Richmond, VA to Shawsville, VA is 200.7 miles and takes about 3h 48m via I 64 and I 81, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. The majority of this drive is on the interstate, making it a straightforward and efficient option for getting between these two points. If you're looking for a quick trip with minimal fuss, this route fits the bill, offering a direct connection with about 94% of it on highways.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
100.4 miles from Richmond, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
130.2 mi
2h 23m
I 81
59.2 mi
1h 6m
West Main Street
8.4 mi
11m
Hermitage Road
1.1 mi
2m
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
0.3 mi
<1m
Dow Hollow Road
0.2 mi
<1m
North Meadow Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
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 Shawsville, 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
59 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward SR 647: Dixie Caverns
12
Turn left onto SR 647
0.2 mi·33 sec·Dow Hollow Road
13
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; US 460
8.4 mi·11 min·West Main Street
14
Turn right onto SR 637
403 ft·17 sec·Alleghany Spring Road
15
Arrive at destination
SR 637
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 4 hours, this route is perfectly suited for a same-day trip. You can afford to be flexible with your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the busiest commute traffic leaving Richmond. With a fuel cost estimated at $33, filling up before you leave is a good idea, though you'll likely have sufficient range. The route is predominantly highway, so plan for any necessary stops, like a restroom break or a quick bite, before you embark on the 130.2-mile stretch on I 64 to ensure comfort.
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 100.4 miles from Richmond, VA, or about 1h 53m 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 44 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.4 miles or 1h 53m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shawsville, 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 200.7 miles and 3h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 11
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
$29.63 one way
$59.26 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$32.56
$65.12
premium
$4.49
$35.49
$70.99
diesel
$4.80
$37.90
$75.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.2
0
$21.07
$9.63
Efficient EV
50.2
0
$17.56
$8.03
EV Truck/SUV
80.3
1
$28.10
$12.84
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Richmond, VA
Morning
in Richmond on Sunday
Local time
7:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
SW 5 to 8 mph25% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Shawsville, VA
Morning
in Shawsville on Sunday
Local time
7:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
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
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
3h 48m 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.
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
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 180
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?
Expect to spend most of your time on the highway, with 94% of the 200.7 miles covered by interstates like I 64 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 130.2 miles on I 64, which means extended periods of cruising. You'll transition to surface roads, specifically West Main Street, towards the end of your drive. Pay attention to the frequent exits as you approach your destination after the long highway segments.
94% 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 11 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 200.7 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.
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 3h 48m. Total distance: 200.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). 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 15 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 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Shawsville, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
