Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Idylwood, VA to South Suffolk, VA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 59m

Distance

197.4 mi

318 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 46m ★
6 AM
3h 59m
8 AM
4h 25m
10 AM
4h 8m
12 PM
4h 6m
3 PM
4h 10m
5 PM
4h 24m
8 PM
3h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Idylwood, VA, VA

Idylwood, VA

Yaroslav Shuraev

Downtown South Suffolk, VA, VA

South Suffolk, VA

Mark Stebnicki

Trip Overview

Idylwood, VA to South Suffolk, VA is 197.4 miles and takes about 3h 59m via I 95, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Given its duration and distance, this is a straightforward, single-day drive. You’ll be spending a good portion of your time on the interstate, so expect typical highway travel conditions. It’s a practical route for getting from point A to point B without extensive detours, making it ideal if you're looking for efficiency.

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

98.7 miles from Idylwood, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 55m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 48.6 mi 53m
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway 35.7 mi 42m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway 27.1 mi 29m
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 95 — 48.6 mi, about 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Idylwood, VA and South Suffolk, VA.

1

Start on SR 695

0.8 mi · 1 min · Idylwood Road
2

Turn right onto VA 7

113 ft · 2 sec · Leesburg Pike
Use the right lane.
3

Take the ramp

426 ft · 10 sec
Toward I 66: Metro, Washington, Front Royal Use the slight right lane.
4

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward I 66 West: Front Royal Use the slight right lane.
5

Merge onto I 66

0.7 mi · 59 sec · Custis Memorial Parkway
6

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Exit 64 Toward I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria Use the slight right lane.
7

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8

Merge onto I 495

7.2 mi · 9 min · Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 57A Toward I 95 South: Richmond Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Toward I 95 South, SR 644 East: Richmond, Franconia Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 95 South: Richmond
12

Merge onto I 395

36 mi · 42 min · Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95

49 mi · 53 min · I 95
Use the straight lane.
14

Take the exit

1.9 mi · 2 min
Exit 84A Toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach Use the slight left / straight lanes.
15

Merge onto I 295

27 mi · 29 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Exit 15A Toward VA 10 East: Hopewell Use the right lane.
17

Merge onto VA 10

2.9 mi · 3 min · East Hundred Road
18

Continue on VA 10

2.9 mi · 4 min · West Randolph Road
19

Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS

15 mi · 19 min · James River Drive
20

Continue on VA 10

13 mi · 15 min · Colonial Trail West
21

At end of road, turn left onto VA 10; VA 31

1.0 mi · 1 min · Rolfe Highway
22

Take the exit

149 ft · 6 sec
23

Merge onto VA 10

9.8 mi · 11 min · Colonial Trail East
24

Continue on VA 10

12 mi · 15 min · Old Stage Highway
Use the left lane.
25

Keep slight right at fork onto VA 10

4.3 mi · 5 min · Benns Church Boulevard
26

Continue on VA 10; VA 32

8.4 mi · 9 min · Godwin Boulevard
27

Continue on VA 10; VA 32

0.5 mi · 48 sec · Godwin Boulevard
28

Turn left onto US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32

366 ft · 6 sec · Pruden Boulevard
29

Continue on US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32

2.2 mi · 4 min · North Main Street
30

Continue on US 13 BUS; VA 32

0.9 mi · 1 min · Carolina Road
31

Arrive at destination

US 13 BUS; VA 32

Trip Plan

For this 197.4-mile drive, leaving in the morning should give you ample time to reach South Suffolk, VA, well before evening. Since the total driving time is under 4 hours, you likely won't need more than one significant stop, perhaps for fuel or a quick break around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; with a budget of around $31, you'll want to ensure you have enough to cover the distance. The longest stretch on I 95 is almost 50 miles, so plan accordingly if you need to exit before then for any reason.

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 98.7 miles from Idylwood, VA, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.6 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 43 miles or 54m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 98.7 miles or 1h 55m 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 11m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Suffolk, VA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Idylwood, 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 Idylwood, VA

This is one driving day of about 197.4 miles and 3h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Idylwood, 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 95 for about 48.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

independent city in Virginia, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Colonial Heights, VA

99 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.

Popular next leg

Colonial Heights, VA to South Suffolk, VA

64 mi · 1h 39m

Pacing Suggestions

Manassas, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

East Highland Park, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 98.7 miles from Idylwood, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Starline Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Springfield, Virginia

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 14.1

Hours: 6:30 am–4 pm

+17034554141

Visit website

Tropical Smoothie Cafe

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Fredericksburg, Virginia

1.1 mi

Himalayan Heritage Restaurant & Bar VA

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fredericksburg, Virginia

1.7 mi

Starline Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 14.1

Springfield, Virginia

Hours: 6:30 am–4 pm

+17034554141

Visit website

Tropical Smoothie Cafe

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour Inexpensiv mile 56.4

Fredericksburg, Virginia

Hours: 7 am–11 pm

+15407107025

Visit website

Himalayan Heritage Restaurant & Bar VA

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 56.4

Fredericksburg, Virginia

Hours: 10:30 am–9:30 pm

+15409934252

Visit website

Pastry Xpo Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Falls Church, Virginia

Hours: 7:30 am–9 pm

+15712824970

Visit website

The Hanging Gardens Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Vienna, Virginia

Hours: 8 am–5:30 pm

+17034858944

Visit website

Le Pain Quotidien

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately

Fairfax, Virginia

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+17034629350

Visit website

Lebanese Taverna

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30

McLean, Virginia

Hours: 11:30 am–9 pm

+17038475244

Visit website

Cafe ile

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour

McLean, Virginia

Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm

+15713781168

Visit website

Dubai Girls Cafe

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 98.7

Glen Allen, Virginia

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+18044001505

Lil Cow Cafe Bistro

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 14.1

Burke, Virginia

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+17038520544

Visit website

Ordnance Cafe

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 126.9

Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 197.4

Suffolk, Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

InCharge Energy Charging Station

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 126.9

Hopewell, Virginia

+18333994638

Visit website

Dale City Car-Only Safety Rest Area South

0 mi from route

Rest Area

0 mi from route

Dale City Car-Only Safety Rest Area North

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

TA

0.1 mi from route

Virginia Welcome Center

0.1 mi from route

Ladysmith Safety Rest Area North

0.2 mi from route

Ladysmith Safety Rest Area south

0.2 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

TA

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.3 mi from route

Mr. Fuel Travel Center

0.4 mi from route

Service Plaza

1.1 mi from route

Dorey Park Maintenance Facility

1.7 mi from route

Flight Adventure Park Springfield

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 14.1

Springfield, Virginia

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+17036632440

Visit website

National Museum of the United States Army

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 14.1

Fort Belvoir, Virginia

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+18005062672

Visit website

The Weems-Botts Museum & Annex

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 28.2

Dumfries, Virginia

Hours: Closed

+17032212218

Visit website

Stafford Civil War Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 42.3

Stafford, Virginia

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+15406584864

Visit website

Lake Meade Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 197.4

Suffolk, Virginia

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+17575147250

Visit website

National Museum of the Marine Corps

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour Moderately mile 28.2

Triangle, Virginia

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

Visit website

Mount Air Historic Site

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 14.1

Lorton, Virginia

LEGO® Discovery Center Washington, D.C.

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 14.1

Springfield, Virginia

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+15715064322

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 21

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 95.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
0.9 mi into trip | ~1m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 66 West: Front Royal

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 66 West: Front Royal
8
1.8 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 64 Toward I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria
8
1.9 mi into trip | ~3m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria
8
10.2 mi into trip | ~15m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, SR 644 East: Richmond, Franconia

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 South, SR 644 East: Richmond, Franc...
8
95.1 mi into trip | ~1h 51m in

Take the exit toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 84A Toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va B...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.87 one way

$61.74 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 69 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $33.75 $67.50
premium $4.70 $36.53 $73.07
diesel $5.61 $43.58 $87.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 69.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 59.2 0 $20.73 $9.48
Efficient EV 49.4 0 $17.27 $7.90
EV Truck/SUV 79 0 $27.64 $12.63

Gas CO2

69 kg

EV CO2

23 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 18, 2026

Origin

Idylwood, VA

Morning in Idylwood on Sunday

Local time

6:09 AM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

South Suffolk, VA

Morning in South Suffolk on Sunday

Local time

6:09 AM

EDT

Current temp

86°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

86°F

Colonial Heights, VA

99 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

29 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 59m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

The drive involves 25% highway travel, with the longest continuous stretch on I 95 covering 48.6 miles. The majority of this trip, therefore, will be on surface roads. You'll transition from the Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway and Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway onto local routes, so be prepared for more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you get closer to your destination. The mix means you’ll experience both open highway cruising and more varied local driving.

Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.6 mi on I 95.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 21 significant decision points across 197.4 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 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Idylwood, VA and South Suffolk, VA, road signs point toward Franconia, Norfolk and Va Beach.

Franconia

10.2 mi in | ~15m

Norfolk

95.1 mi in | ~1h 51m

Va Beach

95.1 mi in | ~1h 51m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 59m. Total distance: 197.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 48.6 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 15 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 South 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 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at South Suffolk, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From South Suffolk, VA

Colonial Heights, VA 367.4 mi · 7h 36m McLean, VA 199.4 mi · 4h 2m Merrifield, VA 193.8 mi · 3h 54m Baileys Crossroads, VA 192.8 mi · 3h 53m

More from Idylwood, VA

Roanoke, VA 230.5 mi · 4h 19m Portsmouth, VA 196.7 mi · 3h 51m Suffolk, VA 196.6 mi · 3h 57m Chesapeake, VA 195.8 mi · 3h 54m Lynchburg, VA 170.2 mi · 3h 44m Leesburg, VA 25.1 mi · 42m

More trips to South Suffolk, VA

Martinsville, VA 204.7 mi Colonial Heights, VA 64 mi Newport News, VA 31.8 mi
Escape planner: Idylwood, VA Scenic drives in VA

Explore more options from Idylwood, VA or browse trips ending in South Suffolk, VA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VA road trips.