Bridgewater, VA to Hampton, VA is 202.5 miles and takes about 3h 49m via I-81 and I-64, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Most of your travel will be on major interstates, making for a straightforward drive. Given the relatively short duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
101.2 miles from Bridgewater, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
153.8 mi
2h 49m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi
25m
I 81
17.8 mi
19m
Dinkel Avenue
2.6 mi
5m
Friedens Church Road
0.7 mi
1m
North Armistead Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
West Pembroke Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
North King Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 153.8 mi, about 2h 49m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 89 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,090 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,513
Quietest
2 AM
~119 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.6×
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 Bridgewater, VA and Hampton, VA.
1
Start on East College Street
18 ft·5 sec·East College Street
2
Turn right onto VA 42
0.2 mi·33 sec·North Main Street
3
Turn right onto VA 257
2.6 mi·5 min·Dinkel Avenue
4
Continue on VA 257
0.7 mi·1 min·Friedens Church Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
6
Merge onto I 81
18 mi·19 min·I 81
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·53 sec
Toward I 64 East: Richmond
8
Merge onto I 64
90 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 64
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 177Toward I 295 North: Washington, NorfolkUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 295
23 mi·25 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 28AToward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 64
64 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi·25 sec
Exit 265CToward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force BaseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
199 ft·6 sec
Toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force BaseUse the left / right lanes.
15
Turn straight onto Rip Rap Road
0.2 mi·21 sec·Rip Rap Road
16
Turn sharp left onto VA 134
0.4 mi·1 min·North Armistead Avenue
17
Turn left onto VA 351
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Pembroke Avenue
18
Turn right onto North King Street
524 ft·19 sec·North King Street
19
Continue on North King Street
432 ft·18 sec·North King Street
20
Arrive at destination
North King Street
Trip Plan
For this 3 hour and 49 minute drive, leaving Bridgewater, VA in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. The 202.5-mile trip is easily manageable in one day, so you don't need to worry about overnight stops. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is around $31, and while there's a long 153.8-mile stretch on I-64, you'll encounter frequent exits before and after that segment for services. A good time to stop would be about halfway, perhaps after the I-81 portion, to stretch your legs before the final push.
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 101.2 miles from Bridgewater, VA, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 153.8 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 45 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.2 miles or 1h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 6m
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 Bridgewater, 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 Bridgewater, VA
This is one driving day of about 202.5 miles and 3h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Bridgewater, 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 64 for about 153.8 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 201.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|VA 42 / North Main Street
Turn right onto VA 42 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
8
111.7 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
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 177
Toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
8
135.8 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
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 28A
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
8
201.3 mi into trip|~3h 46m 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
201.4 mi into trip|~3h 46m 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
$29.90 one way
$59.79 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$32.85
$65.71
premium
$4.49
$35.81
$71.62
diesel
$4.80
$38.24
$76.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.8
0
$21.26
$9.72
Efficient EV
50.6
0
$17.72
$8.10
EV Truck/SUV
81
1
$28.35
$12.96
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Bridgewater, VA
Morning
in Bridgewater on Sunday
Local time
7:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Areas Of Smoke
SW 5 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hampton, VA
Morning
in Hampton on Sunday
Local time
7:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Areas Of Smoke
E 9 mph1% 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
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
3h 49m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
$15
near mile 181.5
Park Closure: Jamestown Island Loop Drive to Temporarily Close to Vehicles
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...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 202.5
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...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 139.6
Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 85% of the 202.5 miles on interstates like I-81 and I-64. You'll experience a long stretch of 153.8 miles on I-64 without needing to exit. Expect many exits for towns and services as you traverse Virginia. The initial portion on I-81 will feel more like rural cruising before merging onto the busier I-64 corridor.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 153.8 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near VA 42 / North Main Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 202.5 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: near the start (VA 42 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 111.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,387 ft7 ft
Total Climb
355 ft
Total Descent
1,530 ft
Highest Point
1,387 ft
~28.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,380 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bridgewater, VA and Hampton, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 49m. Total distance: 202.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 153.8 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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.
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 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (VA 42 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 111.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Colonial National Historical Park, Fort Monroe National Monument and Petersburg National Battlefield (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Hampton, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
