This 417.4-mile journey from Newport News, VA, to Gate City, VA, is estimated to take about 7 hours and 47 minutes of driving time. With a fuel cost of approximately $67, this drive is manageable as a single-day trip, though you'll want to plan for at least two stops along the way. The route primarily utilizes local roads, indicated by its turn-heavy profile and zero highway share. This drive offers a more intimate exploration of the Southeast region, moving from one part of Virginia to another. Prepare for a day of varied driving that requires attention to navigation.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
208.7 miles from Newport News, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
191 mi
3h 28m
I 64
176.9 mi
3h 13m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.6 mi
24m
US 11W
9.5 mi
11m
Bloomingdale Pike
5.1 mi
8m
Wadlow Gap Highway
4.7 mi
5m
I 77
1.3 mi
1m
Kane Street
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 191 mi, about 3h 28m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 90 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,062 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,481
Quietest
2 AM
~117 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.6×
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 Newport News, VA and Gate City, VA.
1
Start on this road
82 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn left
413 ft·31 sec
3
At end of road, turn right onto Thimble Shoals Boulevard
0.1 mi·20 sec·Thimble Shoals Boulevard
4
Turn left onto Diligence Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·Diligence Drive
5
Turn left onto US 17
0.7 mi·1 min·J Clyde Morris Boulevard
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on US 17
168 ft·10 sec·J Clyde Morris Boulevard
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond
8
Merge onto I 64
57 mi·1 hr 2 min·I 64
Use the right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·32 sec
Exit 200Toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NCUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
1.3 mi·2 min
Toward I 295 North: WashingtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 295
23 mi·24 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·55 sec
Exit 53AToward I 64 West: Charlottesville
13
Merge onto I 64
120 mi·2 hr 10 min·I 64
Toward I 64 West: CharlottesvilleUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
117 mi·2 hr 9 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on I 77; I 81; US 52
1.3 mi·1 min·I 77; I 81; US 52
Use the straight lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 52
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 81; US 52
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 74BToward US 11W South: Kingsport
18
Merge onto US 11W
9.5 mi·11 min·US 11W
19
Turn right onto Ollis Bowers Hill Road
357 ft·22 sec·Ollis Bowers Hill Road
20
Turn left onto Bloomingdale Pike
5.1 mi·8 min·Bloomingdale Pike
21
Turn right onto TN 93
0.1 mi·13 sec·North John B Dennis Highway
22
Continue on SR 93
4.7 mi·5 min·Wadlow Gap Highway
23
Turn right onto US 23; US 58; US 421
0.3 mi·27 sec·Main Street
24
Continue on US 23; US 58; US 421
0.7 mi·1 min·US Highway 23
25
Turn slight right onto US 23 BUS; US 58 BUS; US 421 BUS
0.8 mi·2 min·Kane Street
26
Turn left onto US 23 BUS; US 58 BUS; US 421 BUS
0.1 mi·23 sec·West Jackson Street
27
Turn right onto SR 665
73 ft·7 sec·Mianville Road
28
Turn left
48 ft·3 sec
29
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour, 47-minute duration, starting your drive from Newport News early in the morning is advisable to make the most of daylight. Plan for your two recommended stops to include breaks for fuel and stretching, especially since there are no long highway stretches to offer a consistent pace. Keep a close eye on your navigation, as the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means you'll be making frequent adjustments. The estimated fuel cost of $67 should be factored into your budget, and it's always a good idea to have a bit extra for unexpected detours or longer-than-anticipated waits in local traffic.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 208.7 miles from Newport News, VA, or about 3h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 191 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 92 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 208.7 miles or 3h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gate City, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Newport News, VA
This is one driving day of about 417.4 miles and 7h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 92 miles from Newport News, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 191 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 83.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond
8
58.2 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 200
Toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC
7
58.7 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 295 North: Washington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 295 North: Washington
6
82.6 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 64 West: Charlottesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 53A
Toward I 64 West: Charlottesville
6
83.2 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|I 64
Merge onto I 64 toward I 64 West: Charlottesville
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 64 West: Charlottesville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.62 one way
$123.25 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg146 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$67.72
$135.44
premium
$4.49
$73.82
$147.63
diesel
$4.80
$78.81
$157.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 146 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
125.2
1
$43.83
$20.04
Efficient EV
104.4
1
$36.52
$16.70
EV Truck/SUV
167
2
$58.44
$26.71
Gas CO2
146 kg
EV CO2
49 kg (66% 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
Newport News, VA
Night
in Newport News on Saturday
Local time
9:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Clear
SW 2 to 6 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Gate City, VA
Night
in Gate City on Saturday
Local time
9:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph3% chanceLive forecast
63°F
Bedford, VA
209 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
8 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
7h 47m 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.
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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
$15
near mile 14.4
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...
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
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 244.7
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 57.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a driving experience characterized by frequent turns, as this route has a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. With no highway miles included, you'll be navigating through towns and along local thoroughfares for the entire 417.4 miles. The absence of long highway stretches means you'll likely be encountering varying speed limits and traffic patterns throughout the 7-hour and 47-minute journey. The main roads you'll be on include Thimble Shoals Boulevard, Diligence Drive, and J Clyde Morris Boulevard, suggesting a path that winds through populated areas rather than bypassing them.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 191 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 64. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 21 significant decision points across 417.4 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,323 ft33 ft
Total Climb
2,714 ft
Total Descent
1,410 ft
Highest Point
2,323 ft
~328 mi in
Elevation Range
2,290 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 Newport News, VA to Gate City, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Rocky Mount along the way.
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
•USS Monitor — 1862 unique ironclad; first in United States Navy service
•Endview Plantation Historic Site — human settlement in United States of America
•Newport News Middle Ground Light — lighthouse in Virginia, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 47m. Total distance: 417.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 47m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 191 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 35 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 Gate City, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Yes — Colonial National Historical Park, Fort Monroe National Monument 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 7.8 hours each way, a round trip means 15.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Gate City, VA before the return drive.
