This 383-mile journey from Dryden, VA to Richmond, VA is designed for a single day of driving, taking approximately 7 hours and 18 minutes to complete. Primarily utilizing I-81 and I-64, with a segment of US Highway 23, this route is heavily focused on highway travel. With a highway share of 88%, expect a straightforward drive across Virginia. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $60, and you'll have about two planned stops along the way. This drive offers a practical way to cover a significant distance within the Southeast region.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
191.5 miles from Dryden, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
222.1 mi
4h 2m
I 64
99.6 mi
1h 49m
US Highway 23
15.6 mi
20m
East Stone Drive
9.7 mi
11m
Wilderness Road
6 mi
8m
Woodway Road
5.2 mi
7m
Bloomingdale Pike
5.1 mi
9m
Wadlow Gap Highway
4.7 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 222.1 mi, about 4h 2m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 89 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,639 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,199
Quietest
2 AM
~234 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7×
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 Dryden, VA and Richmond, VA.
1
Start on US 58 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·Dryden Loop
2
Turn right onto US 58 ALT
3.5 mi·4 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
3
Continue on US 58 ALT
0.2 mi·43 sec·East Morgan Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 421
5.2 mi·7 min·Woodway Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 58
6.0 mi·8 min·Wilderness Road
6
Continue on US 58; US 421
4.7 mi·6 min·Duff Patt Highway
7
Turn right onto US 23; US 58; US 421
4.2 mi·5 min·US Highway 23
8
Continue on US 23; US 58; US 421
2.0 mi·2 min·Orby Cantrell Highway
9
Continue on US 23; US 58; US 421
11 mi·14 min·US Highway 23
10
Continue on US 23; US 58; US 421
0.2 mi·22 sec·Main Street
11
Turn left onto US 58; US 421
4.7 mi·5 min·Wadlow Gap Highway
12
Continue on SR 93
0.1 mi·14 sec·North John B Dennis Highway
13
Turn left onto Bloomingdale Pike
5.1 mi·9 min·Bloomingdale Pike
14
Turn right onto Ollis Bowers Hill Road
357 ft·15 sec·Ollis Bowers Hill Road
15
Turn left onto US 11W
9.7 mi·11 min·East Stone Drive
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
17
Merge onto I 81
82 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
18
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.
19
Continue on I 64; I 81
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 64; I 81
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
99 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 64
Toward I 64 East: RichmondUse the straight lane.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Exit 186Toward I 195 South: Laburnum AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward I 195 SouthUse the straight lane.
23
Continue on I 195
0.7 mi·1 min·Beltline Expressway
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 33, US 250: Broad Street, Hamilton StreetUse the slight right lane.
25
Turn straight onto North Hamilton Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·North Hamilton Street
26
Turn left onto US 33; US 250
1.5 mi·3 min·West Broad Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
27
Turn right onto North Allen Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·North Allen Avenue
28
Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle
274 ft·7 sec·Marcus-David Peters Circle
29
Arrive at destination
Marcus-David Peters Circle
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour, 18-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Dryden to avoid potential traffic in Richmond later in the day. With two stops recommended, you can break up the 383 miles into manageable segments. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the longest stretch of 222.1 miles on I-81, where services might be spaced further apart. This drive is well-suited for a single day, so you have flexibility in when and how often you choose to rest.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 191.5 miles from Dryden, VA, or about 3h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 222.1 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 84 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 191.5 miles or 3h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dryden, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dryden, VA
This is one driving day of about 383 miles and 7h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Dryden, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 222.1 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 140.6 and 380.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
140.6 mi into trip|~2h 47m 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
280.5 mi into trip|~5h 21m 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
7
379.8 mi into trip|~7h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 195 South: Laburnum Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 186
Toward I 195 South: Laburnum Avenue
8
380 mi into trip|~7h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 195 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 195 South
7
380.9 mi into trip|~7h 12m in
Take the exit toward US 33, US 250: Broad Street, Hamilton Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 33, US 250: Broad Street, Hamilton St...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.19 one way
$128.38 round trip
$4.26/gal25.4 MPG avg134 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$69.62
$139.24
premium
$4.98
$75.11
$150.21
diesel
$5.52
$83.28
$166.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$64
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$89–$114
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 134 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-25.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
114.9
1
$40.22
$18.38
Efficient EV
95.8
1
$33.51
$15.32
EV Truck/SUV
153.2
1
$53.62
$24.51
Gas CO2
134 kg
EV CO2
45 kg (66% 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 Jun 3, 2026
Origin
Dryden, VA
Afternoon
in Dryden on Wednesday
Local time
3:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
NE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 3 at 7:51AM EDT until June 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Richmond, VA
Afternoon
in Richmond on Wednesday
Local time
3:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
N 7 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 3 at 7:51AM EDT until June 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
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
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
7h 18m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
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...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 211.3
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 383
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this route, with 88% of the drive taking place on interstates and major highways. You'll encounter a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 222.1 miles along I-81, allowing for steady progress. The personality of the drive is largely that of efficient highway travel, connecting you between points with minimal deviation. While primarily interstate, the inclusion of US Highway 23 may offer a slight change of pace before rejoining the main interstate corridors.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 222.1 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 140.6 miles in near I 81; US 11.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 383 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 140.6 miles (I 81; US 11): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 280.5 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 379.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Richmond is the capital of Virginia. Richmond has a population of 227,000 (2020) and the adjacent counties of Henrico and Chesterfield combine to create a local population of more than 1.3 million people.
Top landmarks
•Virginia Museum of Fine Arts — art museum in Richmond, Virginia
•Virginia State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Virginia
•Monument Avenue — thoroughfare in Richmond, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 18m. Total distance: 383 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 18m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 222.1 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 31 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 Richmond, 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 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 140.6 miles (I 81; US 11): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 280.5 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 379.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Booker T Washington National Monument and Petersburg National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Richmond, VA before the return drive.
