Origin
Norfolk, VA
Morning in Norfolk on Sunday
Local time
9:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norfolk, 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
25m
Distance
18 mi
29 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 24m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norfolk, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Virginia Beach, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Norfolk, VA to Virginia Beach, VA is 18 miles and takes about 25 minutes via Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a very short trip, ideal for a quick excursion between two points in the Southeast region of Virginia. Expect a highway-focused drive for most of the way, making it a straightforward transit. Given the minimal distance and duration, you'll have plenty of time to explore both cities without feeling rushed. This route is perfect for a day trip or as a connector between nearby destinations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway | 16.5 mi | 22m |
| 21st Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East City Hall Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Arctic Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 25th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
— 16.5 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norfolk, VA and Virginia Beach, VA.
1
Start on East City Hall Avenue
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
East City Hall Avenue
2
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 264 East: VA Beach, NAVSTA Norfolk
3
Merge onto I 264
17 mi
·
22 min
·
Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
4
Continue on 21st Street
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
21st Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto Arctic Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Arctic Avenue
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto 25th Street
454 ft
·
12 sec
·
25th Street
7
Arrive at destination
25th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 17.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 264 East: VA Beach, NAVSTA Norfolk
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 264 East: VA Beach, NAVSTA Norfolk
3
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 264 / Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
Merge onto I 264 / Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
17.6 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
Arctic Avenue
Turn left onto Arctic Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
17.9 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
25th Street
Turn right onto 25th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.81 one way
$5.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $3.08 | $6.16 |
| premium | $4.70 | $3.33 | $6.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.97 | $7.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
| Efficient EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.58 | $0.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.52 | $1.15 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Virginia Beach, VA
Morning in Virginia Beach on Sunday
Local time
9:41 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
24 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
25m 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 is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll spend the majority of your time on the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway, which forms the longest uninterrupted stretch at 16.5 miles. The experience is primarily one of efficient transit, designed for quick travel between the two cities. While the majority is highway, the final approach into Virginia Beach will involve navigating local streets like 21st Street and East City Hall Avenue, offering a slight change of pace before reaching your destination.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
7 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.5 mi on Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway and 21st Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 25m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.7 miles (I 264 / Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 17.6 miles (Arctic Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 25m. Total distance: 18 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.5 miles on Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.7 miles (I 264 / Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 17.6 miles (Arctic Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Virginia Beach, VA
More trips to Virginia Beach, VA
Explore more options from Norfolk, VA or browse trips ending in Virginia Beach, VA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VA road trips.