Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 22m
Distance
234.9 mi
378 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Newport News, VA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Newport News, VA to Clifton Forge, VA covers 234.9 miles and takes about 4h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 206.1 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.99 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
117.5 miles from Newport News, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 12m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 206.1 mi | 3h 44m |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 22.6 mi | 24m |
| Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Grafton Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| J Clyde Morris Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Diligence Drive | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Douthat Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| US 60 BUS | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 184 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,021 veh/hr typical · worst 2,501
Quietest
2 AM
~117 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Newport News, VA and Clifton Forge, VA.
Start on this road
Turn left
At end of road, turn right onto Thimble Shoals Boulevard
Turn left onto Diligence Drive
Turn left onto US 17
Continue on US 17
Take the exit
Merge onto I 64
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 295
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
Take the exit onto US 60 BUS
Turn left onto US 60 BUS
Continue on US 220; US 60 Business
Continue on US 60 BUS
Turn right
Arrive at destination
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.
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 52 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.5 miles or 2h 12m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clifton Forge, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Newport News, 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 Newport News, VA
This is one driving day of about 234.9 miles and 4h 22m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
117 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 117.5 miles from Newport News, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 206.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 203.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 295 North: Washington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 64 West: Charlottesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 West: Lexington, Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$35.99 one way
$71.99 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $39.50 | $79.00 |
| premium | $4.64 | $42.88 | $85.77 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $51.78 | $103.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70.5 | 0 | $24.66 | $11.28 |
| Efficient EV | 58.7 | 0 | $20.55 | $9.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 94 | 1 | $32.89 | $15.03 |
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Newport News on Saturday
Local time
7:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Clear
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 1:38PM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Evening in Clifton Forge on Saturday
Local time
7:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Clear
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 1:38PM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
National Battlefield
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
234.9 mi in 4h 22m, mostly highway — 206.1 mi of that is on I 64.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
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 15 significant decision points across 234.9 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 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
2,737 ft
Total Descent
1,689 ft
Highest Point
2,116 ft
~218.1 mi in
Elevation Range
2,083 ft
Notable High Points
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Newport News, VA and Clifton Forge, VA, road signs point toward Rocky Mount and Charleston.
Rocky Mount
Charleston
Founded 1881
Newport News is a city in Virginia in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. It's on the James River, and much of the area has been developed into a city starting in the late 19th century.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 22m. Total distance: 234.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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Return Trip
Clifton Forge, VA to Newport News, VAPlan the drive back the other way.
Explore more options from Newport News, VA or browse trips ending in Clifton Forge, VA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VA road trips.
