Richmond, VA to Independent Hill, VA is 84.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 41 minutes via Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I-95, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region and within the state of Virginia. It's a straightforward drive that's ideal for a single-day excursion. Expect a direct journey with minimal detours, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently. The primary focus is on covering ground quickly.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.3 miles from Richmond, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
53.1 mi
58m
I 95
20.2 mi
23m
Dumfries Road
7.3 mi
11m
Hermitage Road
1.1 mi
2m
Bristow Road
0.6 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:
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
— 53.1 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, VA and Independent Hill, 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 WestUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 64; I 95
0.3 mi·27 sec·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
53 mi·58 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; US 17
1.6 mi·1 min·I 95; US 17
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
12
Merge onto I 95
19 mi·21 min·I 95
Use the slight left lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 152BToward VA 234 North: ManassasUse the right lane.
14
Continue on VA 234
7.3 mi·11 min·Dumfries Road
15
Turn left onto SR 846
0.6 mi·59 sec·Bristow Road
16
Arrive at destination
SR 846
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour 41 minute duration, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon will give you plenty of flexibility. There are no recommended stops in the provided data, so plan your own based on personal needs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 53 miles. For a quick trip like this, packing snacks and drinks can eliminate the need for unplanned rest stops.
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 42.3 miles from Richmond, VA, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.1 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.3 miles or 50m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Independent Hill, 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 84.6 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Richmond, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike for about 53.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 76.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|North Meadow Street
Turn right onto North Meadow Street
Navigation decision point
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
6
2.4 mi into trip|~5m in|I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
76.4 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward VA 234 North: Manassas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 152B
Toward VA 234 North: Manassas
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.23 one way
$26.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.47
$28.93
premium
$4.70
$15.66
$31.32
diesel
$5.61
$18.68
$37.36
Estimated Tolls: $3.69
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(52.8 mi)$3.69
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
$13
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.4
0
$8.88
$4.06
Efficient EV
21.2
0
$7.40
$3.38
EV Truck/SUV
33.8
0
$11.84
$5.41
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 16, 2026
Origin
Richmond, VA
Morning
in Richmond on Tuesday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
SW 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Independent Hill, VA
Morning
in Independent Hill on Tuesday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Fredericksburg, VA
42 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
36 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 41m 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.
Petersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
Park Closure: Eastern Front Tour Road south of Route 36 - Closed
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 87% of the route utilizing major roadways like the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I-95. You'll experience a significant stretch of 53.1 miles on the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. The character of the drive is predominantly that of efficient travel on well-maintained highways. While there are brief transitions, the majority of your time will be spent on these faster-moving roads, making it a predictable journey.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.1 mi on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Meadow 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 84.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.2 miles (North Meadow Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
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 41m. Total distance: 84.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.1 miles on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.69 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.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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 Independent Hill, 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 0.2 miles (North Meadow Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
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 Independent Hill, VA before heading back.
