Origin
Norfolk, VA
Morning in Norfolk on Tuesday
Local time
9:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norfolk, VA to Richmond, VA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 58m
Distance
94.4 mi
152 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 50m
★
6 AM
1h 58m
8 AM
2h 15m
10 AM
2h 4m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 5m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norfolk, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Norfolk to Richmond is 94.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 58 minutes via I 64, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it a simple point-to-point excursion. With a duration under two hours and a low fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick day trip or an easy addition to a larger travel plan.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.2 miles from Norfolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 72.4 mi | 1h 21m |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | 11.4 mi | 15m |
| Tidewater Drive | 4.6 mi | 10m |
| Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| North Lombardy Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Brook Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East City Hall Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Admiral Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 72.4 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norfolk, VA and Richmond, 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
72 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 76A
Toward US 1, US 301: Chamberlayne Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto Chamberlayne Avenue
314 ft
·
10 sec
·
Chamberlayne Avenue
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on Brook Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Brook Road
12
Turn left onto Admiral Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Admiral Street
Use the left lane.
13
Enter roundabout onto North Lombardy Street
138 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Lombardy Street
14
Continue on North Lombardy Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Lombardy Street
15
Turn slight right onto Monument Avenue
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Monument Avenue
16
Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle
463 ft
·
13 sec
·
Marcus-David Peters Circle
17
Arrive at destination
Marcus-David Peters Circle
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with this trip. Leaving Norfolk in the morning should get you to Richmond with plenty of daylight. Since the longest stretch on the highway is about 72 miles, you likely won't need frequent fuel stops, but it's always wise to keep an eye on your gauge, especially before heading out. Consider departing during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion as you approach Richmond, as this can add unexpected time to your 1 hour 58 minute estimate.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.2 miles from Norfolk, VA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.4 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 21 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.2 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Norfolk, VA
This is one driving day of about 94.4 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Norfolk, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 72.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 47.2 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 72.4 miles.
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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 92.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Keep slight left at fork toward VA 337: Tidewater Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward VA 337: Tidewater Drive
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
VA 337 / Tidewater Drive
Merge onto VA 337 / Tidewater Drive
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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
92.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward US 1, US 301: Chamberlayne Avenue
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 76A
Toward US 1, US 301: Chamberlayne Avenue
6
92.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
|
Chamberlayne Avenue
Turn right onto Chamberlayne Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.76 one way
$29.52 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $16.14 | $32.28 |
| premium | $4.70 | $17.47 | $34.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.84 | $41.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.3 | 0 | $9.91 | $4.53 |
| Efficient EV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.26 | $3.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.8 | 0 | $13.22 | $6.04 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (67% 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
Richmond, VA
Morning in Richmond on Tuesday
Local time
9:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live 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
17 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 58m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 77% of the route on interstates. You'll experience a significant stretch of 72.4 miles on I 64, so be prepared for sustained highway cruising. As you get closer to Richmond, expect an increase in exit density and merging traffic as you transition from primarily highway driving to more localized surface roads.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.4 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Hampton Roads Beltway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 94.4 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 0.5 miles (VA 337 / Tidewater Drive): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.2 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Norfolk, VA
Full guide →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.
Arriving in Richmond, VA
Full guide →Richmond is the capital of Virginia. Richmond has a population of 227,000 (2020) and the adjacent counties of Henrico and Chesterfield combine to create a local population of more than 1.3 million people.
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 1h 58m. Total distance: 94.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.4 miles on I 64. 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 Richmond, 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: at 0.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 0.5 miles (VA 337 / Tidewater Drive): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.2 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Richmond, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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