Traveling from Hampton to Altavista covers 202.2 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 23 minutes. You will start by heading west through Hampton using West Pembroke Avenue and North Armistead Avenue before transitioning onto I-64 West. Because the total duration is manageable in a single day, this trip works perfectly as a straightforward day excursion. Budgeting approximately $32 for fuel will keep your tank ready for the journey across the Southeast region. Whether you are heading inland for business or leisure, this route provides a direct path that moves you steadily from the coast toward the interior of Virginia.
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
101.1 miles from Hampton, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
69.1 mi
1h 16m
Anderson Highway
36.7 mi
48m
Village Highway
10.4 mi
19m
Old Courthouse Road
10 mi
11m
Midlothian Turnpike
9.9 mi
16m
Wards Road
9.1 mi
11m
Richmond Highway
8.6 mi
10m
Mount Rush Highway
8.6 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 69.1 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hampton, VA and Altavista, VA.
1
Start on North King Street
126 ft·5 sec·North King Street
2
Turn left onto VA 351
0.3 mi·42 sec·West Pembroke Avenue
3
Turn right onto VA 134
0.9 mi·1 min·North Armistead Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 64 WestUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 64
2.5 mi·3 min·Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
69 mi·1 hr 16 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 193AToward VA 33 West: Nine Mile RoadUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto VA 33
1.0 mi·1 min·Nine Mile Road
9
Enter roundabout onto North 25th Street
148 ft·2 sec·North 25th Street
10
Continue on North 25th Street
0.5 mi·48 sec·North 25th Street
11
Enter roundabout onto North 25th Street
100 ft·2 sec·North 25th Street
12
Continue on North 25th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North 25th Street
13
Turn right onto US 60
0.3 mi·29 sec·East Main Street
14
Turn left onto South 21st Street
0.1 mi·17 sec·South 21st Street
15
At end of road, turn right onto Dock Street
0.4 mi·49 sec·Dock Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto US 360; US 60 ALT
306 ft·12 sec·South 14th Street
Use the left / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto East Canal Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·East Canal Street
18
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward VA 195 Toll West
19
Merge onto VA 195
2.5 mi·3 min·Downtown Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto VA 146
1.1 mi·1 min·VA 146
Toward Powhite ParkwayUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto VA 76
1.0 mi·1 min·Powhite Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto VA 76
1.0 mi·1 min·E-ZPass Only (Powhite Parkway)
23
Merge onto VA 76
2.5 mi·3 min·Powhite Parkway
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward US 60: Midlothian TurnpikeUse the slight right lane.
25
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·19 sec·this road
Toward US 60: Midlothian Turnpike
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 60 West: Midlothian Turnpike, MidlothianUse the slight right lane.
27
Merge onto US 60
9.9 mi·16 min·Midlothian Turnpike
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Continue on US 60
37 mi·48 min·Anderson Highway
29
Continue on US 60
8.1 mi·9 min·East James Anderson Highway
30
Continue on US 60
7.8 mi·9 min·West James Anderson Highway
31
Turn slight left onto VA 24
8.6 mi·9 min·Mount Rush Highway
32
Continue on VA 24
10 mi·11 min·Old Courthouse Road
33
Take the exit onto VA 24
0.2 mi·29 sec·VA 24
Toward US 460 West, VA 24 West
34
Merge onto US 460; VA 24
8.6 mi·10 min·Richmond Highway
35
Turn left onto VA 24
1.2 mi·2 min·Village Highway
36
Enter roundabout onto VA 24
112 ft·2 sec·Village Highway
37
Continue on VA 24
9.2 mi·17 min·Village Highway
38
Take the exit onto VA 24
4.3 mi·7 min·VA 24
39
Turn left onto US 29
9.1 mi·11 min·Wards Road
40
Take the exit onto US 29 BUS
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 29 BUS
Toward US 29 Business South
41
Turn left onto US 29 BUS
2.0 mi·3 min·Main Street
42
Turn right onto 7th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·7th Street
43
Turn left onto Franklin Avenue
364 ft·17 sec·Franklin Avenue
44
Turn left onto US 29 BUS
30 ft·1 sec·Main Street
45
Arrive at destination
US 29 BUS
Trip Plan
Plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 4-hour and 23-minute drive. Since this is a turn-heavy route, leaving early in the morning allows you to navigate the local segments during peak daylight hours when visibility is best. Keep your $32 fuel budget in mind, and consider fueling up before you leave Hampton to ensure you have plenty of range for the local stretches. Being flexible with your departure time is a major advantage for this trip, as it avoids the stress of a rigid schedule. Take advantage of your planned stop to stretch your legs, as the constant turns on these local roads can be more physically demanding than standard highway travel.
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 101.1 miles from Hampton, VA, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.1 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 44 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.1 miles or 2h 7m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altavista, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hampton, 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 Hampton, VA
This is one driving day of about 202.2 miles and 4h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Hampton, 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 69.1 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 32
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 84.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.9 mi into trip|~6m in|I 64
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
73 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward VA 33 West: Nine Mile Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 193A
Toward VA 33 West: Nine Mile Road
6
76.1 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|US 360; US 60 ALT / South 14th Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 360; US 60 ALT / South 14th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
7
78.9 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|VA 146
Keep slight left at fork onto VA 146 toward Powhite Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Powhite Parkway
9
84.9 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 60 West: Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 60 West: Midlothian Turnpike, Midloth...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.62 one way
$63.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$34.57
$69.15
premium
$4.70
$37.42
$74.85
diesel
$5.61
$44.64
$89.29
Estimated Tolls: $0.69
Midlothian Turnpike
(9.9 mi)$0.69
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
$32
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.7
0
$21.23
$9.71
Efficient EV
50.6
0
$17.69
$8.09
EV Truck/SUV
80.9
1
$28.31
$12.94
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Hampton, VA
Late night
in Hampton on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
SE 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Altavista, VA
Late night
in Altavista on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°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
13 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 23m 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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
$15
near mile 20.9
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 167.4
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...
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...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 83.7
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...
25 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 202.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind. While the trip utilizes I-64 West, the overall route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will spend the majority of your time navigating local roads and connectors. This character makes for a more engaged, hands-on driving experience compared to cruising on open freeways. You should anticipate frequent adjustments behind the wheel as you navigate the transition from the Hampton area toward Altavista. Stay alert, as the winding nature of the local roads requires your full attention throughout the 202.2-mile trek.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
45 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.1 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 3.9 miles in near I 64.
Driving Effort10/10
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 32 significant decision points across 202.2 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 3.9 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 73 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 76.1 miles (US 360; US 60 ALT / South 14th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hampton, VA to Altavista, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Midlothian along the way.
Midlothian
84.9 mi in|~1h 42m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 23m. Total distance: 202.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.1 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.69 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 Altavista, 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 3.9 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 73 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 76.1 miles (US 360; US 60 ALT / South 14th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Altavista, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
