Traveling from Onancock to Virginia Beach covers 76.4 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 55 minutes. This journey is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to transition from the Eastern Shore to the coast without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate Lankford Highway and Shore Drive, punctuated by the crossing of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel. Expect to spend roughly $12 on fuel for the trip. Since both locations are situated within the Southeast region of Virginia, the drive offers a consistent regional atmosphere while moving from a quieter town setting to the bustling environment of Virginia Beach.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.2 miles from Onancock, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lankford Highway
44.2 mi
1h 2m
Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
17.7 mi
24m
Shore Drive
3.4 mi
7m
North Great Neck Road
3.2 mi
5m
First Colonial Road
2 mi
4m
Market Street
1.9 mi
3m
Laskin Road
1.5 mi
2m
24th Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Lankford Highway
— 44.2 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Onancock, VA and Virginia Beach, VA.
1
Start on this road
173 ft·17 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Queen Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·Queen Street
3
Turn right onto VA 179
1.9 mi·3 min·Market Street
4
Continue on VA 179
0.2 mi·21 sec·West Main Street
5
Turn right onto US 13
43 mi·1 hr·Lankford Highway
6
Merge onto US 13
1.1 mi·1 min·Lankford Highway
7
Continue on US 13
18 mi·24 min·Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
8
Continue on US 13
0.8 mi·1 min·Northampton Boulevard
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·23 sec
Toward US 60: Virginia Beach, Ocean FrontUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto US 60
3.4 mi·7 min·Shore Drive
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto VA 279
3.2 mi·5 min·North Great Neck Road
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto SR 615
2.0 mi·4 min·First Colonial Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto US 58
1.5 mi·2 min·Laskin Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto North Birdneck Road
0.2 mi·24 sec·North Birdneck Road
15
Turn left onto 24th Street
0.8 mi·1 min·24th Street
16
Turn left onto Baltic Avenue
472 ft·14 sec·Baltic Avenue
17
Turn right onto 25th Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·25th Street
18
Arrive at destination
25th Street
Trip Plan
Since the trip is under two hours, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule without worrying about mandatory overnight stops. Keep in mind that the route is designed as a direct path with zero scheduled stops, so ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you head out to account for the $12 estimated cost. Given the turn-heavy nature of the drive, try to leave during daylight hours to better manage the local road transitions. As a specific tip, check local traffic reports for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel before you depart, as this singular connection is the most critical link in your 76.4-mile trek.
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 38.2 miles from Onancock, VA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.2 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.2 miles or 55m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Virginia Beach, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Onancock, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Onancock, VA
This is one driving day of about 76.4 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Onancock, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Lankford Highway for about 44.2 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 68.4 — 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|Queen Street
At end of road, turn left onto Queen Street
Navigation decision point
4
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|US 13 / Lankford Highway
Turn right onto US 13 / Lankford Highway
Navigation decision point
7
64.8 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward US 60: Virginia Beach, Ocean Front
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.
Toward US 60: Virginia Beach, Ocean Front
4
65 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|US 60 / Shore Drive
Turn left onto US 60 / Shore Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
68.4 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|VA 279 / North Great Neck Road
Turn right onto VA 279 / North Great Neck Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.95 one way
$23.89 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.06
$26.13
premium
$4.70
$14.14
$28.28
diesel
$5.61
$16.87
$33.74
Estimated Tolls: $4.00
Chesapeake Bay Bridge
$4.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.9
0
$8.02
$3.67
Efficient EV
19.1
0
$6.69
$3.06
EV Truck/SUV
30.6
0
$10.70
$4.89
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Onancock, VA
Morning
in Onancock on Tuesday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Virginia Beach, VA
Morning
in Virginia Beach on Tuesday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
21 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 55m 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.
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 60.6
Park Closure: Road Closure and Fishing Pier Impact
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route contains no traditional highway mileage. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 44.2 miles along Lankford Highway. Because the road conditions shift between local thoroughfares and the unique infrastructure of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel, you will need to stay alert behind the wheel. The route demands your full attention, especially as you navigate the transition from the open road onto the coastal streets of Virginia Beach. It is a practical, functional drive that requires steady focus rather than high-speed cruising.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.2 mi on Lankford Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Queen Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 55m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Queen Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (US 13 / Lankford Highway): Navigation decision point; at 64.8 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.
On the drive from Onancock, VA to Virginia Beach, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Ocean Front along the way.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.2 miles on Lankford Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.00 in tolls one way, starting with Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 (Queen Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (US 13 / Lankford Highway): Navigation decision point; at 64.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Virginia Beach, VA before heading back.
