East Hampton, VA to Horse Pasture, VA is 253.9 miles and takes about 5h 22m via Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and Highway 58, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, traversing Virginia for its entirety. The route offers a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving, making it a manageable one-day excursion. You'll want to factor in the roughly 55% of your drive that will be on highways when planning your departure time.
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
126.9 miles from East Hampton, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
55.8 mi
1h
Highway 58
37.7 mi
48m
US 58
28.5 mi
36m
Philpott Road
19.7 mi
25m
James River Drive
14.6 mi
19m
Danville Expressway
13.9 mi
16m
Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi
15m
Benns Church Boulevard
12.1 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
— 55.8 mi, about 1h
Traffic on I-85
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~887 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,234
Quietest
2 AM
~140 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.3×
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 East Hampton, VA and Horse Pasture, VA.
1
Start on Southerland Drive
0.2 mi·46 sec·Southerland Drive
2
Turn left onto US 258
7.8 mi·14 min·East Mercury Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 17; US 258; VA 32
4.4 mi·6 min·James River Bridge
4
Continue on US 17; US 258; VA 32
2.4 mi·3 min·Carrollton Boulevard
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto US 258; VA 32
2.9 mi·4 min·Brewers Neck Boulevard
6
Merge onto US 258; VA 10
12 mi·15 min·Benns Church Boulevard
7
Continue on VA 10
9.9 mi·11 min·Colonial Trail East
8
Turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
1.0 mi·1 min·Rolfe Highway
9
Turn right onto VA 10
13 mi·15 min·Colonial Trail West
10
Continue on VA 10
15 mi·19 min·James River Drive
11
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
1.2 mi·2 min·East Randolph Road
12
Turn left onto VA 156 Business
1.8 mi·2 min·Winston Churchill Drive
13
Continue on VA 36
0.4 mi·26 sec·Oaklawn Boulevard
14
Continue on VA 36
1.0 mi·1 min·Woodlawn Street
15
Continue on VA 36
1.0 mi·1 min·Oaklawn Boulevard
16
Continue on VA 36
4.3 mi·5 min·East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 85 South, I 95 South
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 85 South, US 460 West: DurhamUse the slight left lane.
19
Merge onto I 85
56 mi·1 hr·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 12BToward US 58 West, SR 47: South Hill, Chase CityUse the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
252 ft·9 sec
Exit 12BToward US 58 West, SR 47: South Hill, Chase City
22
Turn right onto US 58
503 ft·12 sec·East Atlantic Street
23
Continue on US 58
3.5 mi·4 min·South Hill Bypass
24
Continue on US 1; US 58
3.2 mi·4 min·Highway 1
25
Continue on US 58
19 mi·24 min·Highway 58
26
Turn straight onto US 58
4.0 mi·5 min·Clarksville Bypass
Toward US 58 West, US 15 South, VA 49 South: South Boston, DanvilleUse the straight lane.
27
Continue on US 58; VA 49
19 mi·24 min·Highway 58
Use the left lane.
28
Continue on US 58; US 360
20 mi·25 min·Philpott Road
29
Continue on US 58; US 360
5.3 mi·7 min·South Boston Highway
30
Continue on US 58; US 360
3.1 mi·5 min·South Boston Road
31
Take the ramp onto US 58
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 58
Toward US 29 South, US 58 West: Greesboro, Martinsville
32
Merge onto US 29; US 58
14 mi·16 min·Danville Expressway
33
Keep slight left at fork onto US 58
15 mi·20 min·US 58
34
Take the exit onto US 58
10 mi·12 min·US 58
Toward US 58 West: Stuart, Roanoke
35
Take the exit onto US 58
2.7 mi·3 min·US 58
Toward US 58 West: Stuart
36
Arrive at destination
US 58
Trip Plan
For this 253.9-mile drive, consider an early morning departure from East Hampton, VA, to maximize daylight hours. With a driving time of approximately 5 hours and 22 minutes, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. There's one recommended stop, and the longest stretch without a break is about 55.8 miles on the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, so plan accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $39, and fuel availability might vary once you move onto Highway 58 and US 58.
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 126.9 miles from East Hampton, VA, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 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 56 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.9 miles or 2h 38m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Horse Pasture, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving East Hampton, 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 East Hampton, VA
This is one driving day of about 253.9 miles and 5h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from East Hampton, 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 Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike for about 55.8 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 78.2 and 160.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
78.2 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward I 85 South, I 95 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 85 South, I 95 South
8
78.6 mi into trip|~1h 45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham
8
134.6 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Take the exit toward US 58 West, SR 47: South Hill, Chase City
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 12B
Toward US 58 West, SR 47: South Hill, Chase Cit...
8
134.9 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 58 West, SR 47: South Hill, Chase City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 12B
Toward US 58 West, SR 47: South Hill, Chase Cit...
5
160.6 mi into trip|~3h 21m in|US 58 / Clarksville Bypass
Turn straight onto US 58 / Clarksville Bypass toward US 58 West, US 15 South, VA 49 South: South Boston, Danville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 58 West, US 15 South, VA 49 South: So...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.49 one way
$74.97 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$41.19
$82.39
premium
$4.49
$44.90
$89.80
diesel
$4.80
$47.94
$95.88
Estimated Tolls: $3.91
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(55.8 mi)$3.91
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.2
0
$26.66
$12.19
Efficient EV
63.5
0
$22.22
$10.16
EV Truck/SUV
101.6
1
$35.55
$16.25
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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
East Hampton, VA
Afternoon
in East Hampton on Sunday
Local time
12:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Patchy Smoke
S 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 2:31AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 2:16AM EDT until July 18 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Destination
Horse Pasture, VA
Afternoon
in Horse Pasture on Sunday
Local time
12:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 0 to 9 mph50% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 2:31AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 2:16AM EDT until July 18 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
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
14 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
5h 22m 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
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
~5 min detour
Free
Park Closure: Road Closure and Fishing Pier Impact
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...
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 route is about 55% highway, with the remaining portion on surface roads. You'll experience a stretch of 55.8 miles on the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike before transitioning to other roads. Expect to encounter a significant number of exits and merges during the highway portions, followed by a change in pace on the surface streets.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.8 mi on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike.
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 78.2 miles in.
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 17 significant decision points across 253.9 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 78.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 134.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,098 ft10 ft
Total Climb
1,143 ft
Total Descent
55 ft
Highest Point
1,098 ft
~253.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,088 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between East Hampton, VA and Horse Pasture, VA, road signs point toward Chase City, Danville, Martinsville and Roanoke.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 22m. Total distance: 253.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.8 miles on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.91 in tolls one way, starting with Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Horse Pasture, 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 78.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 134.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Fort Monroe National Monument, Petersburg National Battlefield and Colonial National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Horse Pasture, VA before the return drive.
