Spanning 157.7 miles across Virginia, this drive connects Buchanan to Richmond in approximately 2 hours and 56 minutes. You will primarily rely on I-64, US 11, and West Broad Street to complete the journey. Since the trip is manageable in a single day, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Budgeting about $25 for fuel should comfortably cover your transportation costs for the trip. Both your starting point and destination are nestled within the Southeast, making this a straightforward regional transit. Ultimately, it is a practical, efficient route for travelers looking to move between these two Virginia hubs without unnecessary complexity.
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
78.9 miles from Buchanan, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
99.6 mi
1h 49m
US 11
53.5 mi
57m
West Broad Street
1.5 mi
3m
Main Street
1.1 mi
1m
Beltline Expressway
0.7 mi
1m
Lee Highway
0.3 mi
<1m
North Hamilton Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North Allen Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 99.6 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buchanan, VA and Richmond, 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
99 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 64
Toward I 64 East: RichmondUse the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Exit 186Toward I 195 South: Laburnum AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward I 195 SouthUse the straight lane.
9
Continue on I 195
0.7 mi·1 min·Beltline Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 33, US 250: Broad Street, Hamilton StreetUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto North Hamilton Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·North Hamilton Street
12
Turn left onto US 33; US 250
1.5 mi·3 min·West Broad Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn right onto North Allen Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·North Allen Avenue
14
Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle
274 ft·7 sec·Marcus-David Peters Circle
15
Arrive at destination
Marcus-David Peters Circle
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though planning for one stop will keep you fresh behind the wheel. Keep in mind that your route relies heavily on major interstates, so check local traffic reports before heading out, especially as you approach the Richmond metro area on West Broad Street. Because the drive is under three hours, you can easily complete it in one session, but taking a break halfway through the longest 99.6-mile stretch on I-64 can help you stay alert. Use the $25 fuel estimate as a baseline for your travel budget, and ensure your tank is topped off before hitting the interstate to avoid premium highway gas prices.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 78.9 miles from Buchanan, VA, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 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 35 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.9 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 22m
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 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 157.7 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 99.6 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 55.2 and 157.7 — 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
7
154.6 mi into trip|~2h 50m 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
154.7 mi into trip|~2h 50m 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
7
155.7 mi into trip|~2h 51m in
Take the exit toward US 33, US 250: Broad Street, Hamilton Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 33, US 250: Broad Street, Hamilton St...
5
157.7 mi into trip|~2h 56m in|Marcus-David Peters Circle
Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.66 one way
$49.32 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$26.96
$53.93
premium
$4.70
$29.19
$58.37
diesel
$5.61
$34.82
$69.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.3
0
$16.56
$7.57
Efficient EV
39.4
0
$13.80
$6.31
EV Truck/SUV
63.1
0
$22.08
$10.09
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% 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 12, 2026
Origin
Buchanan, VA
Late night
in Buchanan on Tuesday
Local time
5:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Partly Cloudy
E 2 to 6 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Richmond, VA
Late night
in Richmond on Tuesday
Local time
5:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Partly Cloudy
E 1 to 6 mph0% 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
3 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
2h 56m 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.
Petersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
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 157.7
Park Closure: Eastern Front Tour Road south of Route 36 - Closed
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...
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 experience, as 98% of this route consists of high-speed travel. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-64, which includes a significant 99.6-mile stretch that allows you to make steady progress. While the transition from rural terrain to the urban environment of Richmond provides a shift in scenery, the drive is defined by its consistency rather than technical complexity. You can anticipate a predictable, fast-paced journey that minimizes the need for frequent navigation changes. Prepare for a smooth, direct transit that prioritizes arrival time over winding backroads.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.6 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and US 11. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 55.2 miles in near I 64.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 157.7 miles you will encounter 8 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 55.2 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 154.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 154.7 miles: 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 56m. Total distance: 157.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.6 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 55.2 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 154.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 154.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Petersburg National Battlefield and Booker T Washington National Monument. 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 Richmond, VA before heading back.
