Spanning 265.2 miles across Virginia, this trip connects Cedar Bluff to Hampton in approximately 4 hours and 57 minutes. You will spend the vast majority of your journey on major interstates, making this a straightforward, highway-focused drive. Budgeting around $42 for fuel is a safe estimate for the trip. Given the duration, it is entirely feasible to complete this distance in a single day, though you might consider one well-timed stop to break up the travel. Since both locations are firmly within the Southeast, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you transition from the western mountains toward the coast.
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
132.6 miles from Cedar Bluff, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
154.2 mi
2h 49m
I 81
64.7 mi
1h 9m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi
25m
US 220
13.1 mi
15m
I 581
6.1 mi
8m
North Armistead Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
West Pembroke Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
North King Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 154.2 mi, about 2h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Bluff, VA and Hampton, VA.
1
Start on 5th Street Southeast
75 ft·4 sec·5th Street Southeast
2
Turn right onto Highland Avenue Southeast
423 ft·18 sec·Highland Avenue Southeast
3
Turn right onto 4th Street Southeast
0.2 mi·29 sec·4th Street Southeast
4
Turn left onto VA 24
241 ft·15 sec·Elm Avenue Southeast
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward I 581 North, US 220 North: Lexington, Salem
6
Merge onto I 581; US 220
6.1 mi·8 min·I 581; US 220
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 220
13 mi·15 min·US 220
Exit 1NToward I 81 North, US 220 North: LexingtonUse the straight lane.
8
Continue on I 81
65 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 81
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
90 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 64
Toward I 64 East: RichmondUse the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 177Toward I 295 North: Washington, NorfolkUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 295
23 mi·25 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 28AToward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 64
64 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·25 sec
Exit 265CToward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force BaseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
199 ft·6 sec
Toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force BaseUse the left / right lanes.
16
Turn straight onto Rip Rap Road
0.2 mi·21 sec·Rip Rap Road
17
Turn sharp left onto VA 134
0.4 mi·1 min·North Armistead Avenue
18
Turn left onto VA 351
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Pembroke Avenue
19
Turn right onto North King Street
524 ft·19 sec·North King Street
20
Continue on North King Street
432 ft·18 sec·North King Street
21
Arrive at destination
North King Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your nearly five-hour trek, plan your departure early to avoid potential congestion on the busier stretches of I-81. Since you have 265.2 miles to cover, scheduling one purposeful stop around the midpoint will help you stay alert for the longer, 154.2-mile final leg on I-64. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before entering the more remote sections of the highway to ensure you stay within your $42 budget without needing to hunt for stations. Because this is a single-day trip, your primary advantage is flexibility; you can easily adjust your pace to arrive in Hampton by late afternoon or early evening. Prioritize checking traffic reports for the I-64 corridor, as that will be your longest uninterrupted segment of the drive.
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 132.6 miles from Cedar Bluff, VA, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.2 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 58 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.6 miles or 2h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hampton, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cedar Bluff, 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 Cedar Bluff, VA
This is one driving day of about 265.2 miles and 4h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Cedar Bluff, 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 64 for about 154.2 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.6 and 264.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
6.6 mi into trip|~9m in|US 220
Keep slight right at fork onto US 220 toward I 81 North, US 220 North: Lexington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Exit 1N
Toward I 81 North, US 220 North: Lexington
8
174.4 mi into trip|~3h 12m 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
198.5 mi into trip|~3h 39m 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
264 mi into trip|~4h 53m 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
9
264.1 mi into trip|~4h 54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.47 one way
$82.94 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$45.35
$90.69
premium
$4.70
$49.08
$98.17
diesel
$5.61
$58.55
$117.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.6
0
$27.85
$12.73
Efficient EV
66.3
0
$23.21
$10.61
EV Truck/SUV
106.1
1
$37.13
$16.97
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 12, 2026
Origin
Cedar Bluff, VA
Late night
in Cedar Bluff on Sunday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Cloudy
E 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hampton, VA
Late night
in Hampton on Sunday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Partly Cloudy
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
4h 57m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 265.2
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...
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 201.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With 90% of the route consisting of highway travel, you should prepare for a consistent interstate experience rather than winding local roads. You will rely heavily on I-81 and the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway before transitioning to the long, 154.2-mile stretch on I-64. This configuration allows for steady progress, though it shifts the focus from technical driving to maintaining a consistent pace across the state. Expect the character of the road to remain predictable, as the path favors high-speed efficiency over smaller, slower-paced thoroughfares. It is the type of drive where you can settle into a rhythm once you reach the primary interstate corridors.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 154.2 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.6 miles in near US 220.
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 16 significant decision points across 265.2 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 6.6 miles (US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 174.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.5 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
1,793 ft502 ft
Total Climb
960 ft
Total Descent
1,425 ft
Highest Point
1,793 ft
~66.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,291 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cedar Bluff, VA and Hampton, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Norfolk
174.4 mi in|~3h 12m
Virginia Beach
198.5 mi in|~3h 39m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 57m. Total distance: 265.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 154.2 miles on I 64. 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 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 6.6 miles (US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 174.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.5 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.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Hampton, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
