This 299.3-mile journey from Radford, VA, to East Hampton, VA, is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that can comfortably be completed in about 5 hours and 40 minutes. With 89% of the route on highways, including I-81 and I-64, it’s a great option for a single-day trip, especially considering the estimated fuel cost of $48. You'll be spending most of your time on the open road, making it an efficient way to travel across Virginia. The longest stretch without a break is 151.4 miles, so plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs. This trip sticks within the Southeast region, offering a consistent travel experience throughout.
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
149.6 miles from Radford, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
151.4 mi
2h 45m
I 81
111.9 mi
2h 4m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi
25m
VA 134
4.4 mi
8m
Tyler Road
2.2 mi
3m
Tyler Avenue
2 mi
3m
Grove Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
West Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 151.4 mi, about 2h 45m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 90 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,062 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,481
Quietest
2 AM
~117 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.6×
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 Radford, VA and East Hampton, VA.
1
Start on Berkley Street
93 ft·4 sec·Berkley Street
2
Turn right onto Arlington Avenue
0.2 mi·35 sec·Arlington Avenue
3
Turn slight right onto VA 232
0.6 mi·1 min·West Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Turn slight right onto Grove Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Grove Avenue
5
Turn right onto VA 177
2.0 mi·3 min·Tyler Avenue
6
Continue on VA 177
2.2 mi·3 min·Tyler Road
7
Turn left
0.2 mi·32 sec
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 81
112 mi·2 hr 4 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
90 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 64
Toward I 64 East: RichmondUse the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 177Toward I 295 North: Washington, NorfolkUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 295
23 mi·25 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 28AToward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 64
61 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto VA 134
0.2 mi·28 sec·VA 134
Exit 263Toward US 258 South, US 258 North, VA 134 South: Mercury Boulevard, James River Bridge, ColiseumUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 134
4.2 mi·7 min·VA 134
Toward US 258 North, VA 134 South: Mercury Boulevard, ColiseumUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto Southerland Drive
0.2 mi·46 sec·Southerland Drive
17
Arrive at destination
Southerland Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 5 hour and 40-minute duration, starting your trip from Radford early in the morning is your best bet for a single-day completion. This allows you ample time to reach East Hampton without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, consider making it around the halfway point to break up the 151.4-mile stretch on I-64. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading into longer stretches between services. The estimated fuel cost is $48, so factor that into your budget. Since it's a direct highway route, you have flexibility, but an early start maximizes your daylight hours for arrival.
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 149.6 miles from Radford, VA, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.4 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 66 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.6 miles or 2h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Hampton, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Radford, 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 Radford, VA
This is one driving day of about 299.3 miles and 5h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Radford, 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 151.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 117.9 and 294.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
117.9 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 East: Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 64 East: Richmond
8
207.9 mi into trip|~3h 54m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
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 177
Toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
8
232 mi into trip|~4h 21m in
Take the exit toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
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 28A
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
8
294.7 mi into trip|~5h 32m in|VA 134
Take the exit onto VA 134 toward US 258 South, US 258 North, VA 134 South: Mercury Boulevard, James River Bridge, Coliseum
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 263
Toward US 258 South, US 258 North, VA 134 South...
8
294.9 mi into trip|~5h 32m in|VA 134
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 134 toward US 258 North, VA 134 South: Mercury Boulevard, Coliseum
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 258 North, VA 134 South: Mercury Boul...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.19 one way
$88.38 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$48.56
$97.12
premium
$4.49
$52.93
$105.86
diesel
$4.80
$56.51
$113.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.8
1
$31.43
$14.37
Efficient EV
74.8
0
$26.19
$11.97
EV Truck/SUV
119.7
1
$41.90
$19.16
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Radford, VA
Late night
in Radford on Sunday
Local time
5:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Patchy Smoke
E 2 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Destination
East Hampton, VA
Late night
in East Hampton on Sunday
Local time
5:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Areas Of Smoke
E 9 mph0% chanceLive 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
3 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
5h 40m 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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
$15
near mile 278.6
Park Closure: Rehabilitation of Colonial Parkway Continues
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
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 299.3
Booker T. Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 41.3
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...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 237.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 89% of the drive taking place on major interstates like I-81 and I-64. The Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway is also a key part of the journey. This focus on high-speed roads means you'll cover ground quickly. The longest uninterrupted segment is a significant 151.4 miles on I-64, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. While primarily a highway grind, the transition between these major arteries provides the main variation in your drive.
89% 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: 151.4 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 117.9 miles in near I 64.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 299.3 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 117.9 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 207.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 232 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,860 ft10 ft
Total Climb
738 ft
Total Descent
2,588 ft
Highest Point
1,860 ft
Elevation Range
1,850 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Radford, VA and East Hampton, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 40m. Total distance: 299.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 151.4 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 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 East Hampton, 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 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 117.9 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 207.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 232 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Colonial National Historical Park, Fort Monroe National Monument and Booker T Washington National Monument (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at East Hampton, VA before the return drive.
