Spanning 318.3 miles across Virginia, this trip connects Cana to East Hampton in approximately 6 hours and 23 minutes. You will primarily navigate a combination of US 58, I-85, and I-40 to complete the journey. Given the duration, this route is perfectly manageable as a single-day drive if you get an early start. Budgeting around $51 for fuel should cover your needs, provided you stick to the main corridors. Since both locations are situated within the Southeast region, you can expect a consistent atmosphere throughout the drive. It is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that prioritizes efficiency over complex navigation.
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
159.1 miles from Cana, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 58
68.9 mi
1h 29m
I 85
57.5 mi
1h 4m
I 40
46.3 mi
54m
North Andy Griffith Parkway
31.6 mi
35m
US 158
29.2 mi
34m
Congressman G K Butterfield Highway
19.3 mi
20m
Hampton Roads Beltway
15.8 mi
19m
NC 74
13.3 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
US 58
— 68.9 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cana, VA and East Hampton, VA.
1
Start on US 52
2.6 mi·2 min·Fancy Gap Highway
2
Continue on US 52
32 mi·35 min·North Andy Griffith Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 74
13 mi·15 min·NC 74
Toward NC 74 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 53BToward US 421 South: Greensboro
5
Merge onto US 421; NC 150
11 mi·13 min·Salem Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.8 mi·9 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, MartinsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 40; US 29; US 220
1.8 mi·2 min·I 40; US 29; US 220
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·42 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; NC 86 Truck
9.4 mi·10 min·I 85; NC 86 Truck
Toward I 85 North: DurhamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; US 70
1.8 mi·2 min·I 85; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 85; US 15; US 70; US 501
4.3 mi·5 min·I 85; US 15; US 70; US 501
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; US 15
37 mi·40 min·I 85; US 15
13
Turn straight onto I 85
4.9 mi·5 min·I 85
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward US 1, US 158: Norlina
15
Turn left onto US 1; US 158
8.6 mi·10 min·US 1; US 158
16
Turn right onto US 158; US 401
1.2 mi·1 min·US 158; US 401
17
Continue on US 158 Bypass
5.0 mi·5 min·US 158 Bypass
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 158
28 mi·33 min·US 158
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
20
Merge onto I 95; US 158
19 mi·20 min·Congressman G K Butterfield Highway
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 58 East: Emporia, Norfolk
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward US 58 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
23
Merge onto US 58
69 mi·1 hr 29 min·US 58
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 664 North: Newport News, Hampton
25
Merge onto I 664
8.3 mi·10 min·Hampton Roads Beltway
26
Continue on I 664
4.3 mi·5 min·Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
27
Continue on I 664
6.2 mi·7 min·Hampton Roads Beltway
28
Keep slight right at fork onto Hampton Roads Beltway
1.4 mi·1 min·Hampton Roads Beltway
Exit 1BToward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia BeachUse the slight right lane.
29
Take the exit
0.1 mi·25 sec
Exit 265CToward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force BaseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork
162 ft·9 sec
Use the left / right lanes.
31
Turn left onto Rip Rap Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Rip Rap Road
32
Turn left onto North King Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·North King Street
33
Turn right
0.2 mi·30 sec
34
Turn straight onto US 258
1.1 mi·1 min·East Mercury Boulevard
35
Turn right onto Southerland Drive
0.2 mi·46 sec·Southerland Drive
36
Arrive at destination
Southerland Drive
Trip Plan
Planning for a single-day journey is your best bet, as the 6-hour and 23-minute duration allows for a comfortable arrival if you depart early. You only need to account for one planned stop to keep your travel time efficient and within the projected window. Because the route relies heavily on major arteries like I-85 and I-40, keep an eye on traffic reports before you leave to avoid potential congestion on these high-volume corridors. Since you have a $51 fuel budget, try to fill up before hitting the busiest stretches of the interstate to avoid premium station pricing. Flexibility is your greatest asset here, so use your single stop to stretch your legs and reset for the final leg of the trip.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 159.1 miles from Cana, VA, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.9 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 70 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.1 miles or 3h 4m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Hampton, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cana, 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 Cana, VA
This is one driving day of about 318.3 miles and 6h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Cana, 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 US 58 for about 68.9 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 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 34.2 and 316 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
34.2 mi into trip|~38m in|NC 74
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 74 toward NC 74 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NC 74 East
8
60 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
7
106.3 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|I 85; NC 86 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; NC 86 Truck toward I 85 North: Durham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 85 North: Durham
9
314.6 mi into trip|~6h 16m in|Hampton Roads Beltway
Keep slight right at fork onto Hampton Roads Beltway toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1B
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
8
316 mi into trip|~6h 18m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.78 one way
$99.55 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$54.42
$108.85
premium
$4.70
$58.91
$117.82
diesel
$5.61
$70.28
$140.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.5
1
$33.42
$15.28
Efficient EV
79.6
0
$27.85
$12.73
EV Truck/SUV
127.3
1
$44.56
$20.37
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Cana, VA
Late night
in Cana on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Hampton, VA
Late night
in East Hampton on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Henderson, NC
159 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
10 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
6h 23m 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.
Fort Monroe National Monument
National Monument
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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 318.3
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
$15
near mile 318.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip defined by high-speed efficiency, with highway travel accounting for 85% of your total time on the road. You will settle into a steady rhythm as you cover the longest uninterrupted segment of 68.9 miles along US 58. The personality of this drive is decidedly functional, favoring major interstates and primary routes to keep you moving toward your destination. While the experience is largely a highway-focused grind, the transition between different road types keeps the pace consistent. You should be prepared for long stretches of steady cruising as you navigate from the mountains toward East Hampton.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.9 mi on US 58.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 58 and I 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 34.2 miles in near NC 74.
Driving Effort10/10
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 27 significant decision points across 318.3 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 34.2 miles (NC 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 60 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 106.3 miles (I 85; NC 86 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,430 ft10 ft
Total Climb
158 ft
Total Descent
1,578 ft
Highest Point
1,430 ft
Elevation Range
1,420 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cana, VA and East Hampton, VA, road signs point toward Martinsville, Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Hampton.
Martinsville
60 mi in|~1h 10m|via I 40
Norfolk
226.3 mi in|~4h 21m
Virginia Beach
226.4 mi in|~4h 21m
Hampton
295.5 mi in|~5h 51m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 23m. Total distance: 318.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 23m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68.9 miles on US 58. 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 East 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 34.2 miles (NC 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 60 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 106.3 miles (I 85; NC 86 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Monroe National Monument and Colonial National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at East Hampton, VA before the return drive.
