This 78.8-mile drive from Richmond to East Hampton, Virginia, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 34 minutes. With 98% of the route on highways, it's a very efficient way to get between these two Southeast Virginia locations. You can expect a fuel cost of around $12 for this trip. Given its short duration and highway focus, this route is perfectly suited as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. It's a practical and quick transit that gets you where you need to go without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.4 miles from Richmond, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
72.6 mi
1h 21m
VA 134
4.4 mi
8m
West Leigh Street
0.6 mi
1m
North Lombardy Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Southerland Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Monument Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
<0.1 mi
<1m
North Belvidere Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 72.6 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, VA and East Hampton, VA.
1
Start on Marcus-David Peters Circle
139 ft·4 sec·Marcus-David Peters Circle
2
Continue on Monument Avenue
0.2 mi·25 sec·Monument Avenue
3
Turn right onto North Lombardy Street
0.4 mi·49 sec·North Lombardy Street
4
Turn right onto West Leigh Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West Leigh Street
5
Turn left onto US 1; US 301
187 ft·10 sec·North Belvidere Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 95 South, I 64 East: Petersburg, Norfolk
7
Merge onto I 64; I 95
511 ft·8 sec·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
73 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 64
Exit 75Toward I 64 East: Williamsburg, NorfolkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
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.
11
Turn right onto Southerland Drive
0.2 mi·46 sec·Southerland Drive
12
Arrive at destination
Southerland Drive
Trip Plan
For this quick 1-hour and 34-minute trip, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Aiming to leave Richmond outside of peak commuter hours will help you avoid any potential slowdowns. With only 78.8 miles and a fuel cost of about $12, you likely won't need many stops, but it's always wise to take a break if you feel tired. Since the longest stretch on I 64 is over 70 miles, consider a brief stop before embarking on that segment if you prefer to break up longer periods of driving.
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 39.4 miles from Richmond, VA, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.6 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 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.4 miles or 46m 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 17m
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 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 78.8 miles and 1h 34m.
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 I 64 for about 72.6 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 74.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|West Leigh Street
Turn right onto West Leigh Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 South, I 64 East: Petersburg, Norfolk
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 South, I 64 East: Petersburg, Norfo...
9
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 East: Williamsburg, Norfolk
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 75
Toward I 64 East: Williamsburg, Norfolk
8
74.2 mi into trip|~1h 25m 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
74.4 mi into trip|~1h 26m 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
$12.32 one way
$24.65 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.47
$26.95
premium
$4.70
$14.58
$29.17
diesel
$5.61
$17.40
$34.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.6
0
$8.27
$3.78
Efficient EV
19.7
0
$6.90
$3.15
EV Truck/SUV
31.5
0
$11.03
$5.04
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Richmond, VA
Late night
in Richmond on Sunday
Local time
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Hampton, VA
Late night
in East Hampton on Sunday
Local time
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Williamsburg, 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
10 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 34m 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.
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
$15
near mile 57.1
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...
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...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 5.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Primarily a highway-focused drive, this route will see you spending almost all of your time on major roadways. You'll be on I 64 for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 72.6 miles, offering a consistent pace. The journey includes segments on VA 134 and West Leigh Street, but the overwhelming character is one of high-speed travel. Expect a relatively uniform driving experience for the majority of the trip, making it easy to maintain a steady speed.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.6 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and VA 134. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near West Leigh Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 78.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.6 miles (West Leigh Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.6 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Richmond, VA to East Hampton, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Coliseum along the way.
Coliseum
74.2 mi in|~1h 25m|via VA 134
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 78.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.6 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 0.6 miles (West Leigh Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.6 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Colonial National Historical Park, Fort Monroe National Monument and 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 East Hampton, VA before heading back.
