Origin
Richmond, VA
Morning in Richmond on Tuesday
Local time
9:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richmond, VA to Charlottesville, VA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
69.3 mi
112 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlottesville, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick getaway, the 69.3-mile trip from Richmond to Charlottesville is an ideal one-day excursion. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 22 minutes behind the wheel, making it a highly accessible journey within the Southeast region. Budgeting approximately $11 for fuel makes this a very cost-effective commute between these two Virginia cities. Because the duration is quite short, you do not need to worry about overnight logistics; it is perfectly suited for a straightforward day trip. Navigating primarily via I-64, this drive offers a direct connection between the urban centers. Whether you are heading out for business or leisure, the simplicity of this route allows you to maximize your time at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 65.2 mi | 1h 12m |
| Hermitage Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Monticello Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| VA 20 | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Meadow Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Arthur Ashe Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Robin Hood Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 65.2 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, VA and Charlottesville, VA.
1
Start on Marcus-David Peters Circle
525 ft
·
14 sec
·
Marcus-David Peters Circle
2
Continue on Monument Avenue
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Monument Avenue
3
Turn right onto North Meadow Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Meadow Street
4
Continue on Hermitage Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Hermitage Road
5
Turn left onto Robin Hood Road
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Robin Hood Road
Toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe Boulevard
6
Turn right onto VA 161
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 95 North, I 64 West
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 64; I 95
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
65 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
I 64
Exit 79
Toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward VA 20: Charlottesville, Scottsville
11
Turn right onto VA 20
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Monticello Avenue
Use the right lane.
12
Turn slight right onto VA 20
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
VA 20
13
Turn left onto US 250 BUS
458 ft
·
25 sec
·
East Market Street
14
Turn left onto 7th Street Northeast
286 ft
·
15 sec
·
7th Street Northeast
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.7 miles from Richmond, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 69.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Turn right onto VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Turn left toward I 95 North, I 64 West
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 95 North, I 64 West
9
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 79
Toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
6
67.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
VA 20 / Monticello Avenue
Turn right onto VA 20 / Monticello Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
69.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
7th Street Northeast
Turn left onto 7th Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.84 one way
$21.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $11.85 | $23.70 |
| premium | $4.70 | $12.83 | $25.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.30 | $30.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.28 | $3.33 |
| Efficient EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.06 | $2.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.7 | 0 | $9.70 | $4.44 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Charlottesville, VA
Morning in Charlottesville on Tuesday
Local time
9:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
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
1h 22m 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 a highway-focused drive, with 95% of your travel taking place on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-64, which accounts for a 65.2-mile stretch of the journey. Expect a consistent interstate pace as you transition from the Richmond area, supplemented by local transitions onto Hermitage Road and Monticello Avenue. While the drive is efficient, it lacks the technical curves of secondary roads, favoring speed and directness over winding scenery. Being behind the wheel here feels like a standard interstate cruise, allowing you to maintain a steady speed for nearly the entire duration of the trip.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.2 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Hermitage Road. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 1.7 miles (VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Richmond, VA
Full guide →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.
Arriving in Charlottesville, VA
Full guide →Charlottesville, in central Virginia, is a lovely university town of about 40,000 with lots to offer. Charlottesville is a town steeped in history and culture. Charlottesville is a major cultural center for central Virginia, and features more fine dining, shopping, and entertainment than one might expect for a town of its size. Ensconced in beautiful Albemarle County, Charlottesville is also surrounded by vineyards and horse country.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 69.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.2 miles on I 64. 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 1.7 miles (VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Petersburg National Battlefield. 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 Charlottesville, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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