This 299.4-mile journey from Big Stone Gap, VA, to Charlottesville, VA, is a solid day trip, estimated to take about 5 hours and 53 minutes of driving. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 86% of the drive utilizing major interstates like I-81 and I-64, along with US-19. With a projected fuel cost of around $48, it's an economical option for a single-day excursion. This drive offers a straightforward path through the Southeast region of Virginia, making it a practical choice for those looking to cover ground efficiently. Consider this route if you prefer a direct path with minimal detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
149.7 miles from Big Stone Gap, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
196.9 mi
3h 35m
I 64
32.9 mi
36m
US 19
12.7 mi
18m
Bull Run Road
12.5 mi
17m
Orby Cantrell Highway
8.3 mi
10m
Trail of the Lonesome Pine
7.9 mi
10m
Norton Coeburn Road
7.8 mi
11m
I 77
7.1 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 196.9 mi, about 3h 35m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 77 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,639 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,223
Quietest
2 AM
~244 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Big Stone Gap, VA and Charlottesville, VA.
1
Start on SR 610
0.2 mi·29 sec·4th Avenue East
2
Turn straight onto SR 610
0.3 mi·32 sec·Powell Valley Road
3
Enter roundabout onto SR 610
66 ft·1 sec·Powell Valley Road
4
Continue on SR 610
0.3 mi·49 sec·Powell Valley Road
5
Turn left
0.3 mi·36 sec
6
Merge onto US 23; US 58 ALT
8.3 mi·10 min·Orby Cantrell Highway
7
Take the exit onto US 58 ALT
0.2 mi·27 sec·US 58 ALT
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 58 ALT
302 ft·8 sec·US 58 ALT
9
Merge onto US 58 ALT
7.8 mi·11 min·Norton Coeburn Road
10
Continue on US 58 ALT
13 mi·17 min·Bull Run Road
11
Continue on US 58 ALT
365 ft·6 sec·Trail of the Lonesome Pine
12
Continue on US 58 ALT
6.9 mi·9 min·US Highway 58 Alternate
13
Continue on US 58 ALT; VA 71
7.8 mi·10 min·Trail of the Lonesome Pine
14
Turn right onto US 19
13 mi·18 min·US 19
15
Turn left onto US 11
0.5 mi·1 min·West Main Street
16
Turn right onto Preston Street Southwest
0.2 mi·33 sec·Preston Street Southwest
17
At end of road, turn left onto Bradley Street Southwest
0.5 mi·1 min·Bradley Street Southwest
18
At end of road, turn right onto US 58 ALT; VA 75
0.6 mi·1 min·Cummings Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
20
Merge onto I 81; US 58
57 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 81; US 58
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on I 77; I 81; US 11; US 52
7.1 mi·7 min·I 77; I 81; US 11; US 52
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 11
140 mi·2 hr 33 min·I 81; US 11
Toward I 81 North, US 11 North: RoanokeUse the straight lane.
23
Continue on I 64; I 81
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 64; I 81
24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
33 mi·35 min·I 64
Toward I 64 East: Richmond
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward VA 631: Charlottesville
26
Turn left onto SR 631
1.7 mi·3 min·5th Street
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on Ridge Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Ridge Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
28
Turn slight right onto Water Street West
0.1 mi·32 sec·Water Street West
29
Turn left onto 2nd Street Southwest
0.1 mi·28 sec·2nd Street Southwest
30
Turn right onto US 250 BUS
0.3 mi·59 sec·West Market Street
31
Turn right onto 7th Street Northeast
286 ft·15 sec·7th Street Northeast
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour and 53-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Big Stone Gap to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic. With only one recommended stop, plan it strategically along the longest stretch on I-81 to break up the drive. The fuel cost estimate of $48 suggests keeping an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 196.9-mile segment on I-81. Given it's a manageable single-day trip, you have flexibility, but arriving in Charlottesville with ample time to settle in before evening is a good plan.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 149.7 miles from Big Stone Gap, VA, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 196.9 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 66 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.7 miles or 3h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charlottesville, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Big Stone Gap, 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 Big Stone Gap, VA
This is one driving day of about 299.4 miles and 5h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Big Stone Gap, 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 I 81 for about 196.9 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 123.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|SR 610 / Powell Valley Road
Enter roundabout onto SR 610 / Powell Valley Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
9.6 mi into trip|~13m in|US 58 ALT
Keep slight right at fork onto US 58 ALT
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
58.2 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|Bradley Street Southwest
At end of road, turn left onto Bradley Street Southwest
Navigation decision point
7
58.7 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
123.9 mi into trip|~2h 36m in|I 81; US 11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 11 toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.20 one way
$88.41 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$48.58
$97.15
premium
$4.49
$52.95
$105.90
diesel
$4.80
$56.53
$113.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.8
1
$31.44
$14.37
Efficient EV
74.9
0
$26.20
$11.98
EV Truck/SUV
119.8
1
$41.92
$19.16
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Big Stone Gap, VA
Late night
in Big Stone Gap on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph26% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 5:02PM EDT until July 17 at 5:30PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Destination
Charlottesville, VA
Late night
in Charlottesville on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Areas Of Smoke
SE 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 5:02PM EDT until July 17 at 5:30PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
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
4 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
5h 53m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Booker T Washington National Monument
National Monument
Booker T. Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later...
21 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 185.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, as 86% of the route utilizes major interstates. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 196.9 miles on I-81, offering a consistent pace. While the primary roads are interstates, the inclusion of US-19 provides a slight variation in the driving experience as you transition between major highways. This route is designed for steady progress rather than winding scenic byways, allowing for a predictable and efficient drive.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 196.9 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 64. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near SR 610 / Powell Valley Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 299.4 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 0.5 miles (SR 610 / Powell Valley Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.6 miles (US 58 ALT): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 58.2 miles (Bradley Street Southwest): Navigation decision point.
Charlottesville, in central Virginia, is a lovely university town of about 40,000 with lots to offer. Charlottesville is a town steeped in history and culture. Charlottesville is a major cultural center for central Virginia, and features more fine dining, shopping, and entertainment than one might expect for a town of its size. Ensconced in beautiful Albemarle County, Charlottesville is also surrounded by vineyards and horse country.
Top landmarks
•University of Virginia — public university in Charlottesville, Virginia
•Robert Edward Lee sculpture — former public statue in Charlottesville, Virginia
•Equestrian statue of Stonewall Jackson — former public statue in Charlottesville, Virginia
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 53m. Total distance: 299.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 196.9 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 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 Charlottesville, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (SR 610 / Powell Valley Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.6 miles (US 58 ALT): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 58.2 miles (Bradley Street Southwest): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Booker T Washington National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Charlottesville, VA before the return drive.
