Spanning 153.2 miles, the trip from Lorton to Newport News is a straightforward journey through Southeast Virginia that typically takes about 2 hours and 38 minutes. Since the entire route stays within the same region, you won't experience drastic shifts in geography, but you will move from the Northern Virginia suburbs toward the coast. Budgeting approximately $25 for fuel is a safe bet for this distance. Given the manageable duration, this works perfectly as a one-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. Whether you are heading to the coast for work or leisure, this route provides a direct connection between these two Virginia hubs.
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
76.2 miles from Lorton, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
56.7 mi
1h 2m
I 95
48.6 mi
53m
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
29.4 mi
34m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
13 mi
14m
Diligence Drive
0.5 mi
1m
Sanger Street
0.1 mi
1m
Thimble Shoals Boulevard
0.1 mi
<1m
J Clyde Morris Boulevard
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 56.7 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lorton, VA and Newport News, VA.
1
Start on SR 747
308 ft·41 sec·Sanger Street
2
Continue on SR 747
417 ft·22 sec·Sanger Street
3
Turn right onto SR 642
519 ft·17 sec·Lorton Road
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 95 South: RichmondUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 95
29 mi·34 min·Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
49 mi·53 min·I 95
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
1.9 mi·2 min
Exit 84AToward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va BeachUse the slight left / straight lanes.
8
Merge onto I 295
13 mi·14 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 28AToward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 64
57 mi·1 hr 2 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 258AToward US 17 South: J Clyde Morris BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto US 17
0.1 mi·10 sec·J Clyde Morris Boulevard
13
Turn right onto Diligence Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·Diligence Drive
14
At end of road, turn right onto Thimble Shoals Boulevard
0.1 mi·19 sec·Thimble Shoals Boulevard
15
Turn left
413 ft·33 sec
16
At end of road, turn right
82 ft·6 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 153.2-mile journey, try to time your departure to avoid peak local congestion, especially when navigating the initial local road segments. Since you only need one planned stop to stay refreshed, use that time to stretch your legs before you hit the heavier traffic sections. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the first leg; while $25 should cover your needs, local road driving can sometimes be less fuel-efficient than consistent highway speeds. Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your schedule if you encounter unexpected delays. Remember that the route relies heavily on local navigation, so verify your GPS settings before leaving Lorton to ensure you are comfortable with the specific turn-heavy path.
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 76.2 miles from Lorton, VA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.7 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 34 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.2 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 22m
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 Lorton, 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 Lorton, VA
This is one driving day of about 152.5 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Lorton, 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 56.7 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 0.1 and 151.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~1m in|SR 642 / Lorton Road
Turn right onto SR 642 / Lorton Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 South: Richmond
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 95 South: Richmond
8
78.4 mi into trip|~1h 29m 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...
8
93.3 mi into trip|~1h 45m 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
151.3 mi into trip|~2h 51m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.85 one way
$47.70 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$26.08
$52.15
premium
$4.70
$28.22
$56.45
diesel
$5.61
$33.67
$67.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.8
0
$16.01
$7.32
Efficient EV
38.1
0
$13.34
$6.10
EV Truck/SUV
61
0
$21.35
$9.76
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Lorton, VA
Morning
in Lorton on Sunday
Local time
10:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Newport News, VA
Morning
in Newport News on Sunday
Local time
10:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live 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
11 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 54m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a mindless cruise down a straight interstate. You will begin by navigating Sanger Street and Lorton Road before transitioning onto I-95 South. Because this route involves a heavy mix of local roads to get you started, it demands more attention than a standard highway trek. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for frequent turns and shifting traffic patterns rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of open road. Staying alert behind the wheel is key as you navigate this transition from local lanes to the interstate corridor.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.7 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near SR 642 / Lorton 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 13 significant decision points across 152.5 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 0.1 miles (SR 642 / Lorton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 78.4 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 Lorton, VA and Newport News, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk, Va Beach and Virginia Beach.
Norfolk
78.4 mi in|~1h 29m
Va Beach
78.4 mi in|~1h 29m
Virginia Beach
93.3 mi in|~1h 45m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 152.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.7 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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 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. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (SR 642 / Lorton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 78.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Newport News, VA before heading back.
