This 445.1-mile drive from Castlewood, VA, to Virginia Beach, VA, will take approximately 8 hours and 32 minutes of pure driving time. Given its length, it's best split over two days, allowing for a more relaxed pace and time to enjoy your destination. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $70. This route primarily traverses the Southeast region of Virginia, transitioning from its inland areas to the coastal plains. It's a highway-focused trip, so pack for comfort and efficiency as you cover the distance.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
222.5 miles from Castlewood, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
196.9 mi
3h 35m
I 64
157.1 mi
2h 53m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi
25m
US 19
12.7 mi
18m
Hampton Roads Beltway
12 mi
15m
Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
11.8 mi
16m
Trail of the Lonesome Pine
7.8 mi
10m
I 77
7.1 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 196.9 mi, about 3h 35m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 104 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,273 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,695
Quietest
2 AM
~129 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Castlewood, VA and Virginia Beach, VA.
1
Start on SR 750
201 ft·8 sec·Church Street
2
Turn slight left onto SR 615
0.3 mi·49 sec·Red Oak Ridge Road
3
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 615
0.4 mi·1 min·Red Oak Ridge Road
4
Turn slight right onto SR 695
0.2 mi·23 sec·Trout Farm Road
5
Turn right onto SR 683
1.5 mi·3 min·Memorial Drive
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 58 ALT
4.5 mi·6 min·US Highway 58 Alternate
7
Continue on US 58 ALT; VA 71
7.8 mi·10 min·Trail of the Lonesome Pine
8
Turn right onto US 19
13 mi·18 min·US 19
9
Turn left onto US 11
0.5 mi·1 min·West Main Street
10
Turn right onto Preston Street Southwest
0.2 mi·33 sec·Preston Street Southwest
11
At end of road, turn left onto Bradley Street Southwest
0.5 mi·1 min·Bradley Street Southwest
12
At end of road, turn right onto US 58 ALT; VA 75
0.6 mi·1 min·Cummings Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
14
Merge onto I 81; US 58
57 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 81; US 58
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on I 77; I 81; US 11; US 52
7.1 mi·7 min·I 77; I 81; US 11; US 52
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 11
140 mi·2 hr 33 min·I 81; US 11
Toward I 81 North, US 11 North: RoanokeUse the straight lane.
17
Continue on I 64; I 81
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 64; I 81
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
90 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 64
Toward I 64 East: RichmondUse the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 177Toward I 295 North: Washington, NorfolkUse the slight right lane.
20
Continue on I 295
23 mi·25 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 28AToward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 64
67 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64; US 60
342 ft·5 sec·Hampton Roads Beltway
24
Continue on I 64; US 60
3.5 mi·4 min·Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
25
Continue on I 64; US 60
12 mi·15 min·Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Exit 284AToward I 264 East, I 264 West: Va Beach, Downtown Norfolk, PortsmouthUse the slight right lane.
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 264 East: Va BeachUse the straight / slight left lanes.
28
Merge onto I 264
12 mi·16 min·Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
29
Continue on 21st Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·21st Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Turn left onto Arctic Avenue
0.3 mi·46 sec·Arctic Avenue
Use the left lane.
31
Turn right onto 25th Street
454 ft·12 sec·25th Street
32
Arrive at destination
25th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 8.5-hour drive, consider departing early in the morning to maximize daylight hours, especially if splitting the trip over two days. With only two recommended stops, plan them strategically for fuel and rest during your longest stretches. The 196.9-mile segment on I-81 is a good candidate for your first planned break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as highway services can sometimes be spread out, and the $70 fuel estimate will be your guide.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 222.5 miles from Castlewood, VA, or about 4h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 196.9 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 98 miles or 2h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 222.5 miles or 4h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 222.5 miles or 4h 17m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Virginia Beach, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Castlewood, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Castlewood, VA
Aim for roughly 223 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Virginia Beach, VA
Aim for roughly 223 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 98 miles from Castlewood, VA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 196.9 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 28.8 and 431.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
28.8 mi into trip|~44m in|US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
94 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|I 81; US 11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 11 toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
8
324 mi into trip|~6h 8m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
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 177
Toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
8
348.1 mi into trip|~6h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
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 28A
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
8
431.7 mi into trip|~8h 13m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$65.71 one way
$131.43 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg156 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$72.21
$144.43
premium
$4.49
$78.72
$157.43
diesel
$4.80
$84.04
$168.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$196–$306
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 155.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
133.5
1
$46.74
$21.36
Efficient EV
111.3
1
$38.95
$17.80
EV Truck/SUV
178
2
$62.31
$28.49
Gas CO2
156 kg
EV CO2
52 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Castlewood, VA
Night
in Castlewood on Saturday
Local time
9:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Virginia Beach, VA
Night
in Virginia Beach on Saturday
Local time
9:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Clear
SW 6 to 9 mph1% chanceLive forecast
63°F
Bedford, VA
223 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
9 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
8h 32m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 414.4
Park Closure: Road Closure and Fishing Pier Impact
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...
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 153.5
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 353
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a largely highway-focused experience, with 88% of the drive utilizing major interstates like I-81 and I-64. You'll encounter a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 196.9 miles on I-81, offering a consistent pace. The Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway also plays a role in this journey. While predominantly high-speed travel, the transition from the mountainous terrain near Castlewood to the flatter coastal areas around Virginia Beach will offer some subtle changes in scenery as you progress.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 196.9 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 64. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 28.8 miles in near US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street.
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 20 significant decision points across 445.1 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 28.8 miles (US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 94 miles (I 81; US 11): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 324 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,320 ft9 ft
Total Climb
1,448 ft
Total Descent
3,059 ft
Highest Point
2,320 ft
~63.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,312 ft
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 Castlewood, VA to Virginia Beach, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Norfolk along the way.
The longest stretch is about 196.9 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 223 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 34 rest areas or service plazas 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 Virginia Beach, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 34 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 28.8 miles (US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 94 miles (I 81; US 11): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 324 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Fort Monroe National Monument, Colonial National Historical Park and Booker T Washington National Monument (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.5 hours each way, a round trip means 17.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Virginia Beach, VA before the return drive.
