Spanning 215 miles across Virginia, this trip from New Market to Norfolk is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $34 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through the Southeast, the route utilizes a combination of I-64, the Spotswood Trail, and the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. It is a practical route for those looking to transition from the inland valley to the coast, balancing efficiency with enough variety to keep the drive interesting.
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
107.5 miles from New Market, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
106.8 mi
1h 58m
Spotswood Trail
30.5 mi
41m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi
25m
US 340
17.1 mi
26m
James Madison Highway
11 mi
15m
East Lee Highway
6 mi
8m
Hampton Roads Beltway
4.5 mi
6m
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
3.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 106.8 mi, about 1h 58m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 116 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,255 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,692
Quietest
2 AM
~132 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.1×
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 New Market, VA and Norfolk, VA.
1
Start on this road
30 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto SR 1002
0.7 mi·1 min·East Old Cross Road
3
Turn right onto US 211
6.0 mi·8 min·East Lee Highway
4
Turn right onto US 340
17 mi·26 min·US 340
5
Turn left onto US 33 BUS
0.3 mi·38 sec·US 33 BUS
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto US 33
13 mi·16 min·Spotswood Trail
7
Turn straight onto US 33
2.2 mi·3 min·Stanardsville By-Pass
8
Continue on US 33
12 mi·17 min·Spotswood Trail
9
Enter roundabout onto US 33
167 ft·3 sec·Spotswood Trail
10
Continue on US 33
5.4 mi·8 min·Spotswood Trail
11
Continue on US 33; VA 231
0.2 mi·14 sec·North Main Street
12
Enter roundabout onto US 15; US 33
72 ft·0 sec·US 15; US 33
13
Continue on US 15; US 33
0.7 mi·1 min·US 15; US 33
14
Turn slight right onto US 15; US 33
0.4 mi·34 sec·Martinsburg Avenue
15
Continue on US 15; US 33
11 mi·15 min·James Madison Highway
16
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·50 sec
17
Merge onto I 64
40 mi·43 min·I 64
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 177Toward I 295 North: Washington, NorfolkUse the slight right lane.
19
Continue on I 295
23 mi·25 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 28AToward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 64
67 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64; US 60
342 ft·5 sec·Hampton Roads Beltway
23
Continue on I 64; US 60
3.5 mi·4 min·Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
24
Continue on I 64; US 60
4.4 mi·5 min·Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 276Toward I 564, US 460: Naval Base, Granby StreetUse the slight right lane.
26
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.
27
Turn straight onto US 460
3.1 mi·7 min·Granby Street
Use the left lane.
28
Continue on US 460
446 ft·9 sec·Church Street
29
Turn right onto US 460
1.2 mi·2 min·Monticello Avenue
Use the right lane.
30
Continue on US 460
0.7 mi·1 min·Saint Pauls Boulevard
Use the left lane.
31
Turn left onto East City Hall Avenue
158 ft·9 sec·East City Hall Avenue
Use the left lane.
32
Arrive at destination
East City Hall Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 215-mile trek, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the journey. Since the drive is under five hours, you have the flexibility to depart mid-morning or early afternoon to avoid the heaviest traffic windows. Keep a close watch on your fuel levels before hitting the longest stretch of 106.8 miles on I-64, as finding a convenient exit can be more challenging once you are deep into that segment. Because the route is compact enough for a single day, focus your energy on maintaining a steady pace rather than rushing the transition between the various highways. Prioritize your comfort by timing your break to coincide with the shift from the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway onto the interstate.
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 107.5 miles from New Market, VA, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.8 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 47 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.5 miles or 2h 21m 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 39m
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 New Market, 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 New Market, VA
This is one driving day of about 215 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from New Market, 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 106.8 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 23.7 and 209.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
23.7 mi into trip|~36m in|US 33 BUS
Turn left onto US 33 BUS
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
109.2 mi into trip|~2h 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
133.3 mi into trip|~2h 49m 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
209.4 mi into trip|~4h 18m 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
209.6 mi into trip|~4h 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
$31.74 one way
$63.48 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$34.88
$69.76
premium
$4.49
$38.02
$76.05
diesel
$4.80
$40.60
$81.19
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: 75.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.5
0
$22.58
$10.32
Efficient EV
53.8
0
$18.81
$8.60
EV Truck/SUV
86
1
$30.10
$13.76
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
New Market, VA
Late night
in New Market on Monday
Local time
3:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 8 mph51% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 6:44PM EDT until July 18 at 7:30PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 6:29PM EDT until July 18 at 7:30PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Norfolk, VA
Late night
in Norfolk on Monday
Local time
3:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 14 mph50% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 6:44PM EDT until July 18 at 7:30PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 6:29PM EDT until July 18 at 7:30PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 30m 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.
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
$15
near mile 177.9
Park Closure: Rehabilitation of Colonial Parkway Continues
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
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 200.2
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...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 133.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition from local roads to major interstates. With a 58% highway share, you will spend a significant portion of the trip on high-speed roads, punctuated by more localized stretches. Your longest uninterrupted segment occurs on I-64, where you will cover 106.8 miles of highway driving. The road’s personality shifts as you move away from the smaller highways and merge into the flow of larger interstate traffic. This variation prevents the trip from feeling like a monotonous grind, offering a balance between focused highway navigation and the change of pace found on the regional connectors.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106.8 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.7 miles in near US 33 BUS.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 215 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 23.7 miles (US 33 BUS): Lane positioning matters here; at 109.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
825 ft181 ft
Total Climb
97 ft
Total Descent
720 ft
Highest Point
825 ft
~35.8 mi in
Elevation Range
644 ft
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 New Market, 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 4h 30m. Total distance: 215 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 106.8 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas 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 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. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 23.7 miles (US 33 BUS): Lane positioning matters here; at 109.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Colonial National Historical Park, Fort Monroe National Monument and Shenandoah National Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Norfolk, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
