This 204.6-mile journey from Martinsville, VA, to South Suffolk, VA, is designed for a single day of driving, taking approximately 3 hours and 37 minutes. You'll navigate primarily local roads, with no highway sections, making it a distinctly turn-heavy experience. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $33. Given the relatively short duration and local road focus, this route is best suited as a straightforward day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times. Both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
102.3 miles from Martinsville, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Southampton Parkway
50.3 mi
1h 6m
Clarksville Bypass
22.9 mi
29m
Governor Harrison Parkway
22.5 mi
30m
Philpott Road
19.7 mi
25m
Bill Tuck Highway
18.8 mi
24m
US 58
14.5 mi
17m
A L Philpott Highway
9 mi
12m
Martinsville Highway
8.9 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
Southampton Parkway
— 50.3 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Martinsville, VA and South Suffolk, VA.
1
Start on Walnut Street
255 ft·14 sec·Walnut Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto East Church Street
2.0 mi·5 min·East Church Street
3
Continue on US 58 BUS; VA 57
9.0 mi·12 min·A L Philpott Highway
4
Continue on US 58
8.9 mi·11 min·Martinsville Highway
5
Take the exit onto US 58
14 mi·17 min·US 58
Toward US 58 East
6
Take the exit onto US 58
0.3 mi·38 sec·US 58
Toward US 58 East, US 360 East: South Boston
7
Merge onto US 58; US 360
2.9 mi·5 min·South Boston Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 58; US 360
5.3 mi·7 min·South Boston Highway
9
Continue on US 58; US 360
20 mi·25 min·Philpott Road
10
Continue on US 58; US 360
19 mi·24 min·Bill Tuck Highway
11
Continue on US 58; VA 49
3.6 mi·4 min·Clarksville Bypass
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 58
19 mi·24 min·Clarksville Bypass
Toward US 58 East: Boydton, South Hill
13
Continue on US 1; US 58
3.5 mi·4 min·Highway 1
14
Continue on US 58
3.3 mi·4 min·South Hill Bypass
15
Continue on US 58
1.1 mi·1 min·East Atlantic Street
16
Continue on US 58
3.6 mi·5 min·Highway 58
17
Continue on US 58
1.2 mi·2 min·Piney Pond Road
18
Continue on US 58
23 mi·30 min·Governor Harrison Parkway
19
Continue on US 58
6.4 mi·8 min·Pleasant Shade Drive
20
Continue on US 58
5.1 mi·6 min·West Atlantic Street
21
Continue on US 58
50 mi·1 hr 6 min·Southampton Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward US 13 South: Ahoskie, Edenton
23
Continue on US 13
2.3 mi·2 min·US 13
24
Keep slight left at fork
323 ft·9 sec
Toward US 13 Business, VA 32 Business: Downtown Suffolk
25
Turn left onto US 13; VA 32
1.3 mi·2 min·Carolina Road
26
Arrive at destination
US 13 BUS; VA 32
Trip Plan
This 3-hour and 37-minute drive is easily manageable in one day, so you have the flexibility to leave when you please. With only one recommended stop and no long highway stretches, you can adjust your pace as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, budgeting around $33 for the 204.6 miles, and plan for potential delays in local traffic, especially as you approach South Suffolk. A practical tip for this turn-heavy route is to ensure your navigation system is fully charged or updated, as frequent turns on local roads can be easy to miss.
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 102.3 miles from Martinsville, VA, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.3 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 45 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.3 miles or 2h 15m 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 45m
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 Martinsville, 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 Martinsville, VA
This is one driving day of about 204.7 miles and 4h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Martinsville, 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 Southampton Parkway for about 50.3 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 203.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Church Street
At end of road, turn left onto East Church Street
Navigation decision point
5
34.1 mi into trip|~46m in|US 58
Take the exit onto US 58 toward US 58 East, US 360 East: South Boston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 58 East, US 360 East: South Boston
6
34.4 mi into trip|~46m in|US 58; US 360 / South Boston Road
Merge onto US 58; US 360 / South Boston Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
84.7 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|US 58 / Clarksville Bypass
Keep slight right at fork onto US 58 / Clarksville Bypass toward US 58 East: Boydton, South Hill
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 58 East: Boydton, South Hill
6
203.3 mi into trip|~4h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 13 Business, VA 32 Business: Downtown Suffolk
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 13 Business, VA 32 Business: Downtown...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.01 one way
$64.02 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$35.00
$70.00
premium
$4.70
$37.89
$75.77
diesel
$5.61
$45.20
$90.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.6 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
61.4
0
$21.49
$9.83
Efficient EV
51.2
0
$17.91
$8.19
EV Truck/SUV
81.9
1
$28.66
$13.10
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Martinsville, VA
Afternoon
in Martinsville on Sunday
Local time
1:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Suffolk, VA
Afternoon
in South Suffolk on Sunday
Local time
1:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Henderson, NC
102 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
39 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
4h 33m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Fort Monroe National Monument
National Monument
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 204.7
Park Closure: Road Closure and Fishing Pier Impact
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the entirety of this 204.6-mile route, as indicated by its 0% highway share. This means you'll be consistently navigating local roads like East Church Street and A L Philpott Highway, rather than cruising on interstates. Without any significant uninterrupted stretches to speak of, your attention will be engaged by frequent changes in direction and speed. This type of driving offers a more intimate connection with the landscape as you pass through smaller communities and varying terrains.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.3 mi on Southampton Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Church Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 204.7 miles you will encounter 7 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: near the start (East Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 34.1 miles (US 58): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.4 miles (US 58; US 360 / South Boston Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Martinsville, VA to South Suffolk, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Hill along the way.
Hill
84.7 mi in|~1h 53m|via US 58
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 33m. Total distance: 204.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.3 miles on Southampton Parkway. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 34.1 miles (US 58): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.4 miles (US 58; US 360 / South Boston Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Monroe National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at South Suffolk, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
