Crossing the state of Virginia from Narrows to Norfolk covers 328.1 miles and typically takes about 6 hours and 31 minutes. Since this journey stays within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent transition from the mountainous western terrain toward the coastal east. With an estimated fuel cost of $53, this trip is manageable as a single-day drive if you start early. While you could technically push through in one go, the 6.5-hour duration makes it a significant commitment behind the wheel. Planning for one dedicated stop along the way will help keep you refreshed for the final stretch as you head toward the coast.
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
164.1 miles from Narrows, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
156.9 mi
2h 53m
I 81
79.8 mi
1h 27m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi
25m
Virginia Avenue
17 mi
21m
Mount Tabor Road
9.1 mi
15m
Catawba Valley Drive
9 mi
12m
Newport Road
7.7 mi
12m
Hampton Roads Beltway
4.5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 156.9 mi, about 2h 53m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 95 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,044 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,454
Quietest
2 AM
~117 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Narrows, VA and Norfolk, VA.
1
Start on VA 100
1.0 mi·2 min·Main Street
2
Continue on VA 100
2.8 mi·3 min·Narrows Road
3
Turn slight left onto Thomas Drive
0.2 mi·21 sec·Thomas Drive
4
Turn right onto US 460
17 mi·21 min·Virginia Avenue
5
Continue on US 460
3.4 mi·4 min·Pandapas Pond Road
6
Turn left onto SR 649
392 ft·8 sec·Coal Bank Hollow Road
7
Continue on SR 649
1.4 mi·2 min·Coal Bank Hollow Road
8
At end of road, turn left onto SR 624
9.1 mi·15 min·Mount Tabor Road
9
Continue on SR 624
7.7 mi·12 min·Newport Road
10
At end of road, turn right onto VA 311
9.0 mi·12 min·Catawba Valley Drive
11
Enter roundabout onto VA 419
163 ft·2 sec·North Electric Road
12
Continue on VA 419
0.6 mi·1 min·North Electric Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left
0.3 mi·38 sec
Use the left lane.
14
Merge onto I 81
80 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
90 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 64
Toward I 64 East: RichmondUse the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 177Toward I 295 North: Washington, NorfolkUse the slight right lane.
17
Continue on I 295
23 mi·25 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 28AToward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 64
67 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64; US 60
342 ft·5 sec·Hampton Roads Beltway
21
Continue on I 64; US 60
3.5 mi·4 min·Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
22
Continue on I 64; US 60
4.4 mi·5 min·Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 276Toward I 564, US 460: Naval Base, Granby StreetUse the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward US 460, VA 165: Granby Street, Little Creek RoadUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
25
Turn straight onto US 460
3.1 mi·7 min·Granby Street
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on US 460
446 ft·9 sec·Church Street
27
Turn right onto US 460
1.2 mi·2 min·Monticello Avenue
Use the right lane.
28
Continue on US 460
0.7 mi·1 min·Saint Pauls Boulevard
Use the left lane.
29
Turn left onto East City Hall Avenue
158 ft·9 sec·East City Hall Avenue
Use the left lane.
30
Arrive at destination
East City Hall Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 328.1-mile trek, aim to depart Narrows early in the morning to avoid potential traffic congestion as you approach the eastern urban centers. Because the drive is dominated by high-speed interstates, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the long 156.9-mile stretch on I-64 to ensure you don't run low between service areas. Since the itinerary only includes one recommended stop, choose a location that allows you to stretch your legs thoroughly before committing to the remainder of your trip. Having a flexible schedule is your biggest advantage here, allowing you to adjust your pace if you encounter heavy volume on the major highways. Prioritize your comfort and hydration to stay alert throughout the full 6-hour and 31-minute duration.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 164.1 miles from Narrows, VA, or about 3h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.9 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 72 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.1 miles or 3h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Norfolk, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Narrows, 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 Narrows, VA
This is one driving day of about 328.1 miles and 6h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Narrows, 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 156.9 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 132.3 and 322.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
132.3 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 East: Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 64 East: Richmond
8
222.4 mi into trip|~4h 23m 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
246.5 mi into trip|~4h 50m 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
8
322.6 mi into trip|~6h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 564, US 460: Naval Base, Granby 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.
Exit 276
Toward I 564, US 460: Naval Base, Granby Street
9
322.8 mi into trip|~6h 19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 460, VA 165: Granby Street, Little Creek Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 460, VA 165: Granby Street, Little Cr...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.44 one way
$96.88 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$53.23
$106.46
premium
$4.49
$58.02
$116.05
diesel
$4.80
$61.95
$123.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.4
1
$34.45
$15.75
Efficient EV
82
0
$28.71
$13.12
EV Truck/SUV
131.2
1
$45.93
$21.00
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Narrows, VA
Late night
in Narrows on Sunday
Local time
3:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
NW 2 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Norfolk, VA
Late night
in Norfolk on Sunday
Local time
3:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Smoke
NE 5 to 9 mph6% chanceLive 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
3 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
6h 31m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 316.8
Park Closure: Road Closure and Fishing Pier Impact
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...
Booker T. Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later...
21 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 56.6
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 248.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused route relies heavily on the I-64 and I-81 corridors, with 72% of your travel spent on major interstates. You will spend a significant portion of your journey on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, which helps facilitate steady progress across the state. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 156.9 miles on I-64, requiring you to settle into a consistent driving rhythm for hours at a time. Expect a mix of high-speed interstate cruising that transitions from the inland geography toward the lower elevations of the Tidewater area. The experience is primarily about efficiency and interstate navigation rather than technical or winding secondary roads.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 156.9 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 132.3 miles in near I 64.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 328.1 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 132.3 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 222.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 246.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,402 ft7 ft
Total Climb
1,651 ft
Total Descent
3,190 ft
Highest Point
2,402 ft
~23.4 mi in
Elevation Range
2,395 ft
Notable High Points
2,402 ft at ~23.4 miles+729 ft prominence
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 Narrows, VA to Norfolk, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Virginia Beach along the way.
Norfolk is in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. It is a port city with a large Navy and shipping presence. But it is also known as a major cultural center, with world-class museums, opera, symphony, ballet and a vibrant arts community. The downtown area has experienced a major resurgence, with gourmet restaurants, shopping and attractions. Norfolk is one of the top cruise ports in the country.
Top landmarks
•USS Wisconsin — 1943 Iowa-class battleship
•Chrysler Museum of Art — art museum in Norfolk, Virginia
•Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Norfolk — church building in Norfolk, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 31m. Total distance: 328.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 31m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 156.9 miles on I 64. 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.
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 Norfolk, 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 132.3 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 222.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 246.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Fort Monroe National Monument, Colonial National Historical Park and Booker T Washington National Monument (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Norfolk, VA before the return drive.
