Origin
Emporia, VA
Afternoon in Emporia on Sunday
Local time
1:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Emporia, VA to Harrisonburg, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 45m
Distance
194.5 mi
313 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 33m
★
6 AM
3h 45m
8 AM
4h 11m
10 AM
3h 54m
12 PM
3h 52m
3 PM
3h 55m
5 PM
4h 9m
8 PM
3h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Emporia, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Harrisonburg, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Emporia, VA to Harrisonburg, VA covers 194.5 miles and takes about 3h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, I 95, I 81 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 99.6 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.42 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
97.3 miles from Emporia, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 99.6 mi | 1h 50m |
| I 95 | 64.9 mi | 1h 16m |
| I 81 | 23.7 mi | 26m |
| South Main Street | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| Sussex Drive | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Port Republic Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Otterdam Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Hicksford Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 99.6 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Emporia, VA and Harrisonburg, VA.
1
Start on Hicksford Avenue
87 ft
·
7 sec
·
Hicksford Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 301
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
3
Continue on US 301
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Sussex Drive
4
Turn left onto SR 614
443 ft
·
12 sec
·
Otterdam Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 95 North: Richmond
6
Merge onto I 95
32 mi
·
34 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
32 mi
·
41 min
·
I 95
Toward I 95 North: Petersburg, Richmond
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
100 mi
·
1 hr 50 min
·
I 64
Exit 79
Toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 81 North: Staunton, Winchester
10
Merge onto I 81
24 mi
·
26 min
·
I 81
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward VA 253: Harrisonburg
12
Turn left onto VA 253
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Port Republic Road
13
Turn right onto US 11
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
US 11; US 33
Trip Plan
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 97.3 miles from Emporia, VA, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 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 43 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.3 miles or 1h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harrisonburg, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Emporia, 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 Emporia, VA
This is one driving day of about 194.5 miles and 3h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Emporia, 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 I 64 for about 99.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 97.3 miles from Emporia, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 168.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North: Richmond
Navigation decision point
Toward I 95 North: Richmond
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
36.3 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 toward I 95 North: Petersburg, Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: Petersburg, Richmond
9
68.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 79
Toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
5
168.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 12m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Staunton, Winchester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 81 North: Staunton, Winchester
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.42 one way
$60.83 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $33.26 | $66.51 |
| premium | $4.70 | $36.00 | $72.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.94 | $85.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58.3 | 0 | $20.42 | $9.34 |
| Efficient EV | 48.6 | 0 | $17.02 | $7.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.8 | 0 | $27.23 | $12.45 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Harrisonburg, VA
Afternoon in Harrisonburg on Sunday
Local time
1:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Ashland, VA
97 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
10 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
3h 45m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
194.5 mi in 3h 45m, mostly highway — 99.6 mi of that is on I 64.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.6 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 95. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 194.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 3.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.3 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Emporia, VA and Harrisonburg, VA, road signs point toward Richmond and Winchester.
Richmond
36.3 mi in
|
~41m
|
via I 95
Winchester
168.4 mi in
|
~3h 12m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 45m. Total distance: 194.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.6 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Harrisonburg, 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 3.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.3 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Harrisonburg, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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