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Trip from Chesapeake, VA to Stanleytown, VA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 15m

Distance

234.1 mi

377 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
5h 2m ★
6 AM
5h 16m
8 AM
5h 43m
10 AM
5h 25m
12 PM
5h 22m
3 PM
5h 26m
5 PM
5h 41m
8 PM
5h 8m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Chesapeake, VA, VA

Chesapeake, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Stanleytown, VA, VA

Stanleytown, VA

Valeriia Miller

Trip Overview

Chesapeake, VA to Stanleytown, VA is 234.1 miles and takes about 5h 15m via Highway 58, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. The route offers a mixed highway and surface road experience, ideal for a single-day excursion. With a recommended single day of travel, it's a straightforward drive for those looking to cover ground efficiently.

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

117 miles from Chesapeake, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Portsmouth Boulevard 62.1 mi 1h 21m
Highway 58 41.2 mi 53m
Governor Harrison Parkway 22.5 mi 30m
Philpott Road 19.7 mi 25m
US 58 15.6 mi 20m
Danville Expressway 13.9 mi 16m
I 264 6.7 mi 9m
Pleasant Shade Drive 6.3 mi 8m
Longest stretch: Portsmouth Boulevard — 62.1 mi, about 1h 21m

Traffic on I-264

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~2,452 veh/hr typical · worst 2,835

Quietest

2 AM

~162 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

15.1×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

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 Chesapeake, VA and Stanleytown, VA.

1

Start on D Street

412 ft · 20 sec · D Street
2

At end of road, turn right onto US 460; VA 166

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Poindexter Street
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 18 sec
Toward I 464 North
4

Merge onto I 464

1.2 mi · 1 min · I 464
5

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 14 sec
Exit 6A Toward I 264 West Toll: Downtown Tunnel, Portsmouth Use the slight right lane.
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 264 West Toll: Tunnel Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7

Merge onto I 264; US 460 ALT

6.7 mi · 9 min · I 264; US 460 ALT
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 47 sec
Toward I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond Use the slight right lane.
9

Merge onto I 664

0.4 mi · 31 sec · Hampton Roads Beltway
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 54 sec
Exit 13A-B Toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military Highway Use the slight right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
12

Continue on US 13; US 58; US 460

2.4 mi · 3 min · West Military Highway
13

Continue on US 13; US 58; US 460

62 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Portsmouth Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
14

Continue on US 58

5.2 mi · 7 min · Courtland Road
15

Continue on US 58

6.3 mi · 8 min · Pleasant Shade Drive
16

Continue on US 58

23 mi · 30 min · Governor Harrison Parkway
17

Continue on US 58

1.2 mi · 2 min · Piney Pond Road
18

Continue on US 58

3.5 mi · 5 min · Highway 58
19

Continue on US 58

1.1 mi · 1 min · East Atlantic Street
20

Continue on US 58

3.5 mi · 4 min · South Hill Bypass
21

Continue on US 1; US 58

3.2 mi · 4 min · Highway 1
22

Continue on US 58

19 mi · 24 min · Highway 58
23

Turn straight onto US 58

4.0 mi · 5 min · Clarksville Bypass
Toward US 58 West, US 15 South, VA 49 South: South Boston, Danville Use the straight lane.
24

Continue on US 58; VA 49

19 mi · 24 min · Highway 58
Use the left lane.
25

Continue on US 58; US 360

20 mi · 25 min · Philpott Road
26

Continue on US 58; US 360

5.3 mi · 7 min · South Boston Highway
27

Continue on US 58; US 360

3.1 mi · 5 min · South Boston Road
28

Take the ramp onto US 58

0.3 mi · 39 sec · US 58
Toward US 29 South, US 58 West: Greesboro, Martinsville
29

Merge onto US 29; US 58

14 mi · 16 min · Danville Expressway
30

Keep slight left at fork onto US 58

15 mi · 20 min · US 58
31

Continue on US 58 BUS

3.6 mi · 5 min · A L Philpott Highway
Toward US 58 West: Business, Martinsville
32

Continue on US 58 BUS; VA 57

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Church Street
33

Turn right onto Hooker Street

0.3 mi · 45 sec · Hooker Street
34

Turn right onto Fairy Street

116 ft · 4 sec · Fairy Street
35

Turn left onto VA 457

2.3 mi · 3 min · Commonwealth Boulevard East
36

Turn right onto US 220 BUS

4.1 mi · 6 min · Virginia Avenue
37

Continue on VA 57

1.2 mi · 1 min · Fairy Stone Park Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
38

Continue on VA 57

0.4 mi · 36 sec · Fairystone Park Highway
39

Arrive at destination

VA 57

Trip Plan

Given the 5h 15m estimated duration, leaving Chesapeake, VA in the morning should allow you to reach Stanleytown, VA with plenty of daylight to spare. Plan for one stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel if needed, especially since the longest continuous stretch is over 60 miles. The fuel cost is estimated at $36, so factor that into your budget. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition between highway and surface road sections, as services might be less frequent on the latter.

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 117 miles from Chesapeake, VA, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.1 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 52 miles or 1h 10m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 117 miles or 2h 39m 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 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stanleytown, VA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Chesapeake, 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 Chesapeake, VA

This is one driving day of about 234.1 miles and 5h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Chesapeake, 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 Portsmouth Boulevard for about 62.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Vance County, North Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Henderson, NC

117 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

Ahoskie, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Roanoke Rapids, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 117 miles from Chesapeake, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Portsmouth Boulevard if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.1 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · around the midpoint

Tae's Soul Food Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lawrenceville, Virginia

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset · 2h 15m in / 3h 1m to go 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+14348485136

Best coffee break · home stretch

Railway Café

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Bassett, Virginia

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch · 0min to go 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12766292233

Visit website

Tae's Soul Food Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Lawrenceville, Virginia

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+14348485136

Kahill's Restaurant and pub

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

Halfway reset 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $20 to $30

South Hill, Virginia

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+14344476941

Visit website

Railway Café

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Bassett, Virginia

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12766292233

Visit website

Cafe Stella

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20

Norfolk, Virginia

Hours: 7:30 am–10 pm

+17576250461

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Portsmouth, Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Chesapeake, Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

South Boston, Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

Early stretch 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Emporia, Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

Early stretch 3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour

Emporia, Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

Halfway reset 3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour

La Crosse, Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour

Norfolk, Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour

Norfolk, Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Service Plaza

0 mi from route

Service Plaza

0 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Danville Welcome Center

0.2 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.3 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

2.5 mi from route

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Portsmouth, Virginia

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+17573938591

Visit website

Lake Meade Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

First break 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Suffolk, Virginia

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+17575147250

Visit website

Virginia Zoo

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour

Norfolk, Virginia

Hours: 9:30 am–4 pm

+17574412374

Visit website

Wishing Tree

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour

Norfolk, Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 10.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 460; VA 166 / Poindexter Street

At end of road, turn right onto US 460; VA 166 / Poindexter Street

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

9
1.8 mi into trip | ~2m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 264 West Toll: Downtown Tunnel, Portsmouth

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 6A Toward I 264 West Toll: Downtown Tunnel, Portsm...
7
1.9 mi into trip | ~2m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 264 West Toll: Tunnel

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 264 West Toll: Tunnel
8
9.2 mi into trip | ~13m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond
8
10.2 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the exit toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military Highway

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 13A-B Toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suff...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$34.56 one way

$69.12 round trip

$3.75/gal 25.4 MPG avg 82 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.12 $37.98 $75.96
premium $4.49 $41.40 $82.80
diesel $4.80 $44.20 $88.41

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 81.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 70.2 0 $24.58 $11.24
Efficient EV 58.5 0 $20.48 $9.36
EV Truck/SUV 93.6 1 $32.77 $14.98

Gas CO2

82 kg

EV CO2

27 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 Jul 18, 2026

Origin

Chesapeake, VA

Late night in Chesapeake on Sunday

Local time

4:15 AM

EDT

Current temp

97°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 13 mph 13% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued July 18 at 11:43AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 11:43AM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA

Destination

Stanleytown, VA

Late night in Stanleytown on Sunday

Local time

4:15 AM

EDT

Current temp

93°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

W 9 mph 40% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued July 18 at 11:43AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 11:43AM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA

85°F

Henderson, NC

117 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.

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

4 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

5h 15m 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

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...

14 mi from route ~34 min detour Free
Park Closure: Road Closure and Fishing Pier Impact
View on nps.gov
Booker T Washington National Monument

Booker T Washington National Monument

National Monument

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...

29 mi from route ~72 min detour Free near mile 234.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

About 45% of this 234.1-mile drive is on highways, with the remaining 55% on surface roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 62.1 miles on Portsmouth Boulevard before transitioning to other main roads. Expect a mix of driving conditions, from potentially busier highway segments to more rural cruising as you make your way across the state.

45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.1 mi on Portsmouth Boulevard.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 US 460; VA 166 / Poindexter Street.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 17 significant decision points across 234.1 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 0.1 miles (US 460; VA 166 / Poindexter Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,006 ft 11 ft

Total Climb

1,074 ft

Total Descent

321 ft

Highest Point

1,006 ft

~217.4 mi in

Elevation Range

995 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Chesapeake, VA and Stanleytown, VA, road signs point toward Danville and Martinsville.

Danville

141 mi in | ~3h 10m | via US 58

Martinsville

191.9 mi in | ~4h 17m | via US 58

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Starbucks

Cafe

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Emporia, VA

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Th 05:30-20:30; Fr-Su 05:30-21:00;

Visit website

Railway Cafe

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Bassett, VA

Visit website

The Coffee Shoppe

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

Portsmouth, VA

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Norfolk, VA

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Norfolk Coffee & Tea

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Fruitive

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Subway

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Bassett, VA

Cuisine: sandwich

Hours: 09:00-22:00

Visit website

Hardee's

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Stanleytown, VA

Cuisine: burger

Visit website

Rustic Barn

Restaurant

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Danville, VA

Cuisine: asian

Hours: Tu-Fr 15:00-21:00; Sa-Su 12:00-21:00

Visit website

Dell'Anno's Pizza

Restaurant

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Danville, VA

Cuisine: pizza

Hours: Mo-Th 10:30-21:00; Fr-Sa 10:30-22:00; Su...

Visit website

Pino's Pizza

Restaurant

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Courtland, VA

Cuisine: pizza

Visit website

McDonald's

Fast_food

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Bassett Forks, VA

Cuisine: burger

Hours: Mo-Sa 05:00-23:00; Su 06:00-23:00

Visit website

USS Norfolk Bell

Attraction

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Norfolk, VA

Visit website

Suffolk Historic District

Park

Near the start, ~9 min detour

First break 3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour

South Norfolk Historic District

District

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

16 inch Gun Barrel

Yes

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

WW I Gun

Yes

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Cannons

Yes

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

WW II Anti-Aircraft Gun

Yes

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

British One-man Submarine

Yes

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Virginia Home Inn

Hotel

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3 mi from route ~7 min detour

Fieldale, VA

Visit website

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

About the Cities

Starting in Chesapeake, VA

Full guide →

Founded 1963

Chesapeake is a town of 245,000 people (2019) in the Hampton Roads region of Eastern Virginia. Chesapeake is a diverse city in which a few urban areas are located; it also has many square miles of protected farmland, forests, and wetlands, including a substantial portion of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.

Top landmarks

  • Dismal Swamp Canal — canal in Virginia, United States of America
  • Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal — canal in Chesapeake, Virginia
  • South Norfolk Historic District — historic district in Virginia, United States

Arriving in Stanleytown, VA

Full guide →

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 5h 15m. Total distance: 234.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 62.1 miles on Portsmouth Boulevard. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 10 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 Stanleytown, 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. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 460; VA 166 / Poindexter Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Fort Monroe National Monument and Booker T Washington National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Stanleytown, VA before the return drive.

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, 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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