Richmond, VA to Carrollton, VA is 78.1 miles and takes about 1h 43m via James River Drive/Colonial Trail West/Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia's Southeast region, offering a drive that feels more local than a major highway haul. Expect a route with frequent turns and a more intimate connection to the landscape as you make your way toward Carrollton. Given its manageable distance and duration, it's a straightforward same-day excursion perfect for a relaxed travel day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39 miles from Richmond, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
James River Drive
14.6 mi
19m
Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi
15m
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
12.9 mi
16m
Old Stage Highway
12 mi
15m
Colonial Trail East
9.8 mi
11m
West Hundred Road
6.8 mi
10m
West Randolph Road
2.9 mi
4m
Rolfe Highway
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
James River Drive
— 14.6 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, VA and Carrollton, VA.
1
Start on Marcus-David Peters Circle
139 ft·4 sec·Marcus-David Peters Circle
2
Continue on Monument Avenue
0.2 mi·22 sec·Monument Avenue
3
Turn slight right onto West Franklin Street
0.6 mi·2 min·West Franklin Street
4
Turn right onto US 1; US 301
0.4 mi·1 min·North Belvidere Street
5
Turn left onto East Byrd Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·East Byrd Street
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward VA 195 EastUse the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto VA 195
0.8 mi·1 min·Downtown Expressway
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward I 95 South: Petersburg
9
Merge onto I 95
13 mi·16 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 61AToward VA 10 East: HopewellUse the right lane.
11
Continue on VA 10
6.8 mi·10 min·West Hundred Road
Use the left / uturn lanes.
12
Continue on VA 10
2.9 mi·4 min·West Randolph Road
13
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
15 mi·19 min·James River Drive
14
Continue on VA 10
13 mi·15 min·Colonial Trail West
15
At end of road, turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
1.0 mi·1 min·Rolfe Highway
16
Take the exit
149 ft·6 sec
17
Merge onto VA 10
9.8 mi·11 min·Colonial Trail East
18
Continue on VA 10
12 mi·15 min·Old Stage Highway
Use the left lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 258
1.0 mi·1 min·Brewers Neck Boulevard
20
Turn left onto SR 665
0.8 mi·1 min·Reynolds Drive
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto SR 670
178 ft·3 sec·Norsworthy Drive
22
Arrive at destination
SR 670
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours and a fuel cost estimated at $12, this is a flexible trip. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight, especially since the route involves many turns. There are no specific stops noted, so plan for your own breaks as needed, perhaps in one of the smaller communities along the way. Keep an eye on your navigation, as the 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests it's easy to miss a turn if you're not paying attention. The longest stretch is just under 15 miles, so you won't be on any single road for too long before needing to adjust your course.
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 39 miles from Richmond, VA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.6 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 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carrollton, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Richmond, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Richmond, VA
This is one driving day of about 78.1 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Richmond, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on James River Drive for about 14.6 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 1.2 and 77.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|East Byrd Street
Turn left onto East Byrd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.3 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward VA 195 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward VA 195 East
5
2.3 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South: Petersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 95 South: Petersburg
7
15.4 mi into trip|~21m 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 61A
Toward VA 10 East: Hopewell
5
77.2 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|SR 665 / Reynolds Drive
Turn left onto SR 665 / Reynolds Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.21 one way
$24.43 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.35
$26.71
premium
$4.70
$14.45
$28.91
diesel
$5.61
$17.24
$34.49
Estimated Tolls: $0.90
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(12.9 mi)$0.90
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
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.4
0
$8.20
$3.75
Efficient EV
19.5
0
$6.83
$3.12
EV Truck/SUV
31.2
0
$10.93
$5.00
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 18, 2026
Origin
Richmond, VA
Morning
in Richmond on Tuesday
Local time
7:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
NE 1 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Carrollton, VA
Morning
in Carrollton on Tuesday
Local time
7:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Waverly, VA
39 mi in
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
22 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 43m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
$15
near mile 61.9
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 16.2
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...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 78.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as 'Turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be navigating a series of local roads with frequent directional changes. Only 17% of the journey is on highways, so prepare for a more engaging experience than a simple interstate cruise. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 14.6 miles along James River Drive. As you progress, the roads will shift, transitioning from main arteries like James River Drive to routes such as Colonial Trail West and the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, offering varied driving conditions.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.6 mi on James River Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near East Byrd Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.2 miles (East Byrd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 78.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.6 miles on James River Drive. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.90 in tolls one way, starting with Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. 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.
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 Carrollton, 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 1.2 miles (East Byrd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Colonial National Historical Park, Petersburg National Battlefield and Fort Monroe National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Carrollton, VA before heading back.
