Traveling from Gretna to Virginia Beach covers 227.3 miles across the southeastern region of Virginia. Expect a drive time of approximately 5 hours and 13 minutes, making this a manageable single-day journey for most drivers. With a fuel budget of about $36, it is a relatively cost-effective trip across the state. While you could technically complete this in one go, planning for one designated stop will help keep you fresh behind the wheel. The route transitions from the interior landscape of Gretna toward the coastal environment of Virginia Beach, providing a straightforward connection between these two distinct areas.
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
113.6 miles from Gretna, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Southampton Parkway
62.1 mi
1h 20m
I 264
24.5 mi
34m
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
Longest stretch:
Southampton Parkway
— 62.1 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gretna, VA and Virginia Beach, VA.
1
Start on SR 792
0.1 mi·25 sec·Northside Drive
2
Turn left onto US 29 BUS
10 mi·14 min·Main Street
3
Take the exit
0.1 mi·23 sec
Toward VA 57
4
Turn left onto VA 57
14 mi·19 min·Halifax Road
5
Continue on VA 57
13 mi·19 min·Chatham Road
6
Continue on VA 360
3.5 mi·5 min·Mountain Road
7
At end of road, turn right onto US 501
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
8
Continue on US 501
1.9 mi·3 min·Halifax Road
9
Turn left onto VA 129
0.9 mi·1 min·Old Halifax Road
10
Continue on VA 129
1.8 mi·3 min·North Main Street
11
Turn left onto VA 34
0.5 mi·1 min·Hodges Street
12
Turn right onto US 360
0.4 mi·39 sec·John Randolph Boulevard
13
Continue on US 360
0.3 mi·31 sec·James D Hagood Highway
14
Continue on US 360
0.4 mi·43 sec·John Randolph Boulevard
15
Turn left onto US 58
18 mi·22 min·Bill Tuck Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Continue on US 58; VA 49
3.6 mi·4 min·Clarksville Bypass
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 58
19 mi·24 min·Clarksville Bypass
Toward US 58 East: Boydton, South Hill
18
Continue on US 1; US 58
3.5 mi·4 min·Highway 1
19
Continue on US 58
3.3 mi·4 min·South Hill Bypass
20
Continue on US 58
1.1 mi·1 min·East Atlantic Street
21
Continue on US 58
3.6 mi·5 min·Highway 58
22
Continue on US 58
1.2 mi·2 min·Piney Pond Road
23
Continue on US 58
23 mi·30 min·Governor Harrison Parkway
24
Continue on US 58
6.4 mi·8 min·Pleasant Shade Drive
25
Continue on US 58
5.1 mi·6 min·West Atlantic Street
26
Continue on US 58
62 mi·1 hr 20 min·Southampton Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on US 13; US 58; US 460
1.7 mi·2 min·West Military Highway
28
Take the exit onto US 13; US 460
0.7 mi·1 min·US 13; US 460
Toward I 264 East, I 64, US 13 North: Portsmouth, Norfolk, Va Beach
29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 13; US 460
0.4 mi·56 sec·US 13; US 460
Toward I 264 East, I 64, US 13 North: Portsmouth, Norfolk, Va Beach
30
Merge onto I 664; US 13; US 460
0.6 mi·42 sec·Hampton Roads Beltway
31
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 15AToward I 264 East: Portsmouth, Norfolk
32
Continue on I 264
7.2 mi·11 min·I 264
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto I 264; VA 337
17 mi·23 min·I 264; VA 337
Use the slight right lane.
34
Continue on 21st Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·21st Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
35
Turn left onto Arctic Avenue
0.3 mi·46 sec·Arctic Avenue
Use the left lane.
36
Turn right onto 25th Street
454 ft·12 sec·25th Street
37
Arrive at destination
25th Street
Trip Plan
To maximize your experience, aim to head out early in the day to avoid the peak congestion often found on I-264 as you near your destination. Since the total travel time is just over five hours, one well-timed stop will be sufficient to refuel and stretch your legs without significantly delaying your arrival. Keep your $36 fuel budget in mind when planning your fill-ups, as prices can fluctuate significantly as you move closer to the coast. Because this trip is designed as a one-day excursion, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure based on local traffic reports to ensure a smoother transition onto the final highway stretches.
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 113.6 miles from Gretna, VA, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.1 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 50 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.6 miles or 2h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Virginia Beach, 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 227.3 miles and 5h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 Southampton Parkway for about 62.1 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 69.9 and 226.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
69.9 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|US 58 / Clarksville Bypass
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
Toward US 58 East: Boydton, South Hill
6
200.2 mi into trip|~4h 33m in|US 13; US 460
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
Toward I 264 East, I 64, US 13 North: Portsmout...
6
201.2 mi into trip|~4h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 264 East: Portsmouth, Norfolk
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 15A
Toward I 264 East: Portsmouth, Norfolk
6
209.2 mi into trip|~4h 47m in|I 264; VA 337
Keep slight right at fork onto I 264; VA 337
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
226.9 mi into trip|~5h 12m in|Arctic Avenue
Turn left onto Arctic Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.54 one way
$71.09 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$38.86
$77.73
premium
$4.70
$42.07
$84.14
diesel
$5.61
$50.18
$100.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.2
0
$23.87
$10.91
Efficient EV
56.8
0
$19.89
$9.09
EV Truck/SUV
90.9
1
$31.82
$14.55
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 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 15, 2026
Origin
Gretna, VA
Late night
in Gretna on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Virginia Beach, VA
Late night
in Virginia Beach on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Lawrenceville, VA
114 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
12 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
5h 13m 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.
Fort Monroe National Monument
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 211.6
Park Closure: Road Closure and Fishing Pier Impact
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This mixed drive balances local transit with faster highway segments, with 52% of your journey spent on highways. You will rely on major arteries like the Southampton Parkway, the Clarksville Bypass, and I-264 to navigate toward the coast. Be prepared for a steady rhythm, as your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Southampton Parkway, spanning 62.1 miles. The road’s personality shifts as you move from secondary roads onto these larger thoroughfares, offering a blend of rural transition and the inevitable uptick in traffic intensity as you approach the beach.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.1 mi on Southampton Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 69.9 miles in near US 58 / Clarksville Bypass.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 227.3 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
841 ft8 ft
Total Climb
296 ft
Total Descent
1,130 ft
Highest Point
841 ft
Elevation Range
833 ft
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 Virginia Beach, VA, road signs point toward Hill, Norfolk and Va Beach.
Hill
69.9 mi in|~1h 39m|via US 58
Norfolk
199.5 mi in|~4h 32m|via US 13; US 460
Va Beach
199.5 mi in|~4h 32m|via US 13; US 460
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 13m. Total distance: 227.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.1 miles on Southampton Parkway. 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 Virginia Beach, 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 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.
Yes — Fort Monroe National Monument and Booker T Washington National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Virginia Beach, VA before the return drive.
