Origin
Cape Charles, VA
Morning in Cape Charles on Tuesday
Local time
8:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cape Charles, VA to Virginia Beach, 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 9m
Distance
43.6 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cape Charles, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Virginia Beach, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Cape Charles to Virginia Beach covers 43.6 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 9 minutes. This route serves as a perfect day trip, allowing you to transition easily between these two southeastern Virginia locales without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Lankford Highway, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel, and Shore Drive. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $7, this drive is as economical as it is direct. Whether you are heading south for a change of pace or a weekend getaway, the trip is straightforward and manageable for any driver.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel | 17.7 mi | 24m |
| Lankford Highway | 10.8 mi | 14m |
| Shore Drive | 3.4 mi | 7m |
| North Great Neck Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| First Colonial Road | 2 mi | 4m |
| Stone Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Laskin Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| 24th Street | 0.8 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 Virginia Beach, 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
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Northampton Boulevard
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Toward US 60: Virginia Beach, Ocean Front
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 60
3.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Shore Drive
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto VA 279
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
North Great Neck Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto SR 615
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
First Colonial Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto US 58
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Laskin Road
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto North Birdneck Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Birdneck Road
16
Turn left onto 24th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
24th Street
17
Turn left onto Baltic Avenue
472 ft
·
14 sec
·
Baltic Avenue
18
Turn right onto 25th Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
25th Street
19
Arrive at destination
25th Street
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 21.8 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 32.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Strawberry Street
Turn left onto Strawberry Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
VA 184 / Mason Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto VA 184 / Mason Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
VA 184 / Randolph Avenue
Turn right onto VA 184 / Randolph Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
32 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward US 60: Virginia Beach, Ocean Front
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.
Toward US 60: Virginia Beach, Ocean Front
4
32.2 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
US 60 / Shore Drive
Turn left onto US 60 / Shore Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.82 one way
$13.64 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.45 | $14.91 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.07 | $16.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.63 | $19.25 |
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 | $4.58 | $2.09 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.10 | $2.79 |
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
Virginia Beach, VA
Morning in Virginia Beach on Tuesday
Local time
8:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
24 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 9m 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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend the most significant portion of your travel on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel, which provides a 17.7-mile stretch of uninterrupted driving. The transition from the rural feel of Lankford Highway to the bridge-tunnel crossing creates a distinct shift in the experience behind the wheel. Because you are navigating local roads for the entirety of the 43.6 miles, keep your focus sharp on the varying road conditions and turns that define this path.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 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?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Strawberry Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 43.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (Strawberry Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (VA 184 / Mason Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (VA 184 / Randolph Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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.
On the drive from Cape Charles, VA to Virginia Beach, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Ocean Front along the way.
Ocean Front
32 mi in
|
~46m
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 Virginia Beach, VA
Full guide →Virginia Beach is a resort city in southeast Virginia on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
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 9m. Total distance: 43.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
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 0.1 miles (Strawberry Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (VA 184 / Mason Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (VA 184 / Randolph Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Fort Monroe 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 Virginia Beach, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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