Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 49m
Distance
209.9 mi
338 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gretna, VA
ᛟᛞᚨᛚᚹ ᚨᚱᚲᛟᚾᛊᚲᛁ
Norfolk, VA
Wikimedia Commons
This 209.9-mile drive from Gretna, VA to Norfolk, VA is a feasible one-day trip, estimated to take about 4 hours and 49 minutes. You'll navigate using main roads like Southampton Parkway, Clarksville Bypass, and Governor Harrison Parkway, with highway driving making up 48% of the journey. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $33, and you'll encounter a mixed driving profile. Given the duration and distance, it’s a solid option for a single day's travel within the Southeast region, allowing for a relatively relaxed pace.
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
105 miles from Gretna, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 27m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton Parkway | 62.1 mi | 1h 20m |
| Clarksville Bypass | 22.9 mi | 29m |
| Governor Harrison Parkway | 22.5 mi | 30m |
| Bill Tuck Highway | 18.1 mi | 22m |
| Halifax Road | 16.4 mi | 23m |
| Chatham Road | 12.9 mi | 19m |
| Main Street | 10.3 mi | 14m |
| I 264 | 7.2 mi | 11m |
Step-by-step road directions between Gretna, VA and Norfolk, VA.
Start on SR 792
Turn left onto US 29 BUS
Take the exit
Turn left onto VA 57
Continue on VA 57
Continue on VA 360
At end of road, turn right onto US 501
Continue on US 501
Turn left onto VA 129
Continue on VA 129
Turn left onto VA 34
Turn right onto US 360
Continue on US 360
Continue on US 360
Turn left onto US 58
Continue on US 58; VA 49
Keep slight right at fork onto US 58
Continue on US 1; US 58
Continue on US 58
Continue on US 58
Continue on US 58
Continue on US 58
Continue on US 58
Continue on US 58
Continue on US 58
Continue on US 58
Continue on US 13; US 58; US 460
Take the exit onto US 13; US 460
Keep slight left at fork onto US 13; US 460
Merge onto I 664; US 13; US 460
Take the exit
Continue on I 264
Keep slight left at fork onto US 460 ALT
Keep slight left at fork onto US 460 ALT
Turn left onto Saint Pauls Boulevard
Turn left onto East City Hall Avenue
Arrive at destination
For this 4-hour and 49-minute journey, consider an early morning departure from Gretna to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential afternoon traffic as you near Norfolk. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 62.1-mile stretch on Southampton Parkway, ensuring you have enough to reach your next refueling opportunity. The $33 fuel estimate is a good starting point for your budget.
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.
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 46 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Norfolk, VA than in the middle of the route.
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 209.9 miles and 4h 49m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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.
A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 105 miles from Gretna, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Southampton Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 69.9 and 209.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto US 58 / Clarksville Bypass toward US 58 East: Boydton, South Hill
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto US 13; US 460 toward I 264 East, I 64, US 13 North: Portsmouth, Norfolk, Va Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 264 East: Portsmouth, Norfolk
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto US 460 ALT toward Waterside Drive, St Paul's Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto US 460 ALT toward Saint Paul's Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$32.82 one way
$65.65 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $35.89 | $71.78 |
| premium | $4.70 | $38.85 | $77.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $46.34 | $92.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63 | 0 | $22.04 | $10.08 |
| Efficient EV | 52.5 | 0 | $18.37 | $8.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84 | 1 | $29.39 | $13.43 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Gretna on Sunday
Local time
3:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Norfolk on Sunday
Local time
3:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Clear
60°F
Lawrenceville, VA
105 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Monument
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with a highway share of 48%. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 62.1 miles along Southampton Parkway, offering a period of consistent travel. The road's character likely shifts between more open highway sections and potentially more varied local road conditions as you progress towards Norfolk. This blend means you'll experience periods of steady cruising alongside stretches that might require more attention to local traffic and road changes.
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 69.9 miles in near US 58 / Clarksville Bypass.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 209.9 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 69.9 miles (US 58 / Clarksville Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 200.2 miles (US 13; US 460): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 201.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Gretna, VA to Norfolk, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Hill along the way.
Hill
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 49m. Total distance: 209.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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