Origin
Cape Charles, VA
Morning in Cape Charles on Tuesday
Local time
10:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cape Charles, VA to Norfolk, VA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
43.8 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cape Charles, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Norfolk, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 43.8-mile drive from Cape Charles, VA to Norfolk, VA typically takes about 1 hour and 4 minutes. It's a straightforward trip that works perfectly as a day trip, so no need to plan for an overnight stay. The main roads you'll encounter include Lankford Highway, Northampton Boulevard, and the impressive Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel. With an estimated fuel cost of $7, this route is quite economical. Since both your origin and destination are in the Southeast region, you'll be staying within familiar territory for this short hop.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel | 17.7 mi | 24m |
| Lankford Highway | 10.8 mi | 14m |
| Northampton Boulevard | 5.1 mi | 7m |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Stone Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Mason Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Randolph Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
— 17.7 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cape Charles, VA and Norfolk, VA.
1
Start on Park Row
295 ft
·
19 sec
·
Park Row
2
Turn left onto Strawberry Street
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Strawberry Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto VA 184
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Mason Avenue
4
Turn right onto VA 184
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Randolph Avenue
5
Continue on VA 184
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Stone Road
6
Turn right onto US 13
9.7 mi
·
13 min
·
Lankford Highway
7
Merge onto US 13
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Lankford Highway
8
Continue on US 13
18 mi
·
24 min
·
Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
9
Continue on US 13
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Northampton Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 64 East, I 64 West: Downtown Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Richmond
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 64 East: Downtown Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 64
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 284A
Toward I 264 East, I 264 West: Va Beach, Downtown Norfolk, Portsmouth
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 264 West: Norfolk
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 264 West, US 13 South: Norfolk, Military Highway
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Toward I 264 West: Norfolk, Portsmouth
17
Merge onto I 264
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 10
Toward City Hall Avenue, Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn straight onto East City Hall Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
East City Hall Avenue
20
Continue on East City Hall Avenue
217 ft
·
15 sec
·
East City Hall Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
East City Hall Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
First break window
Fuel and coffeeA short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.9 miles from Cape Charles, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 36.5 and 43.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
36.5 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 64 East: Downtown Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 64 East: Downtown Norfolk, Chesapeake,...
8
38.6 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward I 264 East, I 264 West: Va Beach, Downtown Norfolk, Portsmouth
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 284A
Toward I 264 East, I 264 West: Va Beach, Downto...
7
38.7 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 264 West: Norfolk
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 264 West: Norfolk
6
39.2 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 264 West, US 13 South: Norfolk, Military Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 264 West, US 13 South: Norfolk, Milita...
8
43.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward City Hall Avenue, Purple Heart Trail
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 10
Toward City Hall Avenue, Purple Heart Trail
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.85 one way
$13.70 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.49 | $14.98 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.11 | $16.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.67 | $19.34 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.00
Chesapeake Bay Bridge
$4.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$4
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.60 | $2.10 |
| Efficient EV | 11 | 0 | $3.83 | $1.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.13 | $2.80 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Norfolk, VA
Morning in Norfolk on Tuesday
Local time
10:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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
1h 4m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for much of this journey, though 8% of the route is on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 17.7 miles across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel, offering a unique driving experience over the water. As you progress, the road will transition from local roads to more arterial routes leading into Norfolk. This drive is not a monotonous interstate cruise; rather, it’s a mix of varied road types that keep you engaged.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.7 mi on Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 36.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 36.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cape Charles, VA and Norfolk, VA, road signs point toward Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Richmond, Portsmouth and Military Highway.
Chesapeake
36.4 mi in
|
~52m
Suffolk
36.4 mi in
|
~52m
Hampton
36.4 mi in
|
~52m
Richmond
36.4 mi in
|
~52m
Portsmouth
38.6 mi in
|
~56m
Military Highway
39.2 mi in
|
~57m
About the Cities
Starting in Cape Charles, VA
Full guide →Cape Charles is a town in Eastern Virginia, at the southern tip of the Delmarva peninsula. It used to be the terminus of the eastern shore railway and still has an operating rail-to-barge ferry terminal with freight service to Norfolk. It has the feel of a time gone by.
Arriving in Norfolk, VA
Full guide →Norfolk is in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. It is a port city with a large Navy and shipping presence. But it is also known as a major cultural center, with world-class museums, opera, symphony, ballet and a vibrant arts community. The downtown area has experienced a major resurgence, with gourmet restaurants, shopping and attractions. Norfolk is one of the top cruise ports in the country.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 43.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.7 miles on Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.00 in tolls one way, starting with Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Norfolk, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 36.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Norfolk, VA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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