Connecting Lexington to Richmond is a straightforward 81.6-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 46 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance and duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. Budget roughly $13 for fuel to cover the transit between these two Southeast Virginia locations. You will primarily navigate via I-64, supplemented by short segments on Earlysville Road and Hydraulic Road. Whether you are heading to the state capital for business or a quick getaway, this route offers a reliable and efficient way to travel across the region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.8 miles from Lexington, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
61.7 mi
1h 8m
Earlysville Road
6.5 mi
10m
Hydraulic Road
2.2 mi
4m
U.S. 250 Bypass
2.1 mi
4m
Richmond Road
1.9 mi
3m
West Broad Street
1.5 mi
3m
Buffalo River Road
1.4 mi
2m
Buck Mountain Road
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 61.7 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington, VA and Richmond, VA.
1
Start on SR 1540
433 ft·20 sec·Lexington Lane
2
Turn right onto SR 604
1.4 mi·2 min·Buffalo River Road
3
Continue on SR 663
0.5 mi·51 sec·Simmons Gap Road
4
Turn left onto SR 665
1.4 mi·2 min·Buck Mountain Road
5
Continue on SR 743
2.6 mi·4 min·Earlysville Road
6
Enter roundabout onto Earlysville Road
141 ft·3 sec·Earlysville Road
7
Continue on Earlysville Road
3.8 mi·6 min·Earlysville Road
8
Turn right onto SR 743
1.9 mi·4 min·Hydraulic Road
9
Enter roundabout onto SR 743
96 ft·2 sec·Hydraulic Road
10
Continue on SR 743
0.2 mi·32 sec·Hydraulic Road
11
Turn left onto US 250
2.1 mi·4 min·U.S. 250 Bypass
12
Continue on US 250
0.3 mi·41 sec·Long Street
13
Continue on US 250; VA 20
1.9 mi·3 min·Richmond Road
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 64 East
15
Merge onto I 64
62 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 64
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Exit 186Toward I 195 South: Laburnum AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward I 195 SouthUse the straight lane.
18
Continue on I 195
0.7 mi·1 min·Beltline Expressway
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 33, US 250: Broad Street, Hamilton StreetUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn straight onto North Hamilton Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·North Hamilton Street
21
Turn left onto US 33; US 250
1.5 mi·3 min·West Broad Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Turn right onto North Allen Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·North Allen Avenue
23
Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle
274 ft·7 sec·Marcus-David Peters Circle
24
Arrive at destination
Marcus-David Peters Circle
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though planning to avoid peak traffic hours will always ensure a smoother arrival in Richmond. You shouldn't need to schedule formal stops given the sub-two-hour duration, but keep your fuel gauge in mind to stay within your $13 estimated budget. Pay close attention to the transition points where you exit the interstate to navigate the local roads, as these areas may require more focus than the long highway stretches. Because you are spending the vast majority of your time on I-64, make sure your vehicle is prepared for sustained interstate speeds before you head out.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.8 miles from Lexington, VA, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.7 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 18 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.8 miles or 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 29m
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 Lexington, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lexington, VA
This is one driving day of about 81.6 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Lexington, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 61.7 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.6 and 81.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
16.6 mi into trip|~31m in|I 64
Merge onto I 64
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
78.4 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
78.6 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
79.5 mi into trip|~1h 40m 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...
5
81.5 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|Marcus-David Peters Circle
Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.76 one way
$25.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.95
$27.90
premium
$4.70
$15.10
$30.20
diesel
$5.61
$18.02
$36.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.5
0
$8.57
$3.92
Efficient EV
20.4
0
$7.14
$3.26
EV Truck/SUV
32.6
0
$11.42
$5.22
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 15, 2026
Origin
Lexington, VA
Morning
in Lexington on Sunday
Local time
10:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Richmond, VA
Morning
in Richmond on Sunday
Local time
10:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Louisa, VA
41 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
22 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
1h 46m 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.
Shenandoah National Park
National Park
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...
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 81.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as approximately 79% of your travel time will be spent on major roads. The most significant portion of your journey involves a 61.7-mile stretch on I-64, which provides the backbone of the trip. While the interstate allows for steady pacing, the inclusion of Earlysville and Hydraulic roads introduces a brief shift from high-speed driving to local transit. You will find that the personality of the road remains consistent, favoring speed and efficiency over complex navigation. It is a predictable drive that allows you to settle into a rhythm once you merge onto the main highway corridor.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.7 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Earlysville Road. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 16.6 miles in near I 64.
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 81.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 16.6 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 81.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.7 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 Richmond, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 16.6 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Shenandoah National Park 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 Richmond, VA before heading back.
