Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 50m
Distance
144.9 mi
233 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlottesville, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Poquoson, VA
Jimmy Elizarraras
The drive from Charlottesville, VA to Poquoson, VA covers 144.9 miles and takes about 2h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Victory Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 107.7 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.20 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
72.4 miles from Charlottesville, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 107.7 mi | 1h 57m |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 22.9 mi | 25m |
| Victory Boulevard | 5 mi | 7m |
| Richmond Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Poquoson Avenue | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Little Florida Road | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| East High Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| 9th Street Northeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 122 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,256 veh/hr typical · worst 2,778
Quietest
2 AM
~131 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Charlottesville, VA and Poquoson, VA.
Start on this road
Turn right onto US 250 BUS
Turn left onto US 250 BUS; VA 20
Continue on US 250 BUS; VA 20
Turn right onto US 250; VA 20
Continue on US 250; VA 20
Take the exit
Merge onto I 64
Take the exit
Continue on I 295
Take the exit
Merge onto I 64
Take the exit
Turn straight onto VA 171
Continue on VA 171
Continue on VA 171
Arrive at destination
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.
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 32 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.4 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Poquoson, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Charlottesville, 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 Charlottesville, VA
This is one driving day of about 144.9 miles and 2h 50m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
72 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.
A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 72.4 miles from Charlottesville, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 107.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 136.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto US 250 BUS; VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 64
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
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
Take the exit toward SR 171 East: Victory Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$22.20 one way
$44.41 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $24.36 | $48.73 |
| premium | $4.64 | $26.45 | $52.91 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $31.94 | $63.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.5 | 0 | $15.21 | $6.96 |
| Efficient EV | 36.2 | 0 | $12.68 | $5.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58 | 0 | $20.29 | $9.27 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Charlottesville on Saturday
Local time
1:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Poquoson on Saturday
Local time
1:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Cloudy
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Historical Park
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...
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...
National Battlefield
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
144.9 mi in 2h 50m, mostly highway — 107.7 mi of that is on I 64.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 250 BUS; VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast.
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 144.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 (US 250 BUS; VA 20 / 9th Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
184 ft
Total Descent
645 ft
Highest Point
477 ft
~20.7 mi in
Elevation Range
473 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Charlottesville, VA and Poquoson, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Norfolk
Virginia Beach
Founded 1762
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.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 50m. Total distance: 144.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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