If you are planning to travel from Colonial Beach to Hampton, you are looking at a 111.7-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 46 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stay to complete comfortably. With an estimated fuel cost of $18, it remains a budget-friendly way to navigate Southeast Virginia. You will primarily rely on US 17, Newland Road, and I-64 to complete the trip. Since both your origin and destination sit within the same region, the drive offers a consistent transition across the Virginia landscape without major regional shifts.
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
55.9 miles from Colonial Beach, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 17
67.2 mi
1h 33m
Newland Road
13.8 mi
24m
I 64
7.3 mi
9m
James Monroe Highway
5.4 mi
7m
Kings Highway
5.2 mi
7m
Richmond Road
4.1 mi
5m
Flat Iron Road
3.9 mi
6m
Tappahannock Boulevard
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 67.2 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colonial Beach, VA and Hampton, VA.
1
Start on Washington Avenue
32 ft·7 sec·Washington Avenue
2
Turn left onto VA 205Y
0.6 mi·1 min·Colonial Avenue
3
Turn left onto VA 205
0.3 mi·29 sec·McKinney Boulevard
4
Continue on VA 205
5.4 mi·7 min·James Monroe Highway
5
Turn left onto VA 3
5.2 mi·7 min·Kings Highway
6
Turn right onto SR 624
3.9 mi·6 min·Flat Iron Road
7
Continue on SR 624
14 mi·24 min·Newland Road
8
Turn right onto US 360
4.1 mi·5 min·Richmond Road
9
Turn left onto South Water Lane
0.4 mi·56 sec·South Water Lane
10
Turn right onto Wright Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Wright Street
11
At end of road, turn left onto US 17; US 360
1.9 mi·3 min·Tappahannock Boulevard
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 17
67 mi·1 hr 33 min·US 17
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 64 East: Hampton, Norfolk
14
Merge onto I 64
7.3 mi·9 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·25 sec
Exit 265CToward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force BaseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
199 ft·6 sec
Toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force BaseUse the left / right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto Rip Rap Road
0.2 mi·21 sec·Rip Rap Road
18
Turn sharp left onto VA 134
0.4 mi·1 min·North Armistead Avenue
19
Turn left onto VA 351
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Pembroke Avenue
20
Turn right onto North King Street
524 ft·19 sec·North King Street
21
Continue on North King Street
432 ft·18 sec·North King Street
22
Arrive at destination
North King Street
Trip Plan
To keep your 2-hour and 46-minute drive stress-free, aim to build in at least one planned stop to break up the monotony of the longer highway stretches. Since the trip is relatively short, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though checking traffic patterns on I-64 can help you avoid potential delays. Keep your $18 fuel budget in mind as you plan your transit, and consider filling up before hitting the longer, more isolated segments of US 17. The primary advantage of this route is its simplicity; you can easily complete the entire 111.7 miles in one sitting without feeling rushed or overwhelmed by the distance.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 55.9 miles from Colonial Beach, VA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.2 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 25 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.9 miles or 1h 27m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hampton, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Colonial Beach, 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 Colonial Beach, VA
This is one driving day of about 111.7 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Colonial Beach, 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 US 17 for about 67.2 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.5 and 110.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
11.5 mi into trip|~17m in|SR 624 / Flat Iron Road
Turn right onto SR 624 / Flat Iron Road
Navigation decision point
5
102.9 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Take the exit toward US 64 East: Hampton, Norfolk
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 64 East: Hampton, Norfolk
5
103.3 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|I 64
Merge onto I 64
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
110.6 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base
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 265C
Toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base
9
110.7 mi into trip|~2h 43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.47 one way
$34.93 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$19.10
$38.20
premium
$4.70
$20.67
$41.35
diesel
$5.61
$24.66
$49.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.5
0
$11.73
$5.36
Efficient EV
27.9
0
$9.77
$4.47
EV Truck/SUV
44.7
0
$15.64
$7.15
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 20, 2026
Origin
Colonial Beach, VA
Afternoon
in Colonial Beach on Tuesday
Local time
12:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hampton, VA
Afternoon
in Hampton on Tuesday
Local time
12:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Warsaw, VA
56 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
5 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
2h 46m 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.
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...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 111.7
Park Closure: Road Closure and Fishing Pier Impact
George Washington Birthplace National Monument is located in the Northern Neck of Virginia. It encompasses 551 acres of land where seven generations of the Washington family lived and where George Was...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with roughly 67% of your time spent on high-speed routes. You will spend a significant portion of your journey on US 17, which features your longest uninterrupted stretch of 67.2 miles. Expect the personality of the road to shift as you transition from smaller local arteries like Newland Road onto the more robust infrastructure of I-64. While the ride is efficient, the mix of highway and local road segments ensures you stay engaged behind the wheel. Prepare for a steady pace that balances the flow of major interstates with the necessary connections to reach your final destination.
67% 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: 67.2 mi on US 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and Newland Road. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.5 miles in near SR 624 / Flat Iron Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 111.7 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 11.5 miles (SR 624 / Flat Iron Road): Navigation decision point; at 102.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 103.3 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Colonial Beach, VA to Hampton, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Norfolk along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 111.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.2 miles on US 17. 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 Hampton, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.5 miles (SR 624 / Flat Iron Road): Navigation decision point; at 102.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 103.3 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Monroe National Monument, George Washington Birthplace National Monument and Colonial National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hampton, VA before heading back.
