Spanning 136.4 miles, this trip from Lake Monticello to Newport News is a straightforward journey through Virginia. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 45 minutes on the road, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Budgeting approximately $22 for fuel will cover your transit across the state. Because the route remains entirely within the Southeast region, you won't encounter major climate or terrain shifts. It is a highly practical drive that avoids the need for an overnight stay, giving you plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule.
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
68.2 miles from Lake Monticello, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
96.7 mi
1h 45m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi
25m
James Madison Highway
4.1 mi
6m
South Boston Road
3.4 mi
6m
Union Mills Road
2.3 mi
4m
Jefferson Drive
1.5 mi
4m
Diligence Drive
0.5 mi
1m
Nahor Drive
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 96.7 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Monticello, VA and Newport News, VA.
1
Start on Sherwood Drive
260 ft·10 sec·Sherwood Drive
2
Turn right onto Smokewood Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Smokewood Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto Jefferson Drive
180 ft·7 sec·Jefferson Drive
4
Turn left onto Nahor Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·Nahor Drive
5
Turn left onto Ashton Road
0.2 mi·43 sec·Ashton Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto Brougham Road
0.1 mi·22 sec·Brougham Road
7
Turn right onto Rassawek Court
349 ft·17 sec·Rassawek Court
8
Turn left onto Jefferson Drive
1.5 mi·4 min·Jefferson Drive
9
Turn right onto Slice Road
0.2 mi·43 sec·Slice Road
10
Turn left onto SR 600
3.4 mi·6 min·South Boston Road
11
Turn sharp right onto SR 616
2.3 mi·4 min·Union Mills Road
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 15
4.1 mi·6 min·James Madison Highway
13
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
14
Merge onto I 64
40 mi·43 min·I 64
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 177Toward I 295 North: Washington, NorfolkUse the slight right lane.
16
Continue on I 295
23 mi·25 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 28AToward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 64
57 mi·1 hr 2 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 258AToward US 17 South: J Clyde Morris BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn straight onto US 17
0.1 mi·10 sec·J Clyde Morris Boulevard
21
Turn right onto Diligence Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·Diligence Drive
22
At end of road, turn right onto Thimble Shoals Boulevard
0.1 mi·19 sec·Thimble Shoals Boulevard
23
Turn left
413 ft·33 sec
24
At end of road, turn right
82 ft·6 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since the total duration is under three hours, you have the advantage of being able to leave whenever it suits your plans without worrying about an overnight split. Incorporating one planned stop will help you stay refreshed, especially given the lengthy primary stretch on the interstate. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before hitting the highway, as the estimated $22 cost is a baseline that can fluctuate with local prices. If you want to avoid peak traffic congestion, try to time your departure to miss typical commuter rush hours on the major interstates. Flexibility is your best asset here, so use that extra time to enjoy your destination once you arrive.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.2 miles from Lake Monticello, VA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.7 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 30 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.2 miles or 1h 27m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Newport News, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lake Monticello, 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 Lake Monticello, VA
This is one driving day of about 136.4 miles and 2h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Lake Monticello, 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 96.7 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 136.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in|Brougham Road
At end of road, turn left onto Brougham Road
Navigation decision point
8
53.1 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
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 177
Toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
8
77.2 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 28A
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
7
135.2 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward US 17 South: J Clyde Morris Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 258A
Toward US 17 South: J Clyde Morris Boulevard
6
136.4 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
At end of road, turn right
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.33 one way
$42.66 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$23.32
$46.64
premium
$4.70
$25.24
$50.49
diesel
$5.61
$30.12
$60.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.9
0
$14.32
$6.55
Efficient EV
34.1
0
$11.94
$5.46
EV Truck/SUV
54.6
0
$19.10
$8.73
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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 15, 2026
Origin
Lake Monticello, VA
Morning
in Lake Monticello on Sunday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Newport News, VA
Morning
in Newport News on Sunday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Ashland, VA
68 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
14 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
2h 45m 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.
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...
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 136.4
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 79.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 71% of your time spent on major thoroughfares like I-64, the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, and the James Madison Highway. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the route features a longest uninterrupted stretch of 96.7 miles on I-64. The experience is primarily defined by high-speed transit rather than technical local roads, allowing for a consistent pace throughout the journey. Expect the road to feel efficient and functional, prioritizing speed and directness as you transition from the inland areas toward the coast.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 96.7 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near Brougham Road.
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 19 significant decision points across 136.4 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 1.1 miles (Brougham Road): Navigation decision point; at 53.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Lake Monticello, VA and Newport News, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Norfolk
53.1 mi in|~1h 10m
Virginia Beach
77.2 mi in|~1h 37m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 45m. Total distance: 136.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 96.7 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Newport News, 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 1.1 miles (Brougham Road): Navigation decision point; at 53.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Colonial National Historical Park, Fort Monroe National Monument and Petersburg National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Newport News, VA before heading back.
