Spanning 183.9 miles through Virginia, this trek from Bull Run to Suffolk typically takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes of drive time. Because the route relies on local roads rather than interstate highways, you should plan for a full day of travel to account for the slower pace. Budgeting approximately $29 for fuel will cover your transit across the Southeast region. While it is certainly feasible as a one-day trip, the turn-heavy nature of the path means you will want to stay alert. This route is an ideal choice if you prefer avoiding major interstates in favor of a more direct, localized connection between these two points.
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
94.7 miles from Bull Run, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
66.8 mi
1h 14m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
27.1 mi
29m
James River Drive
14.6 mi
19m
Dumfries Road
13.6 mi
19m
Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi
15m
Old Stage Highway
12 mi
15m
Colonial Trail East
9.8 mi
11m
Godwin Boulevard
8.9 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 66.8 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bull Run, VA and Suffolk, VA.
1
Start on this road
140 ft·14 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn left
360 ft·29 sec
3
At end of road, turn right onto SR 1566
1.3 mi·2 min·Sudley Manor Drive
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto VA 234
5.9 mi·8 min·Prince William Parkway
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on VA 234
14 mi·19 min·Dumfries Road
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
7
Merge onto I 95
18 mi·20 min·I 95
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
49 mi·53 min·I 95
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
1.9 mi·2 min
Exit 84AToward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va BeachUse the slight left / straight lanes.
10
Merge onto I 295
27 mi·29 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 15AToward VA 10 East: HopewellUse the right lane.
12
Merge onto VA 10
2.9 mi·3 min·East Hundred Road
13
Continue on VA 10
2.9 mi·4 min·West Randolph Road
14
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
15 mi·19 min·James River Drive
15
Continue on VA 10
13 mi·15 min·Colonial Trail West
16
At end of road, turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
1.0 mi·1 min·Rolfe Highway
17
Take the exit
149 ft·6 sec
18
Merge onto VA 10
9.8 mi·11 min·Colonial Trail East
19
Continue on VA 10
12 mi·15 min·Old Stage Highway
Use the left lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 10
4.3 mi·5 min·Benns Church Boulevard
21
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
8.4 mi·9 min·Godwin Boulevard
22
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
0.5 mi·48 sec·Godwin Boulevard
23
Turn left onto US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
366 ft·6 sec·Pruden Boulevard
24
Continue on US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
2.2 mi·5 min·North Main Street
25
Turn right onto VA 337
454 ft·17 sec·West Washington Street
26
Turn left onto South Saratoga Street
165 ft·4 sec·South Saratoga Street
27
Arrive at destination
South Saratoga Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a localized route, aim to depart early in the morning to beat the congestion often found on smaller thoroughfares. You should plan for at least one stop during your 3-hour and 20-minute drive to stretch your legs and stay refreshed. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the stop-and-go nature of local roads can sometimes impact your expected $29 fuel expenditure. Flexibility is your best asset here; since the route is short enough to complete in a single day, you can easily adjust your pace to accommodate traffic or personal comfort. A key tip for this specific drive is to familiarize yourself with the turns on Prince William Parkway and Dumfries Road before you head out, as the lack of highway signage makes local navigation essential.
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 94.7 miles from Bull Run, VA, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.8 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 42 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.7 miles or 1h 54m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Suffolk, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bull Run, 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 Bull Run, VA
This is one driving day of about 189.5 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Bull Run, 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 95 for about 66.8 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 117 — 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
At end of road, turn left
Navigation decision point
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 1566 / Sudley Manor Drive
At end of road, turn right onto SR 1566 / Sudley Manor Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
39.5 mi into trip|~53m in|I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
88.1 mi into trip|~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 84A
Toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va B...
7
117 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward VA 10 East: Hopewell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 15A
Toward VA 10 East: Hopewell
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.63 one way
$59.27 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$32.40
$64.80
premium
$4.70
$35.07
$70.14
diesel
$5.61
$41.84
$83.68
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: 66.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.9
0
$19.90
$9.10
Efficient EV
47.4
0
$16.58
$7.58
EV Truck/SUV
75.8
0
$26.53
$12.13
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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 18, 2026
Origin
Bull Run, VA
Late night
in Bull Run on Sunday
Local time
12:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Suffolk, VA
Late night
in Suffolk on Sunday
Local time
12:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
86°F
Colonial Heights, VA
95 mi in
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
2 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
3h 52m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 very different experience than a standard highway cruise, as this trip features a 0% highway share. You will navigate a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention, utilizing roads like Sudley Manor Drive, Prince William Parkway, and Dumfries Road. Because you are avoiding high-speed corridors, the journey feels more hands-on and requires constant navigation through shifting road conditions. You won't find long, monotonous stretches here, as the route requires frequent adjustments and careful driving. Prepare for a steady, rhythmic pace that keeps you engaged with the local landscape throughout the entire 183.9-mile distance.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.8 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 17 significant decision points across 189.5 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: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SR 1566 / Sudley Manor Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.5 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
404 ft18 ft
Total Climb
359 ft
Total Descent
589 ft
Highest Point
404 ft
~13.5 mi in
Elevation Range
386 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bull Run, VA and Suffolk, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Va Beach.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 189.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.8 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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 Suffolk, 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 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SR 1566 / Sudley Manor Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.5 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Suffolk, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
