Matoaca, VA to Newport News, VA is 83.1 miles and takes about 1h 43m via I 64, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, primarily traversing Virginia. Expect a mixed drive that balances highway speeds with some local road travel. It’s a straightforward journey, ideal for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed. Plan for a relatively quick trip, making it easy to fit into a busy schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.6 miles from Matoaca, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
46.8 mi
51m
Roxbury Road
13.3 mi
17m
East Washington Street
3.5 mi
4m
Emmaus Church Road
3 mi
4m
River Road
2.9 mi
4m
Winston Churchill Drive
2.2 mi
2m
Oaklawn Boulevard
2 mi
2m
Jordan Point Road
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 46.8 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Matoaca, VA and Newport News, VA.
1
Start on Fitzhugh Street
287 ft·17 sec·Fitzhugh Street
2
Turn left onto SR 1304
163 ft·9 sec·Wilcox Street
3
Turn right onto VA 36
2.9 mi·4 min·River Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on VA 36
0.8 mi·1 min·Chesterfield Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Continue on VA 36
0.1 mi·17 sec·Fleet Street
6
Turn left onto VA 36
0.5 mi·56 sec·Grove Avenue
7
Continue on VA 36
0.1 mi·18 sec·West Old Street
8
Turn right onto VA 36
484 ft·18 sec·North Sycamore Street
9
Turn left onto East Bank Street
1.1 mi·2 min·East Bank Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
At end of road, turn left onto VA 36
3.5 mi·4 min·East Washington Street
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on VA 36
2.0 mi·2 min·Oaklawn Boulevard
12
Continue on VA 36
2.2 mi·2 min·Winston Churchill Drive
13
Turn right onto VA 10; VA 156 BUS
1.3 mi·2 min·East Randolph Road
14
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
1.9 mi·2 min·James River Drive
15
Turn left onto VA 106; VA 156
1.9 mi·2 min·Jordan Point Road
16
Continue on VA 106; VA 156
13 mi·17 min·Roxbury Road
17
Continue on VA 106
3.0 mi·4 min·Emmaus Church Road
18
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
19
Merge onto I 64; VA 33
47 mi·51 min·I 64; VA 33
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 258AToward US 17 South: J Clyde Morris BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
21
Turn straight onto US 17
0.1 mi·10 sec·J Clyde Morris Boulevard
22
Turn right onto Diligence Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·Diligence Drive
23
At end of road, turn right onto Thimble Shoals Boulevard
0.1 mi·19 sec·Thimble Shoals Boulevard
24
Turn left
413 ft·33 sec
25
At end of road, turn right
82 ft·6 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 1h 43m duration, this route is easily completed in a single day. You can depart anytime, but leaving mid-morning might help you avoid potential rush hour traffic in more populated areas. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, you won't need to worry much about budget, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Since the longest stretch on I 64 is 46.8 miles, plan for a brief pause around the halfway point if needed for stretching or a quick refreshment before continuing your drive into Newport News.
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 41.6 miles from Matoaca, VA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.8 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 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.6 miles or 56m 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 28m
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 Matoaca, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Matoaca, VA
This is one driving day of about 83.1 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Matoaca, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 46.8 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 83.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|VA 36 / River Road
Turn right onto VA 36 / River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
4.6 mi into trip|~7m in|VA 36 / North Sycamore Street
Turn right onto VA 36 / North Sycamore Street
Navigation decision point
6
5.7 mi into trip|~10m in|VA 36 / East Washington Street
At end of road, turn left onto VA 36 / East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
82 mi into trip|~1h 40m 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
83.1 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
At end of road, turn right
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.00 one way
$25.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.21
$28.42
premium
$4.70
$15.38
$30.76
diesel
$5.61
$18.35
$36.69
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: 29.1 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
24.9
0
$8.73
$3.99
Efficient EV
20.8
0
$7.27
$3.32
EV Truck/SUV
33.2
0
$11.63
$5.32
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 18, 2026
Origin
Matoaca, VA
Morning
in Matoaca on Sunday
Local time
11:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Newport News, VA
Morning
in Newport News on Sunday
Local time
11:53 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
25 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 43m 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...
0 mi from route
~1 min detour
$15
near mile 68.8
Park Closure: Rehabilitation of Colonial Parkway Continues
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...
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 83.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with 56% of it on the highway. You'll cover a significant 46.8-mile stretch on I 64, providing a period of consistent, faster travel. As you transition away from the interstate, expect to navigate sections on Roxbury Road and East Washington Street. This blend means you'll experience both the efficiency of major highways and the slightly slower pace of local roads, offering a varied driving feel throughout the 1h 43m journey.
56% 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: 46.8 mi on I 64.
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 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near VA 36 / River Road.
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 83.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.1 miles (VA 36 / River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (VA 36 / North Sycamore Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles (VA 36 / East Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 83.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). 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 46.8 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (VA 36 / River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (VA 36 / North Sycamore Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles (VA 36 / East Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Colonial National Historical Park, Petersburg National Battlefield and Fort Monroe National Monument. 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.
