Spanning 413.9 miles across Virginia, this trip from Coeburn to Chesapeake takes approximately 7 hours and 17 minutes of driving time. While it is technically possible to complete the journey in a single day, the turn-heavy nature of the route makes it a demanding trek that requires your full focus. You should budget about $66 for fuel to cover the distance. Because you are traveling from the mountainous southwest portion of the state toward the coastal region, the landscape shifts significantly over the course of the day. It is a practical, direct route that works best for travelers who prefer local roads over the monotony of major interstates.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
222.9 miles from Coeburn, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
196.9 mi
3h 35m
I 64
157.1 mi
2h 53m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi
25m
US 19
12.7 mi
18m
Bull Run Road
11.2 mi
15m
Trail of the Lonesome Pine
7.9 mi
10m
I 77
7.1 mi
7m
US Highway 58 Alternate
6.9 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 196.9 mi, about 3h 35m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 99 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,119 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,533
Quietest
2 AM
~122 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Coeburn, VA and Chesapeake, VA.
1
Start on this road
86 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
0.4 mi·55 sec·2nd Street Northeast
3
Continue on VA 72
0.2 mi·23 sec·VA 72
4
Turn left
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward US 58 Alternate East
5
Merge onto US 58 ALT
11 mi·15 min·Bull Run Road
6
Continue on US 58 ALT
365 ft·6 sec·Trail of the Lonesome Pine
7
Continue on US 58 ALT
6.9 mi·9 min·US Highway 58 Alternate
8
Continue on US 58 ALT; VA 71
7.8 mi·10 min·Trail of the Lonesome Pine
9
Turn right onto US 19
13 mi·18 min·US 19
10
Turn left onto US 11
0.5 mi·1 min·West Main Street
11
Turn right onto Preston Street Southwest
0.2 mi·33 sec·Preston Street Southwest
12
At end of road, turn left onto Bradley Street Southwest
0.5 mi·1 min·Bradley Street Southwest
13
At end of road, turn right onto US 58 ALT; VA 75
0.6 mi·1 min·Cummings Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
15
Merge onto I 81; US 58
57 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 81; US 58
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on I 77; I 81; US 11; US 52
7.1 mi·7 min·I 77; I 81; US 11; US 52
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 11
140 mi·2 hr 33 min·I 81; US 11
Toward I 81 North, US 11 North: RoanokeUse the straight lane.
18
Continue on I 64; I 81
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 64; I 81
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
90 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 64
Toward I 64 East: RichmondUse the straight lane.
20
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 177Toward I 295 North: Washington, NorfolkUse the slight right lane.
21
Continue on I 295
23 mi·25 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 28AToward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto I 64
67 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64; US 60
342 ft·5 sec·Hampton Roads Beltway
25
Continue on I 64; US 60
3.5 mi·4 min·Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
26
Continue on I 64; US 60
6.7 mi·8 min·Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 278Toward VA 194 South: Chesapeake BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
28
Turn straight onto VA 194
2.1 mi·3 min·Chesapeake Boulevard
Use the left lane.
29
Turn straight
135 ft·7 sec
30
Turn left onto VA 247
1.1 mi·1 min·Ballentine Boulevard
31
Turn right onto VA 166
0.9 mi·1 min·East Princess Anne Road
32
Turn left onto VA 166
0.6 mi·1 min·Park Avenue
33
Turn left onto US 460; VA 166; VA 168
0.3 mi·57 sec·East Brambleton Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
34
Continue on US 460; VA 166; VA 168
0.7 mi·1 min·Campostella Road
35
Turn right onto US 460; VA 166
0.7 mi·1 min·Wilson Road
Use the right lane.
36
Continue on US 460; VA 166
0.3 mi·27 sec·22nd Street
37
Continue on US 460; VA 166
0.3 mi·29 sec·Poindexter Street
Use the straight lane.
38
Turn right onto D Street
412 ft·18 sec·D Street
39
Arrive at destination
D Street
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour and 17-minute duration, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you reach Chesapeake before nightfall. Plan for at least two deliberate stops along the way to stretch your legs and break up the technical, turn-heavy sections of the drive. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $66 estimate can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and local pricing along these secondary roads. Because this route relies entirely on surface streets and local highways, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersection traffic. Use the flexibility of this non-interstate route to adjust your pace if you find the local navigation more time-consuming than anticipated.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 222.9 miles from Coeburn, VA, or about 4h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 196.9 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 98 miles or 2h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 222.9 miles or 4h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 222.9 miles or 4h 19m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chesapeake, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Coeburn, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Coeburn, VA
Aim for roughly 223 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Chesapeake, VA
Aim for roughly 223 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 98 miles from Coeburn, VA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 196.9 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 40.7 and 360 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
40.7 mi into trip|~1h in|US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
105.9 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|I 81; US 11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 11 toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
7
245.8 mi into trip|~4h 45m in|I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 East: Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 64 East: Richmond
8
335.9 mi into trip|~6h 23m 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
360 mi into trip|~6h 49m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$65.82 one way
$131.63 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg156 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$72.33
$144.66
premium
$4.49
$78.84
$157.68
diesel
$4.80
$84.18
$168.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$196–$306
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 156 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
133.7
1
$46.81
$21.40
Efficient EV
111.5
1
$39.01
$17.83
EV Truck/SUV
178.3
2
$62.41
$28.53
Gas CO2
156 kg
EV CO2
52 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Coeburn, VA
Evening
in Coeburn on Saturday
Local time
5:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Chesapeake, VA
Evening
in Chesapeake on Saturday
Local time
5:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Haze then Mostly Clear
SW 2 to 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
63°F
Bedford, VA
223 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
8 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
8h 35m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 430.4
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
$15
near mile 399.7
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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 169.1
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...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 353.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a very different experience than a standard interstate cruise, as this journey is defined by a turn-heavy, local-road profile. With a highway share of 0%, you will spend your time navigating roads like US 58, 2nd Street Northeast, and Bull Run Road rather than high-speed motorways. The path demands constant attention and active steering, which keeps the drive engaging but can be tiring over the 413.9-mile distance. Since there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, you will find that the pace remains steady but deliberate from start to finish. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that prioritizes local connectivity over rapid transit.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 196.9 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 64. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 40.7 miles in near US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street.
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 24 significant decision points across 445.8 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 40.7 miles (US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 105.9 miles (I 81; US 11): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 245.8 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,449 ft11 ft
Total Climb
1,569 ft
Total Descent
3,547 ft
Highest Point
2,449 ft
~95.5 mi in
Elevation Range
2,439 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Coeburn, VA and Chesapeake, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
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
The longest stretch is about 196.9 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 223 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 34 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 Chesapeake, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 34 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 40.7 miles (US 58 ALT; VA 75 / Cummings Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 105.9 miles (I 81; US 11): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 245.8 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.6 hours each way, a round trip means 17.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Chesapeake, VA before the return drive.
