Origin
Charlottesville, VA
Late night in Charlottesville on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charlottesville, VA to Lynchburg, 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 28m
Distance
67.8 mi
109 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlottesville, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Lynchburg, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 68-mile drive from Charlottesville to Lynchburg, Virginia, is a quick trip, taking just over an hour. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, it's an economical option for a day trip. The route primarily utilizes local roads like East Market Street and 9th Street Northeast/Southeast, with no highway driving involved, making it a turn-heavy local journey. This straightforward connection within the Southeast region is perfect for a single day, allowing you to easily reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 29 | 57.9 mi | 1h 10m |
| I 64 | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| Old Town Connector | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Monticello Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Amherst Highway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Church Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Avon Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Lynchburg Expressway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 29
— 57.9 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlottesville, VA and Lynchburg, 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
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
8
Merge onto I 64
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
I 64
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 29 South
10
Merge onto US 29
58 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
US 29
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward VA 210 West: Downtown Lynchburg
12
Turn right onto VA 210
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Town Connector
13
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Use the left lane.
14
Merge onto US 29 BUS
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Amherst Highway
15
Continue on US 29 BUS
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Lynchburg Expressway
16
Take the exit
494 ft
·
28 sec
Toward Downtown, Riverfront
17
Keep slight left at fork
119 ft
·
10 sec
Toward Downtown, Riverfront
18
Turn left onto Main Street
37 ft
·
5 sec
·
Main Street
19
Turn left onto Pearl Street
337 ft
·
7 sec
·
Pearl Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto Church Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Church Street
21
Turn right onto 10th Street
98 ft
·
4 sec
·
10th Street
22
Arrive at destination
10th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.9 miles from Charlottesville, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 67.3 — 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
|
VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast
Turn right onto VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
6
65.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
67.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Riverfront
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Downtown, Riverfront
7
67.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Downtown, Riverfront
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Downtown, Riverfront
6
67.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
Pearl Street
Turn left onto Pearl Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.60 one way
$21.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $11.59 | $23.19 |
| premium | $4.70 | $12.55 | $25.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.97 | $29.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.12 | $3.25 |
| Efficient EV | 17 | 0 | $5.93 | $2.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.49 | $4.34 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Lynchburg, VA
Late night in Lynchburg on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°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
3 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 28m 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 on this route, as indicated by its 0% highway share. You'll navigate through city streets, including East Market Street and segments of 9th Street, which will likely involve frequent turns and varying speed limits. Since there's no significant highway portion, the longest uninterrupted stretch is not a prominent feature, suggesting a continuous engagement with local traffic and road conditions. This type of drive is more about navigating through communities than cruising on open roads, so staying alert to turns and local signage is key.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.9 mi on US 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 29 and I 64. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.8 miles you will encounter 16 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 (VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 65.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 67.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Charlottesville, VA
Full guide →Charlottesville, in central Virginia, is a lovely university town of about 40,000 with lots to offer. Charlottesville is a town steeped in history and culture. Charlottesville is a major cultural center for central Virginia, and features more fine dining, shopping, and entertainment than one might expect for a town of its size. Ensconced in beautiful Albemarle County, Charlottesville is also surrounded by vineyards and horse 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 28m. Total distance: 67.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57.9 miles on US 29. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Lynchburg, 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 0.1 miles (VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 65.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 67.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lynchburg, 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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