This 220.1-mile journey from Gretna, VA, to East Hampton, VA, is a manageable one-day drive, estimated to take around 4 hours and 43 minutes. You'll primarily navigate on I-64, with segments on Anderson Highway and Main Street contributing to the overall experience. With a fuel cost estimated at $34, this route offers a straightforward trip within the Southeast region of Virginia. It's well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. The mixed drive profile suggests a varied but generally smooth progression.
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
110 miles from Gretna, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
72 mi
1h 20m
Anderson Highway
36.7 mi
48m
Main Street
25.9 mi
33m
VA 24
18.9 mi
21m
Powhite Parkway
11.5 mi
15m
Village Highway
10.4 mi
19m
Richmond Highway
8.5 mi
11m
East James Anderson Highway
8.1 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 72 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gretna, VA and East Hampton, VA.
1
Start on SR 792
0.1 mi·20 sec·Northside Drive
2
Turn right onto US 29 BUS
26 mi·33 min·Main Street
3
Turn right onto VA 24
4.3 mi·7 min·Colonial Highway
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 501; VA 24
340 ft·8 sec·Brookneal Highway
5
Continue on US 501; VA 24
9.2 mi·17 min·Village Highway
6
Enter roundabout onto VA 24
113 ft·2 sec·Village Highway
7
Continue on VA 24
1.2 mi·2 min·Village Highway
8
Turn right onto US 460; VA 24
8.5 mi·11 min·Richmond Highway
9
Take the exit onto VA 24
0.2 mi·21 sec·VA 24
Toward VA 24 East, VA 131 South: To Route 60, Appomattox
10
Turn slight left onto VA 24
19 mi·21 min·VA 24
11
Continue on US 60
7.7 mi·9 min·West James Anderson Highway
12
Continue on US 60
8.1 mi·9 min·East James Anderson Highway
13
Continue on US 60
37 mi·48 min·Anderson Highway
14
Continue on US 60
0.9 mi·1 min·Midlothian Turnpike
15
Turn right onto SR 652
2.5 mi·3 min·Old Hundred Road
Use the straight lane.
16
Enter roundabout onto SR 652
147 ft·5 sec·Old Hundred Road
17
Continue on SR 652
2.5 mi·4 min·Old Hundred Road
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on VA 76
9.7 mi·12 min·Powhite Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 76
1.8 mi·2 min·Powhite Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 146
0.9 mi·1 min·VA 146
Use the slight right lane.
21
Merge onto VA 195
2.9 mi·3 min·Downtown Expressway
Use the straight lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 95 North: Washington, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Richmond International AirportUse the slight left lane.
23
Merge onto I 95
0.7 mi·54 sec·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Exit 75Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach, 7th StreetUse the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Merge onto I 64
72 mi·1 hr 20 min·I 64
Use the straight lane.
27
Take the exit onto VA 134
0.2 mi·28 sec·VA 134
Exit 263Toward US 258 South, US 258 North, VA 134 South: Mercury Boulevard, James River Bridge, ColiseumUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 134
4.2 mi·7 min·VA 134
Toward US 258 North, VA 134 South: Mercury Boulevard, ColiseumUse the slight right lane.
29
Turn right onto Southerland Drive
0.2 mi·46 sec·Southerland Drive
30
Arrive at destination
Southerland Drive
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 43-minute trip, starting your drive in the morning will allow ample time to reach East Hampton comfortably. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself, though planning a break around the halfway point is wise. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 72-mile stretch on I-64, as services can be spaced out. The estimated $34 fuel cost is a good baseline for budgeting. Given it's a single-day drive, leaving Gretna with a full tank will minimize any concerns about finding fuel along the way.
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 110 miles from Gretna, VA, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72 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 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110 miles or 2h 27m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Hampton, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gretna, 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 Gretna, VA
This is one driving day of about 220.1 miles and 4h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Gretna, 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 72 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 142.1 and 215.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
142.1 mi into trip|~3h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Washington, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Richmond International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 95 North: Washington, Charlottesville,...
8
143.1 mi into trip|~3h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach, 7th 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.
Exit 75
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach, 7th...
9
143.2 mi into trip|~3h 13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
8
215.5 mi into trip|~4h 34m in|VA 134
Take the exit onto VA 134 toward US 258 South, US 258 North, VA 134 South: Mercury Boulevard, James River Bridge, Coliseum
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 263
Toward US 258 South, US 258 North, VA 134 South...
8
215.7 mi into trip|~4h 35m in|VA 134
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 134 toward US 258 North, VA 134 South: Mercury Boulevard, Coliseum
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 258 North, VA 134 South: Mercury Boul...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.42 one way
$68.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$37.63
$75.27
premium
$4.70
$40.74
$81.47
diesel
$5.61
$48.60
$97.19
Estimated Tolls: $0.12
Midlothian Turnpike
(0.9 mi)$0.07
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(0.7 mi)$0.05
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
$34
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77 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
66
0
$23.11
$10.56
Efficient EV
55
0
$19.26
$8.80
EV Truck/SUV
88
1
$30.81
$14.09
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 17, 2026
Origin
Gretna, VA
Morning
in Gretna on Tuesday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Hampton, VA
Morning
in East Hampton on Tuesday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Clear
SW 8 to 12 mph5% chanceLive 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
15 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
4h 43m 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.
Colonial National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
0 mi from route
$15
near mile 197.3
Park Closure: Rehabilitation of Colonial Parkway Continues
On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the effective end of the nation's largest war. Question...
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
near mile 220.1
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...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 129
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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 7.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive presents a mixed bag, with 51% of your travel on highways, offering periods of faster transit. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 72 miles on I-64, providing an opportunity for sustained driving. The route transitions between the efficiency of the interstate and the character of local roads like Anderson Highway and Main Street. Expect the road's personality to shift as you move from more open highway sections to potentially more populated areas closer to your destination, offering a dynamic driving experience.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72 mi on I 64.
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 142.1 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 20 significant decision points across 220.1 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 142.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143.2 miles: 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.
Between Gretna, VA and East Hampton, VA, road signs point toward Appomattox, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Richmond International Airport and Virginia Beach.
Appomattox
49.3 mi in|~1h 12m|via VA 24
Charlottesville
142.1 mi in|~3h 11m
Norfolk
142.1 mi in|~3h 11m
Richmond International Airport
142.1 mi in|~3h 11m
Virginia Beach
143.1 mi in|~3h 13m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 43m. Total distance: 220.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.12 in tolls one way, starting with Midlothian 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.
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 East Hampton, 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 142.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Colonial National Historical Park, Appomattox Court House National Historical Park and Fort Monroe National Monument (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at East Hampton, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
