Mount Sidney Safety Rest Area North
0 mi from route
Trip from Norfolk, VA to Harrisonburg, VA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 19m
Distance
222.1 mi
357 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 6m
★
6 AM
4h 19m
8 AM
4h 46m
10 AM
4h 28m
12 PM
4h 26m
3 PM
4h 30m
5 PM
4h 44m
8 PM
4h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norfolk, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Harrisonburg, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 222.1-mile drive from Norfolk, VA, to Harrisonburg, VA, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 19 minutes to complete. Primarily utilizing major highways, including I-64 and I-81, you'll find this route to be a straightforward trip through Virginia. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $35, making it an economical option for a day trip. Given its manageable duration and highway-focused profile, it's well-suited for a single-day adventure without the need for an overnight stop, allowing you to reach your destination efficiently.
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
111.1 miles from Norfolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 150.8 mi | 2h 45m |
| I 81 | 23.7 mi | 26m |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 22.6 mi | 24m |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | 11.4 mi | 15m |
| Tidewater Drive | 4.6 mi | 10m |
| Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| South Main Street | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| Port Republic Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 150.8 mi, about 2h 45m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 97 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,145 veh/hr typical · worst 2,563
Quietest
2 AM
~123 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Harrisonburg, 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 200
Toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 295 North: Washington
Use 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 53A
Toward I 64 West: Charlottesville
13
Merge onto I 64
90 mi
·
1 hr 37 min
·
I 64
Toward I 64 West: Charlottesville
Use the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 81 North: Staunton, Winchester
15
Merge onto I 81
24 mi
·
26 min
·
I 81
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward VA 253: Harrisonburg
17
Turn left onto VA 253
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Port Republic Road
18
Turn right onto US 11
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
US 11; US 33
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour, 19-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Norfolk to maximize your daylight hours in Harrisonburg. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility; however, planning your fuel and rest breaks around the 150.8-mile stretch on I-64 is advisable. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially as you approach and navigate through urban areas on I-64. The $35 fuel cost is an estimate, so checking current prices before you leave will help ensure accuracy for your budget.
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 111.1 miles from Norfolk, VA, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 150.8 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 49 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.1 miles or 2h 13m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harrisonburg, 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 222.1 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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 150.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
111 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 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 111.1 miles from Norfolk, 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 150.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Mount Sidney Safety Rest Area South
0 mi from route
Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Charlottesville Safety Rest Area West
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Harrisonburg Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.6 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 20.2 and 106.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
20.2 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 64
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
6
105.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 64 West: Charlottesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 53A
Toward I 64 West: Charlottesville
6
106.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m 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
$32.79 one way
$65.58 round trip
$3.75/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.12 | $36.03 | $72.07 |
| premium | $4.49 | $39.28 | $78.56 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $41.94 | $83.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.7 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 | 66.6 | 0 | $23.32 | $10.66 |
| Efficient EV | 55.5 | 0 | $19.43 | $8.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 88.8 | 1 | $31.09 | $14.21 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Norfolk, VA
Late night in Norfolk on Sunday
Local time
3:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
96°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 14 mph
22% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:14PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 4:13PM EDT until July 18 at 5:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Harrisonburg, VA
Late night in Harrisonburg on Sunday
Local time
3:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph
39% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:14PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 4:13PM EDT until July 18 at 5:00PM 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
6 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 19m 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 38.3
Park Closure: Rehabilitation of Colonial Parkway Continues
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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 15.3
View on nps.gov
Shenandoah National Park
National Park
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
$30
near mile 222.1
View on nps.gov
Petersburg National Battlefield
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...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 84.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for 79% of this drive, with the majority of your time spent on major interstates. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 150.8 miles on I-64, offering a consistent pace for a substantial portion of the journey. The route then transitions to I-81, continuing the theme of efficient travel. While primarily interstate, this highway-focused profile means you'll experience a steady, uninterrupted drive for the most part, ideal for covering ground quickly.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 150.8 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 20.2 miles in near I 64.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 14 significant decision points across 222.1 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 20.2 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,490 ft
7 ft
Total Climb
1,567 ft
Total Descent
250 ft
Highest Point
1,490 ft
~190.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,483 ft
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 Norfolk, VA and Harrisonburg, VA, road signs point toward Rocky Mount and Winchester.
Rocky Mount
81.3 mi in
|
~1h 39m
Winchester
196 mi in
|
~3h 46m
About the Cities
Starting in Norfolk, VA
Full guide →Founded 1682
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
Arriving in Harrisonburg, VA
Full guide →Founded 1779
Harrisonburg is a city of 52,000 people (2020) in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. The city is a major financial and retail center for eight counties in Virginia, and even draws people from parts of neighboring West Virginia. There is a traditionally strong agricultural base, but there has been tremendous growth in retail and industry sectors.
Top landmarks
- • Rockingham County Courthouse — courthouse in Virginia, United States
- • Newtown Cemetery — cemetery in Harrisonburg, Virginia
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 19m. Total distance: 222.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 150.8 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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 Harrisonburg, 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 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 20.2 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; 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.
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 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Harrisonburg, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, 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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