Spanning 179.1 miles across Virginia, this trip from Hollins to Richmond is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, it functions perfectly as a one-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget approximately $29 for fuel, making this a budget-friendly option for your travel plans. Since both Hollins and Richmond are located within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent environment throughout the drive. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this highway-focused route is designed for efficiency rather than leisure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
89.5 miles from Hollins, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
99.6 mi
1h 49m
I 81
74.4 mi
1h 20m
Plantation Road
1.5 mi
2m
West Broad Street
1.5 mi
3m
Beltline Expressway
0.7 mi
1m
North Hamilton Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North Allen Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Marcus-David Peters Circle
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 99.6 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hollins, VA and Richmond, VA.
1
Start on VA 115
1.5 mi·2 min·Plantation Road
Use the straight lane.
2
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·50 sec
Use the right lane.
3
Merge onto I 81; US 220
27 mi·29 min·I 81; US 220
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on I 81; US 11
48 mi·51 min·I 81; US 11
5
Continue on I 64; I 81
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 64; I 81
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
99 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 64
Toward I 64 East: RichmondUse the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Exit 186Toward I 195 South: Laburnum AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward I 195 SouthUse the straight lane.
9
Continue on I 195
0.7 mi·1 min·Beltline Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 33, US 250: Broad Street, Hamilton StreetUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto North Hamilton Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·North Hamilton Street
12
Turn left onto US 33; US 250
1.5 mi·3 min·West Broad Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn right onto North Allen Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·North Allen Avenue
14
Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle
274 ft·7 sec·Marcus-David Peters Circle
15
Arrive at destination
Marcus-David Peters Circle
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 20-minute drive time, you have plenty of flexibility when planning your departure. I recommend scheduling at least one stop to break up the monotony of the highway stretches and keep yourself refreshed behind the wheel. Since you are spending nearly the entire trip on interstates, monitor your fuel levels before merging onto I-64 for that longest 99.6-mile segment to ensure you don't need to exit prematurely. Planning your departure to avoid peak commuting hours in either Hollins or Richmond will help you maintain a smoother pace. Use that single planned stop as a chance to stretch your legs, as the highway-heavy nature of this route means you will be seated for the majority of your travel time.
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 89.5 miles from Hollins, VA, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 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 39 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.5 miles or 1h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hollins, 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 Hollins, VA
This is one driving day of about 179.1 miles and 3h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Hollins, 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 99.6 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 177 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.5 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
76.6 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 East: Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 64 East: Richmond
7
175.9 mi into trip|~3h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 195 South: Laburnum Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 186
Toward I 195 South: Laburnum Avenue
8
176.1 mi into trip|~3h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 195 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 195 South
7
177 mi into trip|~3h 15m in
Take the exit toward US 33, US 250: Broad Street, Hamilton 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.
Toward US 33, US 250: Broad Street, Hamilton St...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.01 one way
$56.01 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$30.62
$61.25
premium
$4.70
$33.15
$66.30
diesel
$5.61
$39.54
$79.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.7
0
$18.81
$8.60
Efficient EV
44.8
0
$15.67
$7.16
EV Truck/SUV
71.6
0
$25.07
$11.46
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Hollins, VA
Afternoon
in Hollins on Sunday
Local time
3:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Richmond, VA
Afternoon
in Richmond on Sunday
Local time
3:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
SW 12 mph0% 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
9 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
3h 20m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Booker T Washington National Monument
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...
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 179.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient experience, as 98% of this journey is spent on major highways. You will primarily navigate via I-81 and I-64, with short transitions on Plantation Road to get you started. The route is defined by its interstate focus, including a long, uninterrupted 99.6-mile stretch on I-64 that allows for steady cruising. Because the vast majority of the drive is highway-based, it lacks the technical complexities of local backroads, offering a predictable and direct path between the two cities. You should be prepared for a consistent flow of traffic as you transition across the state.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.6 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 81. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 179.1 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 76.6 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 175.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 20m. Total distance: 179.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.6 miles on I 64. 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 Richmond, 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 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 76.6 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 175.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Booker T Washington National Monument and Petersburg National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Richmond, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
