Origin
Newport News, VA
Morning in Newport News on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Newport News, VA to Virginia Beach, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
39.5 mi
64 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Newport News, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Virginia Beach, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short, 39.5-mile drive between Newport News, VA, and Virginia Beach, VA, is easily manageable in about 54 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The journey primarily utilizes major highways like the Hampton Roads Beltway and the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway, with 54% of the route being highway driving. With an estimated fuel cost of just $6, this is an economical option for exploring the Southeast region. Since there are no recommended overnight stops, you can depart and arrive on the same day, enjoying flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hampton Roads Beltway | 12 mi | 15m |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway | 11.8 mi | 16m |
| I 64 | 9.6 mi | 12m |
| Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Diligence Drive | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 21st Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Arctic Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Thimble Shoals Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Hampton Roads Beltway
— 12 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newport News, VA and Virginia Beach, 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
407 ft
·
13 sec
·
J Clyde Morris Boulevard
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward US 64 East: Hampton, Norfolk
7
Merge onto I 64
9.6 mi
·
12 min
·
I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64; US 60
342 ft
·
5 sec
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
9
Continue on I 64; US 60
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
10
Continue on I 64; US 60
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 284A
Toward I 264 East, I 264 West: Va Beach, Downtown Norfolk, Portsmouth
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 264 East: Va Beach
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Merge onto I 264
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
14
Continue on 21st Street
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
21st Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto Arctic Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Arctic Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto 25th Street
454 ft
·
12 sec
·
25th Street
17
Arrive at destination
25th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 39.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.7 miles from Newport News, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 39.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Thimble Shoals Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto Thimble Shoals Boulevard
Navigation decision point
8
26.1 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward I 264 East, I 264 West: Va Beach, Downtown Norfolk, Portsmouth
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 284A
Toward I 264 East, I 264 West: Va Beach, Downto...
7
26.3 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 264 East: Va Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 264 East: Va Beach
6
39.1 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
Arctic Avenue
Turn left onto Arctic Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.18 one way
$12.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.75 | $13.51 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.31 | $14.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.72 | $17.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.15 | $1.90 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.46 | $1.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.53 | $2.53 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Virginia Beach, VA
Morning in Virginia Beach on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
54m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with significant portions on the Hampton Roads Beltway and the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway. Over half of the 39.5 miles are on highways, offering a relatively fast-paced experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12 miles on the Hampton Roads Beltway, allowing for steady progress. While not entirely monotonous, the drive largely consists of efficient, well-maintained roadways connecting these two Virginia cities.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12 mi on Hampton Roads Beltway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 early in the drive.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 39.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Thimble Shoals Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 26.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Newport News, VA and Virginia Beach, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Portsmouth.
Norfolk
26.1 mi in
|
~35m
Portsmouth
26.1 mi in
|
~35m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 39.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). 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 12 miles on Hampton Roads Beltway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Virginia Beach, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Thimble Shoals Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 26.1 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 and Colonial National Historical Park. 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 Virginia Beach, VA before heading back.
How this page is built
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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