If you are planning a trip from Glasgow to Newport News, expect a 219.5-mile journey that takes approximately 3 hours and 24 minutes to complete. Because this route relies on local roads like Anderson Street, Blue Ridge Road, and Rockbridge Road rather than major interstates, it is best suited for a single, focused day of travel. You should budget about $35 for fuel to cover the distance across Virginia. Since both locations are situated within the Southeast region, you will remain in a consistent geographic environment throughout your transit. While the trip is manageable in one go, the turn-heavy nature of these local roads makes it a more active driving experience than a standard highway cruise.
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
109.7 miles from Glasgow, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
146.7 mi
2h 40m
I 81
32.4 mi
34m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi
25m
Glasgow Highway
6.1 mi
6m
East Midland Trail
2.7 mi
3m
South Magnolia Avenue
2.1 mi
2m
West 29th Street
0.6 mi
<1m
US 501
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 146.7 mi, about 2h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glasgow, VA and Newport News, VA.
1
Start on this road
248 ft·20 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Anderson Street
213 ft·9 sec·Anderson Street
3
Turn left onto SR 684
0.2 mi·32 sec·Blue Ridge Road
4
Turn left onto VA 130
0.5 mi·59 sec·Rockbridge Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 501
6.1 mi·6 min·Glasgow Highway
6
Continue on US 501
2.1 mi·2 min·South Magnolia Avenue
7
Turn straight onto US 501
0.6 mi·43 sec·US 501
8
Turn straight onto US 501
0.5 mi·42 sec·Beech Avenue
9
Turn left onto US 60
0.6 mi·42 sec·West 29th Street
10
Continue on US 60
2.7 mi·3 min·East Midland Trail
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
12
Merge onto I 81
32 mi·34 min·I 81
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
90 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 64
Toward I 64 East: RichmondUse the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 177Toward I 295 North: Washington, NorfolkUse the slight right lane.
15
Continue on I 295
23 mi·25 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 28AToward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 64
57 mi·1 hr 2 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 258AToward US 17 South: J Clyde Morris BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn straight onto US 17
0.1 mi·10 sec·J Clyde Morris Boulevard
20
Turn right onto Diligence Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·Diligence Drive
21
At end of road, turn right onto Thimble Shoals Boulevard
0.1 mi·19 sec·Thimble Shoals Boulevard
22
Turn left
413 ft·33 sec
23
At end of road, turn right
82 ft·6 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3-hour and 24-minute drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and break up the constant turning. Since you are relying entirely on local roads, avoid departing during peak local traffic hours to ensure your travel time stays close to the estimate. Keep your fuel gauge in mind and try to fill up before hitting the more rural segments of the route to avoid searching for stations in unfamiliar areas. Given the $35 fuel cost, it is wise to keep a little extra cash or a card handy for mid-trip refreshments. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so feel free to take the pace slow and steady as you navigate the turn-heavy sections of the route.
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 109.7 miles from Glasgow, VA, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 146.7 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 48 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.7 miles or 2h 1m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Newport News, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Glasgow, 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 Glasgow, VA
This is one driving day of about 219.5 miles and 4h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Glasgow, 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 146.7 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 46.2 and 219.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
46.2 mi into trip|~52m 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
8
136.2 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
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 177
Toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
8
160.3 mi into trip|~2h 57m in
Take the exit toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
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 28A
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
7
218.3 mi into trip|~4h 2m in
Take the exit toward US 17 South: J Clyde Morris Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 258A
Toward US 17 South: J Clyde Morris Boulevard
6
219.5 mi into trip|~4h 5m in
At end of road, turn right
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.32 one way
$68.65 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$37.53
$75.06
premium
$4.70
$40.62
$81.25
diesel
$5.61
$48.46
$96.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.9
0
$23.05
$10.54
Efficient EV
54.9
0
$19.21
$8.78
EV Truck/SUV
87.8
1
$30.73
$14.05
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Glasgow, VA
Morning
in Glasgow on Sunday
Local time
6:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Newport News, VA
Morning
in Newport News on Sunday
Local time
6:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
25 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
4h 5m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Forget about monotonous interstate cruising; this route is defined by a turn-heavy local profile that demands your full attention behind the wheel. With 0% of the drive on highways, you will navigate through a series of local roads that prioritize back-road connectivity over high-speed travel. The path requires constant adjustment as you move from Glasgow toward Newport News, lacking any long, uninterrupted stretches of straight pavement. Expect a technical driving environment where the road layout keeps you engaged from start to finish. This is a practical, ground-level look at the Virginia landscape that feels more personal than a fast-paced transit on a major thoroughfare.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 146.7 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 46.2 miles in near I 64.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 219.5 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 46.2 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 136.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 160.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Glasgow, VA and Newport News, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Norfolk
136.2 mi in|~2h 30m
Virginia Beach
160.3 mi in|~2h 57m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 5m. Total distance: 219.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 146.7 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 Newport News, 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 46.2 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 136.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 160.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Newport News, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
