If you are planning to travel from Fredericksburg to Richmond, you are looking at a straightforward 55.3-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is efficient enough to complete in a short amount of time. You should budget approximately $9 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast Virginia hubs. Because the drive is relatively quick, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations or complicated logistics. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that connects two historic Virginia cities with ease, making it a convenient option for travelers looking to move between regions without a major time commitment.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
47.1 mi
52m
Patriot Highway
2.6 mi
5m
Emancipation Highway
1.6 mi
2m
Hermitage Road
1.1 mi
2m
Hanover Street
0.8 mi
2m
William Street
0.4 mi
<1m
George Street
0.3 mi
<1m
North Meadow Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 47.1 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fredericksburg, VA and Richmond, VA.
1
Start on US 1 BUS; US 17 BUS; VA 2
345 ft·16 sec·Princess Anne Street
2
Turn right onto George Street
0.3 mi·43 sec·George Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto Barton Street
198 ft·7 sec·Barton Street
4
Turn right onto George Street
333 ft·9 sec·George Street
5
Continue on Hanover Street
0.8 mi·2 min·Hanover Street
6
Turn right onto High Street
219 ft·11 sec·High Street
7
Turn left onto VA 3 BUS
0.1 mi·25 sec·William Street
8
Continue on VA 3
0.2 mi·32 sec·William Street
9
Take the exit
346 ft·9 sec
Toward US 1 South, Massaponax
10
Turn sharp right onto US 1
1.6 mi·2 min·Emancipation Highway
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on US 1
2.2 mi·4 min·Patriot Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 1
0.4 mi·55 sec·Patriot Highway
13
Turn left
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 95 SouthUse the left lane.
14
Merge onto I 95
47 mi·52 min·I 95
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·40 sec
Exit 78Toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto VA 161
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
17
Turn left onto Robin Hood Road
0.2 mi·30 sec·Robin Hood Road
18
Turn right onto Hermitage Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Hermitage Road
19
Continue on North Meadow Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·North Meadow Street
20
Turn left onto Monument Avenue
0.1 mi·26 sec·Monument Avenue
21
Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle
81 ft·2 sec·Marcus-David Peters Circle
22
Arrive at destination
Marcus-David Peters Circle
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 27.6 miles from Fredericksburg, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 53.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|George Street
Turn right onto George Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|Barton Street
At end of road, turn left onto Barton Street
Navigation decision point
7
1.6 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward US 1 South, Massaponax
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 1 South, Massaponax
6
5.9 mi into trip|~12m in
Turn left toward I 95 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 95 South
7
53.3 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 78
Toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.65 one way
$17.30 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg19 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$9.46
$18.91
premium
$4.70
$10.23
$20.47
diesel
$5.61
$12.21
$24.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
16.6
0
$5.81
$2.65
Efficient EV
13.8
0
$4.84
$2.21
EV Truck/SUV
22.1
0
$7.74
$3.54
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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 21, 2026
Origin
Fredericksburg, VA
Morning
in Fredericksburg on Tuesday
Local time
7:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
SW 1 to 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 21 at 3:49AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 21 at 1:37AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
Destination
Richmond, VA
Morning
in Richmond on Tuesday
Local time
7:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Patchy Frost
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 21 at 3:49AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 21 at 1:37AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
49°F
Bowling Green, VA
28 mi in
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
29 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
1h 10m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 85% of this route is spent on major roadways. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-95, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 47.1 miles. The remainder of your navigation involves Patriot Highway and Emancipation Highway, transitioning you from the Fredericksburg area into the Richmond region. This drive is essentially a direct interstate transit, prioritizing speed and efficiency over secondary roads. You should be prepared for a consistent, high-speed pace behind the wheel as you navigate these primary traffic arteries.
85% 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: 47.1 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Patriot Highway. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near George Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 55.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (George Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Barton Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Fredericksburg is a city in Northern Virginia. The downtown area has experienced a revival since the 1970s allowing a strong arts community to thrive. Galleries, music venues, and fine dining can all be found in the historic district. While the city has seen massive growth, the downtown area and battlefields have been well preserved due to strong local commitment to historic preservation, providing a unique blend of old and new culture.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 55.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.1 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (George Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Barton Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Petersburg National Battlefield. 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 Richmond, VA before heading back.
