Big Stone Gap, VA to Richmond, VA is 366.3 miles and takes about 7h 6m via I 81 and I 64, with a fuel budget near $61 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia, connecting the Southeast region from start to finish. Given its mostly highway profile and single-day recommendation, you'll find it’s a straightforward drive. Plan for around 7 hours of pure driving time, not including any stops you might want to make along the way.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
183.2 miles from Big Stone Gap, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
196.9 mi
3h 35m
I 64
99.6 mi
1h 49m
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 Richmond, 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
99 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 64
Toward I 64 East: RichmondUse the straight lane.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Exit 186Toward I 195 South: Laburnum AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward I 195 SouthUse the straight lane.
27
Continue on I 195
0.7 mi·1 min·Beltline Expressway
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 33, US 250: Broad Street, Hamilton StreetUse the slight right lane.
29
Turn straight onto North Hamilton Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·North Hamilton Street
30
Turn left onto US 33; US 250
1.5 mi·3 min·West Broad Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
31
Turn right onto North Allen Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·North Allen Avenue
32
Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle
274 ft·7 sec·Marcus-David Peters Circle
33
Arrive at destination
Marcus-David Peters Circle
Trip Plan
For this 7-hour drive, departing in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. With 2 recommended stops, you can easily break up the 366.3 miles into manageable segments. Given the $61 fuel cost, ensure your tank is full before leaving Big Stone Gap, as major services might be spaced out on I 81. Keep an eye on your mileage, especially during the longest stretch of 196.9 miles on I 81, to plan your fuel and rest breaks effectively.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 183.2 miles from Big Stone Gap, VA, or about 3h 41m 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 81 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 183.2 miles or 3h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Big Stone Gap, VA
This is one driving day of about 366.3 miles and 7h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Big Stone Gap, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 58.7 and 363.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
7
263.9 mi into trip|~5h 10m in|I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 East: Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 64 East: Richmond
7
363.2 mi into trip|~7h in
Take the exit toward I 195 South: Laburnum Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 186
Toward I 195 South: Laburnum Avenue
8
363.4 mi into trip|~7h in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 195 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 195 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.08 one way
$108.16 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg128 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$59.43
$118.86
premium
$4.49
$64.78
$129.56
diesel
$4.80
$69.16
$138.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 128.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
109.9
1
$38.46
$17.58
Efficient EV
91.6
1
$32.05
$14.65
EV Truck/SUV
146.5
1
$51.28
$23.44
Gas CO2
128 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (66% 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
4:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Richmond, VA
Late night
in Richmond on Sunday
Local time
4:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Areas Of Smoke
N 5 mph4% chanceLive 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
6 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
7h 6m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 189.5
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 366.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 88% of the 366.3 miles on major interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 196.9 miles on I 81, which means extended periods of cruising. Expect a high number of exits and potential for merging traffic as you transition from I 81 to I 64. The final portion will shift to surface roads as you approach your destination.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 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?
9/10
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 58.7 miles in near US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 366.3 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 58.7 miles (US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 123.9 miles (I 81; US 11): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 263.9 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Richmond is the capital of Virginia. Richmond has a population of 227,000 (2020) and the adjacent counties of Henrico and Chesterfield combine to create a local population of more than 1.3 million people.
Top landmarks
•Virginia Museum of Fine Arts — art museum in Richmond, Virginia
•Virginia State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Virginia
•Monument Avenue — thoroughfare in Richmond, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 6m. Total distance: 366.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 6m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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 29 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 Richmond, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 29 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 58.7 miles (US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 123.9 miles (I 81; US 11): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 263.9 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Booker T Washington National Monument and Petersburg National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Richmond, VA before the return drive.
