Richmond, VA to Radford, VA is 222.5 miles and takes about 4h 13m via I 64 and I 81, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region and entirely within Virginia, offering a straightforward path. Given its relatively short duration, it's a manageable one-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
111.3 miles from Richmond, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
130.2 mi
2h 23m
I 81
86.1 mi
1h 36m
West Main Street
3.4 mi
6m
Hermitage Road
1.1 mi
2m
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
— 130.2 mi, about 2h 23m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 77 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,245 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,646
Quietest
2 AM
~100 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
22.5×
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 Richmond, VA and Radford, 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 right at fork onto I 64
130 mi·2 hr 23 min·I 64
Exit 79Toward I 64 West, I 195 South: CharlottesvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
86 mi·1 hr 36 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward VA 232, SR 605: Radford
12
Turn right onto VA 232
283 ft·4 sec·1st Street
13
Continue on VA 232
3.4 mi·6 min·West Main Street
14
Turn right onto Berkley Street
444 ft·19 sec·Berkley Street
15
Arrive at destination
Berkley Street
Trip Plan
Leaving Richmond in the morning should give you ample time to reach Radford before evening. With a total drive time of just over 4 hours, you likely won't need more than one planned stop. Consider a brief break around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refuel if necessary. The fuel cost is estimated at $37, so factor that into your budget. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the end of the 130.2-mile stretch on I 64, to avoid needing an unexpected stop.
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 111.3 miles from Richmond, VA, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.2 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 49 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.3 miles or 2h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Radford, 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.
+
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 Richmond, VA
This is one driving day of about 222.5 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Richmond, 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 130.2 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 132.6 — 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
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
132.6 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.85 one way
$65.70 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$36.10
$72.20
premium
$4.49
$39.35
$78.70
diesel
$4.80
$42.01
$84.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.8
0
$23.36
$10.68
Efficient EV
55.6
0
$19.47
$8.90
EV Truck/SUV
89
1
$31.15
$14.24
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Richmond, VA
Morning
in Richmond on Sunday
Local time
6:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
96°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 12 mph61% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:14PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 4:13PM EDT until July 18 at 5:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Radford, VA
Morning
in Radford on Sunday
Local time
6:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 8 mph57% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:14PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 4:13PM EDT until July 18 at 5:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
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
11 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
4h 13m 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.
Booker T Washington National Monument
National Monument
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
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 176.5
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 97% highway, so expect a lot of time on interstates. You'll cover a longest stretch of 130.2 miles on I 64 before transitioning to I 81. The final segment into Radford involves West Main Street, marking the end of the highway portion. With such a high highway percentage, pay attention to the frequent exits and traffic merging common on major interstates.
97% 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: 130.2 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 81. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Meadow Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 222.5 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 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.
Top landmarks
•Virginia Museum of Fine Arts — art museum in Richmond, Virginia
•Virginia State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Virginia
•Monument Avenue — thoroughfare in Richmond, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 13m. Total distance: 222.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 130.2 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 — Booker T Washington National Monument and Petersburg National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Radford, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
