Embarking on the 309.2-mile journey from Norfolk, VA, to Blacksburg, VA, will take you approximately 5 hours and 59 minutes of driving time. This route is best tackled as a single-day trip, especially given its manageable duration. You can expect to spend around $49 on fuel for this drive. The route largely sticks to local roads, offering a more involved driving experience than a typical interstate cruise. As you travel within the Southeast region of Virginia, this drive presents a change of pace from quicker, highway-heavy options, making it a good choice if you prefer a more connected feel to the landscape you're passing through.
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
154.6 miles from Norfolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
181.4 mi
3h 18m
I 81
72.5 mi
1h 21m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.6 mi
24m
Hampton Roads Beltway
11.4 mi
15m
US 460
4.9 mi
5m
Tidewater Drive
4.6 mi
10m
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
3.5 mi
4m
South Main Street
2.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 181.4 mi, about 3h 18m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 98 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,119 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,533
Quietest
2 AM
~122 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.4×
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 Norfolk, VA and Blacksburg, VA.
1
Start on East City Hall Avenue
0.4 mi·42 sec·East City Hall Avenue
2
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·28 sec
Toward VA 337: Tidewater Drive
3
Merge onto VA 337
4.6 mi·10 min·Tidewater Drive
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left
0.2 mi·28 sec
5
Merge onto I 64
5.6 mi·7 min·Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 64; US 60
3.5 mi·4 min·Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
7
Continue on I 64; US 60
5.9 mi·7 min·Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
61 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
73 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 118C-B-AToward US 11, US 460: Christiansburg, BlacksburgUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 118CToward US 11, US 460 East, US 460 Business: Christiansburg, Shawsville
17
Turn slight right
241 ft·6 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto US 11; US 460 BUS
0.9 mi·1 min·Roanoke Street
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 460 WestUse the right lane.
20
Merge onto US 460
4.9 mi·5 min·US 460
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Exit 5A-BToward US 460 Business: Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Smart Road
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 5BToward US 460 Business West: Blacksburg, South Main Street
23
Turn straight onto US 460 BUS
2.6 mi·6 min·South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Arrive at destination
US 460 BUS
Trip Plan
For this 309.2-mile trip, consider an early morning departure from Norfolk to make the most of your day and arrive in Blacksburg with ample time. Since the drive is around 6 hours and involves numerous turns, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel, even though the data indicates only one planned stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as local roads can sometimes be less predictable for services than major highways. The flexibility of this route, being a turn-heavy local drive, means you can adjust your pace, but be mindful of the estimated $49 fuel cost and ensure you have enough to cover the distance comfortably.
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 154.6 miles from Norfolk, VA, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.4 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 68 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.6 miles or 3h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blacksburg, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Norfolk, 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 Norfolk, VA
This is one driving day of about 309.2 miles and 5h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Norfolk, 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 181.4 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 81.3 and 306.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
81.3 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
81.8 mi into trip|~1h 40m 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
8
299 mi into trip|~5h 41m in
Take the exit toward US 11, US 460: Christiansburg, Blacksburg
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 118C-B-A
Toward US 11, US 460: Christiansburg, Blacksbur...
7
299.5 mi into trip|~5h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 11, US 460 East, US 460 Business: Christiansburg, Shawsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 118C
Toward US 11, US 460 East, US 460 Business: Chr...
7
306.1 mi into trip|~5h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 460 Business West: Blacksburg, South Main Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 5B
Toward US 460 Business West: Blacksburg, South...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.65 one way
$91.30 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$50.17
$100.33
premium
$4.49
$54.68
$109.36
diesel
$4.80
$58.38
$116.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.8
1
$32.47
$14.84
Efficient EV
77.3
0
$27.06
$12.37
EV Truck/SUV
123.7
1
$43.29
$19.79
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 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
Norfolk, VA
Late night
in Norfolk on Sunday
Local time
5:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Areas Of Smoke
E 8 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Blacksburg, VA
Late night
in Blacksburg on Sunday
Local time
5:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Patchy Smoke
E 2 mph11% 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
1 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
5h 59m 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 10.7
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 266.6
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...
27 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 85.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as 'turn-heavy local drive,' with a 0% highway share. You'll be navigating primarily on local roads like VA 337 and Tidewater Drive, with some segments on the Hampton Roads Beltway. Expect frequent turns and a more engaged driving experience as you make your way across the state. There isn't a 'longest stretch' specified, suggesting a continuous series of road changes rather than long, monotonous stretches. This profile means you'll likely be passing through various towns and communities directly, rather than bypassing them on expressways.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 181.4 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 81.3 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 18 significant decision points across 309.2 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 81.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 81.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 299 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
2,073 ft7 ft
Total Climb
2,308 ft
Total Descent
242 ft
Highest Point
2,073 ft
~309.2 mi in
Elevation Range
2,066 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 Norfolk, VA to Blacksburg, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Rocky Mount 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
Blacksburg is a moderate-sized town in Southwest Virginia and is home of Virginia Tech (full name: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University).
Top landmarks
•Blacksburg Historic District — historic district in Virginia, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 59m. Total distance: 309.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 181.4 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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 Blacksburg, 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 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 81.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 81.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 299 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 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Blacksburg, VA before the return drive.
