This 61.1-mile drive from Charlottesville, VA to Farmville, VA is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 31 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, with no need to split it into multiple days. You'll primarily be on Valley Street, Scottsville Road, and South James Madison Highway. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $10, making it quite budget-friendly. Given that both your origin and destination are in the Southeast region of the US, you'll experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. This route offers a practical and efficient way to travel between these two Virginia towns.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
30.6 miles from Charlottesville, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Valley Street
20.1 mi
29m
Scottsville Road
17.1 mi
24m
South James Madison Highway
14.7 mi
20m
US 15 BUS
4.2 mi
7m
Sheppards Road
1.8 mi
2m
North James Madison Highway
1.4 mi
3m
Monticello Avenue
1.2 mi
2m
Avon Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Valley Street
— 20.1 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlottesville, VA and Farmville, VA.
1
Start on this road
233 ft·18 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto US 250 BUS
246 ft·14 sec·East Market Street
3
Turn right onto VA 20
180 ft·6 sec·9th Street Northeast
4
Continue on VA 20
0.1 mi·11 sec·9th Street Southeast
5
Continue on VA 20
0.3 mi·54 sec·Avon Street
6
Turn left onto VA 20
1.0 mi·2 min·Monticello Avenue
7
Continue on VA 20
0.2 mi·19 sec·Monticello Avenue
8
Continue on VA 20
17 mi·24 min·Scottsville Road
9
Continue on VA 20
20 mi·29 min·Valley Street
10
Turn right onto US 15
1.4 mi·3 min·North James Madison Highway
11
Continue on US 15
15 mi·20 min·South James Madison Highway
12
Continue on US 15
1.8 mi·2 min·Sheppards Road
13
Turn left onto US 15 BUS
4.2 mi·7 min·US 15 BUS
14
Turn right onto South Street
198 ft·10 sec·South Street
15
Turn uturn
204 ft·22 sec
16
At end of road, turn left
18 ft·3 sec
17
Turn right
71 ft·5 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just over 1.5 hours, this drive offers a lot of flexibility for departure times. You can leave in the morning and still have plenty of time for activities at your destination. There are no specified stops, but since it's a relatively short drive, you can easily add a brief break if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before departing, as the estimated fuel cost is only $10. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to road signs as you transition between Valley Street, Scottsville Road, and South James Madison Highway, as the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests frequent navigation adjustments.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 30.6 miles from Charlottesville, VA, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.1 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 13 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.6 miles or 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Farmville, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Charlottesville, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Charlottesville, VA
This is one driving day of about 61.1 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Charlottesville, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Valley Street for about 20.1 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 61.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 250 BUS / East Market Street
Turn right onto US 250 BUS / East Market Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast
Turn right onto VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
8
61 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
61.1 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
At end of road, turn left
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
61.1 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.55 one way
$19.11 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg21 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$10.45
$20.89
premium
$4.70
$11.31
$22.62
diesel
$5.61
$13.49
$26.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.3
0
$6.42
$2.93
Efficient EV
15.3
0
$5.35
$2.44
EV Truck/SUV
24.4
0
$8.55
$3.91
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Charlottesville, VA
Late night
in Charlottesville on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Farmville, VA
Late night
in Farmville on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live 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
25 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
1h 31m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, rather than a high-speed interstate experience. Only about 7% of the journey involves highway driving, meaning you'll be navigating more local roads. The longest stretch without a turn or significant change in direction is 20.1 miles on Valley Street. This suggests a more intimate connection with the landscape, with frequent opportunities to adjust your course. The character of the drive likely shifts from more urban or suburban settings near Charlottesville to a more rural feel as you approach Farmville.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.1 mi on Valley Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 250 BUS / East Market Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 31m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 250 BUS / East Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 61 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 61.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 20.1 miles on Valley Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (US 250 BUS / East Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 61 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Farmville, VA before heading back.
