295 North: Washington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 295 North: Washington
8
11.7 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward I 64, US 60: Norfolk, Richmond, Richmond International Airport
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 28
Toward I 64, US 60: Norfolk, Richmond, Richmond...
7
12.8 mi into trip|~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 64 East: Norfolk
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk
8
77.8 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base
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 265C
Toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base
9
78 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.35 one way
$24.71 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.51
$27.02
premium
$4.70
$14.62
$29.24
diesel
$5.61
$17.44
$34.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.7
0
$8.30
$3.79
Efficient EV
19.8
0
$6.91
$3.16
EV Truck/SUV
31.6
0
$11.06
$5.06
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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 as of Apr 21, 2026
Origin
Bensley, VA
Morning
in Bensley on Tuesday
Local time
6:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hampton, VA
Morning
in Hampton on Tuesday
Local time
6:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Williamsburg, VA
40 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
1 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
1h 34m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Colonial National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On May 13, 1607, Jamestown was established as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Three cultures came together – European, Virginia Indian and African–to create a new society that...
0 mi from route
~1 min detour
$15
near mile 57.2
Park Closure: Rehabilitation of Colonial Parkway Continues
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway experience, with 92% of the journey on major interstates. You'll spend most of your time on I 64, which offers a consistent pace for the majority of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 64.2 miles on I 64, so be prepared for sustained highway driving. The character of the road remains largely consistent, focusing on efficient transit rather than varied scenery.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.2 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Pocahontas Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.8 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79 miles you will encounter 17 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: at 8.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bensley, VA and Hampton, VA, road signs point toward Richmond, Richmond International Airport, Seven Pines and Norfolk.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 79 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.2 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Hampton, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Colonial National Historical Park, Fort Monroe National Monument and Petersburg National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hampton, VA before heading back.
