Spanning 236 miles across Virginia, this drive connects Buchanan to Hampton in approximately 4 hours and 22 minutes. Because the route is primarily highway-focused, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach the coast without needing an overnight stop. You should budget roughly $38 for fuel to complete the journey. The route transitions from the interior Southeast toward the coastal region, keeping you on major thoroughfares for the vast majority of the time. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, the straightforward nature of this path makes it a reliable choice for your travel schedule.
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
118 miles from Buchanan, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
154.5 mi
2h 49m
US 11
53.5 mi
57m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi
25m
Main Street
1.1 mi
1m
North Armistead Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
Lee Highway
0.3 mi
<1m
West Pembroke Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
North King Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 154.5 mi, about 2h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buchanan, VA and Hampton, VA.
1
Start on this road
110 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto US 11
1.1 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
Continue on US 11
0.3 mi·27 sec·Lee Highway
4
Take the ramp onto US 11
54 mi·57 min·US 11
5
Continue on I 64; I 81
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 64; I 81
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
90 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 64
Toward I 64 East: RichmondUse the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 177Toward I 295 North: Washington, NorfolkUse the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 295
23 mi·25 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 28AToward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 64
64 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·25 sec
Exit 265CToward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force BaseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
199 ft·6 sec
Toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force BaseUse the left / right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto Rip Rap Road
0.2 mi·21 sec·Rip Rap Road
14
Turn sharp left onto VA 134
0.4 mi·1 min·North Armistead Avenue
15
Turn left onto VA 351
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Pembroke Avenue
16
Turn right onto North King Street
524 ft·19 sec·North King Street
17
Continue on North King Street
432 ft·18 sec·North King Street
18
Arrive at destination
North King Street
Trip Plan
Plan your departure to account for the single recommended stop, which helps break up the 4-hour and 22-minute duration. Since the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 154.5 miles, prioritize refueling or stretching your legs before you commit to that extended highway segment. Checking traffic patterns on I-64 is essential, as this major artery can experience congestion that impacts your total travel time. Because this route is easily manageable in one day, you have the flexibility to leave early or late depending on your preference for traffic density. Aim to keep your fuel levels consistent, especially before entering the longer highway corridors, to ensure a stress-free transit across the state.
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 118 miles from Buchanan, VA, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.5 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 52 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118 miles or 2h 8m 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 33m
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 Buchanan, 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 Buchanan, VA
This is one driving day of about 236 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Buchanan, 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 154.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 55.2 and 235 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
55.2 mi into trip|~1h 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
8
145.3 mi into trip|~2h 38m 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
169.4 mi into trip|~3h 5m 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
234.8 mi into trip|~4h 19m 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
235 mi into trip|~4h 19m 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
$36.91 one way
$73.81 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$40.35
$80.70
premium
$4.70
$43.68
$87.36
diesel
$5.61
$52.11
$104.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.8
0
$24.78
$11.33
Efficient EV
59
0
$20.65
$9.44
EV Truck/SUV
94.4
1
$33.04
$15.10
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 20, 2026
Origin
Buchanan, VA
Morning
in Buchanan on Tuesday
Local time
10:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hampton, VA
Morning
in Hampton on Tuesday
Local time
10:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live 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
18 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
4h 22m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip dominated by high-speed travel, as 88% of your journey takes place on highways like I-64, US 11, and the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the road tackling a 154.5-mile stretch on I-64, which serves as the core of your trek. This is a highway-focused drive, meaning you should anticipate consistent, fast-paced interstate conditions rather than winding backroads. As you move away from Buchanan, the road personality stays fairly uniform, prioritizing efficiency and distance over technical navigation. It is a functional, streamlined experience that keeps you moving toward the coast with minimal interruption.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 154.5 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and US 11. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 55.2 miles in near I 64.
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 11 significant decision points across 236 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 55.2 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Buchanan, VA and Hampton, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 22m. Total distance: 236 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 154.5 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 55.2 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Hampton, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
