Traveling from South Suffolk to Baileys Crossroads covers 192.8 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 53 minutes. Because this journey stays within the Southeast region of Virginia, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip. You should budget approximately $31 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating this route involves a mix of roads, including Benns Church Boulevard, the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, and I-95. Since the drive is under four hours, you can comfortably complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay.
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
96.4 miles from South Suffolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
82.3 mi
1h 33m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
26.3 mi
28m
Benns Church Boulevard
16.3 mi
21m
James River Drive
14.6 mi
19m
Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi
15m
Colonial Trail East
9.9 mi
11m
Godwin Boulevard
8.9 mi
10m
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
5.2 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 82.3 mi, about 1h 33m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 56 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,172 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,836
Quietest
2 AM
~455 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7×
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 South Suffolk, VA and Baileys Crossroads, VA.
1
Start on US 13 BUS; VA 32
0.9 mi·1 min·Carolina Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on US 13 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
2.2 mi·4 min·North Main Street
3
Continue on US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
366 ft·8 sec·Pruden Boulevard
4
Turn right onto Godwin Boulevard
8.9 mi·10 min·Godwin Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
16 mi·21 min·Benns Church Boulevard
6
Continue on VA 10
9.9 mi·11 min·Colonial Trail East
7
Turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
1.0 mi·1 min·Rolfe Highway
8
Turn right onto VA 10
13 mi·15 min·Colonial Trail West
9
Continue on VA 10
15 mi·19 min·James River Drive
10
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
2.9 mi·4 min·East Randolph Road
11
Continue on VA 10
2.5 mi·3 min·East Hundred Road
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward I 295 North: Washington
13
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·46 sec·this road
Toward I 295 North: Washington
14
Merge onto I 295
26 mi·28 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
15
Take the exit
2.4 mi·2 min
Exit 43AToward I 95 North: WashingtonUse the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto I 95
46 mi·49 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; US 17
1.6 mi·1 min·I 95; US 17
18
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
19
Merge onto I 95
35 mi·41 min·I 95
Use the slight left lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 395
0.6 mi·52 sec·Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Exit 170A; 170BToward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Tysons CornerUse the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Continue on I 395
4.6 mi·5 min·Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Exit 170AToward I 395 North: WashingtonUse the straight lane.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 4Toward Seminary RoadUse the slight right lane.
23
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·25 sec·this road
Exit 3Toward Seminary Road
24
Turn left
0.2 mi·41 sec
Use the left / straight lanes.
25
Turn straight onto Seminary Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Seminary Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
26
Turn left onto SR 716
0.5 mi·1 min·Seminary Road
27
Turn slight right
181 ft·8 sec
28
Turn slight right onto Carlin Springs Road
0.1 mi·12 sec·Carlin Springs Road
29
Turn left onto VA 7
0.3 mi·44 sec·Leesburg Pike
Use the left / straight lanes.
30
Turn slight right
0.1 mi·26 sec
Toward VA 244 West: Columbia Pike, AnnandaleUse the right lane.
31
Turn straight onto VA 244
231 ft·5 sec·Columbia Pike
32
Arrive at destination
VA 244
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3 hour and 53 minute journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the drive. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy to avoid the congestion often associated with the I-95 corridor. Since the route requires a modest $31 fuel budget, verify your tank levels before hitting the longest 82.3-mile stretch to ensure you aren't forced to stop at higher-priced highway stations. Because this is a one-day trip, your primary advantage is flexibility; use your single planned stop to stretch your legs rather than rushing to the finish line.
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 96.4 miles from South Suffolk, VA, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.3 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 42 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.4 miles or 2h 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Baileys Crossroads, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Suffolk, 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 South Suffolk, VA
This is one driving day of about 192.8 miles and 3h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from South Suffolk, 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 95 for about 82.3 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 190.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.1 mi into trip|~7m in|Godwin Boulevard
Turn right onto Godwin Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
99.5 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 43A
Toward I 95 North: Washington
9
185.2 mi into trip|~3h 41m in|I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway toward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Tysons Corner
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 170A; 170B
Toward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Ty...
7
190.4 mi into trip|~3h 47m in
Take the exit toward Seminary Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4
Toward Seminary Road
7
190.8 mi into trip|~3h 48m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.67 one way
$61.33 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$33.44
$66.87
premium
$4.78
$36.28
$72.55
diesel
$5.35
$40.61
$81.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.8
0
$20.24
$9.25
Efficient EV
48.2
0
$16.87
$7.71
EV Truck/SUV
77.1
0
$26.99
$12.34
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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 May 28, 2026
Origin
South Suffolk, VA
Evening
in South Suffolk on Wednesday
Local time
5:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
W 6 mph63% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Baileys Crossroads, VA
Evening
in Baileys Crossroads on Wednesday
Local time
5:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NW 7 mph19% chanceLive forecast
61°F
Colonial Heights, VA
96 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
2 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 53m 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.
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
$15
near mile 33.2
Park Closure: Rehabilitation of Colonial Parkway Continues
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 73.1
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...
17 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 13.3
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
30 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 192.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving profile that transitions between local thoroughfares and major interstates. While 43% of your journey is spent on highways, the experience shifts significantly as you move away from Suffolk. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-95, spanning 82.3 miles where you will likely settle into a steady rhythm. The remainder of the trip balances these fast-paced highway segments with slower, more technical sections on local roads. This variety keeps the drive engaging, moving you from the more open stretches of the state into the denser traffic patterns near Baileys Crossroads.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.3 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near Godwin Boulevard.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 192.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (Godwin Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 99.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 185.2 miles (I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 53m. Total distance: 192.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.3 miles on I 95. 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.
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 Baileys Crossroads, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (Godwin Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 99.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 185.2 miles (I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Colonial National Historical Park, Petersburg National Battlefield and Fort Monroe National Monument (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Baileys Crossroads, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
