Purcellville, VA to Suffolk, VA is 222.2 miles and takes about 4h 42m via I 95 and Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. You'll encounter a mix of highway and surface roads, so expect some variation in your driving experience. With a total travel time under five hours, this route is a convenient option for a single-day trip, allowing for a leisurely start or a relaxed arrival.
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 Purcellville, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
66.8 mi
1h 14m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
27.1 mi
29m
James River Drive
14.6 mi
19m
Dumfries Road
13.6 mi
19m
Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi
15m
Old Stage Highway
12 mi
15m
James Monroe Highway
10.4 mi
14m
Colonial Trail East
9.8 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 66.8 mi, about 1h 14m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 45 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,112 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,853
Quietest
2 AM
~490 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.4×
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 Purcellville, VA and Suffolk, VA.
1
Start on VA 7 BUS
1.2 mi·3 min·West Main Street
2
Enter roundabout onto VA 7 BUS
65 ft·1 sec·West Colonial Highway
3
Continue on VA 7 BUS
2.1 mi·4 min·West Colonial Highway
4
Turn right onto SR 704
5.5 mi·9 min·Harmony Church Road
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 15
7.8 mi·10 min·James Monroe Highway
6
Enter roundabout onto US 15
166 ft·2 sec·James Monroe Highway
7
Continue on US 15
0.3 mi·38 sec·James Monroe Highway
8
Enter roundabout onto US 15
82 ft·1 sec·James Monroe Highway
9
Continue on US 15
2.3 mi·3 min·James Monroe Highway
10
Continue on US 15
8.1 mi·11 min·James Madison Highway
Use the left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 66 East: WashingtonUse the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Merge onto I 66
2.4 mi·2 min·I 66
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 66
1.1 mi·1 min·I 66
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 44Toward US 234 South: Prince William Parkway, Manassas, DumfriesUse the slight right lane.
15
Continue on VA 234
8.3 mi·11 min·Prince William Parkway
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on VA 234
14 mi·19 min·Dumfries Road
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
18
Merge onto I 95
18 mi·20 min·I 95
Use the straight lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
49 mi·53 min·I 95
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit
1.9 mi·2 min
Exit 84AToward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va BeachUse the slight left / straight lanes.
21
Merge onto I 295
27 mi·29 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 15AToward VA 10 East: HopewellUse the right lane.
23
Merge onto VA 10
2.9 mi·3 min·East Hundred Road
24
Continue on VA 10
2.9 mi·4 min·West Randolph Road
25
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
15 mi·19 min·James River Drive
26
Continue on VA 10
13 mi·15 min·Colonial Trail West
27
At end of road, turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
1.0 mi·1 min·Rolfe Highway
28
Take the exit
149 ft·6 sec
29
Merge onto VA 10
9.8 mi·11 min·Colonial Trail East
30
Continue on VA 10
12 mi·15 min·Old Stage Highway
Use the left lane.
31
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 10
4.3 mi·5 min·Benns Church Boulevard
32
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
8.4 mi·9 min·Godwin Boulevard
33
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
0.5 mi·48 sec·Godwin Boulevard
34
Turn left onto US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
366 ft·6 sec·Pruden Boulevard
35
Continue on US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
2.2 mi·5 min·North Main Street
36
Turn right onto VA 337
454 ft·17 sec·West Washington Street
37
Turn left onto South Saratoga Street
165 ft·4 sec·South Saratoga Street
38
Arrive at destination
South Saratoga Street
Trip Plan
For this 4h 42m drive, leaving Purcellville in the morning should allow you to reach Suffolk with ample daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop and a total distance of 222.2 miles, you have the flexibility to depart whenever is most convenient. The estimated fuel cost is $34, so ensure your tank is full before you leave, as fuel availability can vary on surface roads. Keep an eye on the mileage as you transition from I 95 to James River Drive to ensure you don't miss your turn.
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 Purcellville, VA, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.8 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 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.1 miles or 2h 25m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Suffolk, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Purcellville, 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 Purcellville, VA
This is one driving day of about 222.2 miles and 4h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Purcellville, 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 95 for about 66.8 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.3 and 149.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
27.3 mi into trip|~43m in
Take the exit toward I 66 East: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 66 East: Washington
6
30 mi into trip|~47m in|I 66
Keep slight right at fork onto I 66
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
31.1 mi into trip|~48m in
Take the exit toward US 234 South: Prince William Parkway, Manassas, Dumfries
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 44
Toward US 234 South: Prince William Parkway, Ma...
8
120.7 mi into trip|~2h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 84A
Toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va B...
7
149.7 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Take the exit toward VA 10 East: Hopewell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 15A
Toward VA 10 East: Hopewell
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.81 one way
$65.61 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$36.05
$72.10
premium
$4.49
$39.30
$78.59
diesel
$4.80
$41.96
$83.91
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
66.7
0
$23.33
$10.67
Efficient EV
55.6
0
$19.44
$8.89
EV Truck/SUV
88.9
1
$31.11
$14.22
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.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Purcellville, VA
Morning
in Purcellville on Sunday
Local time
6:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 mph61% chanceLive 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
Suffolk, VA
Morning
in Suffolk on Sunday
Local time
6:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
96°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 mph26% chanceLive 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
4 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
4h 42m 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.
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 7.7
Caution: Great Allegheny Passage Erosion Near Confluence, Pennsylvania (Mile Marker 56)
Park Closure: Trail Closure at Veterans Park at Balls Bluff (Leesburg, Virginia)
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
$15
near mile 191.5
At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people, lies Harpers Ferry. Here you can explore John Brown's Raid against slavery. Find your...
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 153.2
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 206.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 35% of this 222.2-mile drive is on highways, with the longest stretch of continuous highway travel being 66.8 miles on I 95. After the highway portions, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Expect a significant number of exits and potential merging traffic as you navigate I 95, especially as you approach more populated areas.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.8 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.3 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 23 significant decision points across 222.2 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 27.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 30 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
559 ft15 ft
Total Climb
355 ft
Total Descent
864 ft
Highest Point
559 ft
Elevation Range
543 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Purcellville, VA and Suffolk, VA, road signs point toward Manassas, Dumfries, Norfolk and Va Beach.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 42m. Total distance: 222.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.8 miles on I 95. 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 Suffolk, 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 27.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 30 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, Colonial National Historical Park and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Suffolk, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
