Harrisonburg to Suffolk is 220.2 miles and takes about 4h 26m via I 81 and I 64, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Virginia, connecting the Shenandoah Valley region to the southeastern part of the state. It's a straightforward trip that primarily uses major interstates, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. Plan for a generally uncomplicated travel experience as you make your way across the state.
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
110.1 miles from Harrisonburg, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
102.6 mi
1h 54m
I 81
23.8 mi
26m
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
14.6 mi
18m
James River Drive
14.6 mi
19m
Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi
15m
Old Stage Highway
12 mi
15m
Colonial Trail East
9.8 mi
11m
Godwin Boulevard
8.9 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 102.6 mi, about 1h 54m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 80 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,278 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,679
Quietest
2 AM
~108 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harrisonburg, VA and Suffolk, VA.
1
Start on US 11; US 33
114 ft·9 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 33
260 ft·7 sec·Court Square
3
Continue on US 33
169 ft·5 sec·Court Square
4
Turn right onto US 33
0.2 mi·18 sec·West Market Street
5
Turn left onto VA 42
0.9 mi·2 min·South High Street
6
Turn left onto Maryland Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Maryland Avenue
7
Continue on VA 253
0.5 mi·1 min·Port Republic Road
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
9
Merge onto I 81
24 mi·26 min·I 81
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·53 sec
Toward I 64 East: Richmond
11
Merge onto I 64
103 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 64
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
15 mi·18 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 61AToward VA 10 East: HopewellUse the right lane.
14
Continue on VA 10
6.8 mi·10 min·West Hundred Road
Use the left / uturn lanes.
15
Continue on VA 10
2.9 mi·4 min·West Randolph Road
16
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
15 mi·19 min·James River Drive
17
Continue on VA 10
13 mi·15 min·Colonial Trail West
18
At end of road, turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
1.0 mi·1 min·Rolfe Highway
19
Take the exit
149 ft·6 sec
20
Merge onto VA 10
9.8 mi·11 min·Colonial Trail East
21
Continue on VA 10
12 mi·15 min·Old Stage Highway
Use the left lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 10
4.3 mi·5 min·Benns Church Boulevard
23
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
8.4 mi·9 min·Godwin Boulevard
24
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
0.5 mi·48 sec·Godwin Boulevard
25
Turn left onto US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
366 ft·6 sec·Pruden Boulevard
26
Continue on US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
2.2 mi·5 min·North Main Street
27
Turn right onto VA 337
454 ft·17 sec·West Washington Street
28
Turn left onto South Saratoga Street
165 ft·4 sec·South Saratoga Street
29
Arrive at destination
South Saratoga Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 26m estimated drive time, leaving Harrisonburg in the morning is ideal to ensure you arrive in Suffolk with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short distance, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you approach the 102.6-mile stretch on I 64, and consider topping off before that segment if needed. The route is largely interstate, so anticipate standard highway services being available.
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 110.1 miles from Harrisonburg, VA, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.6 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 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.1 miles or 2h 5m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Suffolk, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Harrisonburg, 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 Harrisonburg, VA
This is one driving day of about 220.2 miles and 4h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Harrisonburg, 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 102.6 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 0 and 220.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 33 / Court Square
Turn left onto US 33 / Court Square
Navigation decision point
5
26.6 mi into trip|~32m in|I 64
Merge onto I 64
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
129.3 mi into trip|~2h 27m in|I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
143.9 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Take the exit toward VA 10 East: Hopewell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 61A
Toward VA 10 East: Hopewell
5
220.2 mi into trip|~4h 26m in|South Saratoga Street
Turn left onto South Saratoga Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.51 one way
$65.02 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$35.73
$71.45
premium
$4.49
$38.94
$77.88
diesel
$4.80
$41.58
$83.16
Estimated Tolls: $1.02
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(14.6 mi)$1.02
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
$33
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
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, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.1
0
$23.12
$10.57
Efficient EV
55.1
0
$19.27
$8.81
EV Truck/SUV
88.1
1
$30.83
$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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Harrisonburg, VA
Morning
in Harrisonburg on Sunday
Local time
6:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph39% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:03PM EDT until July 18 at 5:30PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:03PM EDT until July 18 at 5:45PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Suffolk, VA
Morning
in Suffolk on Sunday
Local time
6:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
96°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 mph26% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:03PM EDT until July 18 at 5:30PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:03PM EDT until July 18 at 5:45PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
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
6 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 26m 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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
$15
near mile 189.8
Park Closure: Jamestown Island Loop Drive to Temporarily Close to Vehicles
Park Closure: Rehabilitation of Colonial Parkway Continues
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 144.3
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 205
Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 64% of this 220.2-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on a major highway is 102.6 miles, occurring on I 64. Expect a significant amount of time on interstates, with the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike being a notable section. The route transitions from interstate cruising to potentially more local roads as you near your destination.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.6 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 early in the drive near US 33 / Court Square.
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 16 significant decision points across 220.2 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: near the start (US 33 / Court Square): Navigation decision point; at 26.6 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 129.3 miles (I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Harrisonburg is a city of 52,000 people (2020) in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. The city is a major financial and retail center for eight counties in Virginia, and even draws people from parts of neighboring West Virginia. There is a traditionally strong agricultural base, but there has been tremendous growth in retail and industry sectors.
Top landmarks
•Rockingham County Courthouse — courthouse in Virginia, United States
•Newtown Cemetery — cemetery in Harrisonburg, Virginia
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 26m. Total distance: 220.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.6 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.02 in tolls one way, starting with Richmond-Petersburg 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.
Yes — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Suffolk, 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. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 33 / Court Square): Navigation decision point; at 26.6 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 129.3 miles (I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Colonial National Historical Park, Petersburg National Battlefield and Fort Monroe National Monument (4 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 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Suffolk, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
