Spanning 174.5 miles from South Suffolk to Dale City, this journey takes you roughly 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete. Because it is a manageable distance, you can easily handle this as a single-day trip without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via North Main Street, Pruden Boulevard, and Godwin Boulevard rather than relying on major interstates. Expect to budget approximately $28 for fuel for this trek across the Southeast region of Virginia. It is a straightforward route, though you should be prepared for a drive that prioritizes local roads over high-speed highway travel.
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
87.3 miles from South Suffolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
69.1 mi
1h 16m
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
East Randolph Road
2.9 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 69.1 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Suffolk, VA and Dale City, 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
22 mi·25 min·I 95
Use the slight left lane.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 156Toward SR 784: Dale City, Rippon LandingUse the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward SR 784 West: Dale City, Potomac Mills, Stratford University
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 156BToward SR 784 West: Dale CityUse the right lane.
23
Turn straight onto SR 784
1.0 mi·1 min·Dale Boulevard
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto SR 1811
0.6 mi·1 min·Birchdale Avenue
25
Turn right onto Bayfield Drive
41 ft·1 sec·Bayfield Drive
26
Arrive at destination
Bayfield Drive
Trip Plan
Since this is a 3.5-hour local drive, you have plenty of flexibility when planning your departure time. Aim to build in at least one stop during your trip to break up the navigation through the various local turns. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, as the $28 estimated cost can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because you are relying on local roads like Pruden and Godwin Boulevards, stay alert for changing speed limits and traffic lights that you would typically bypass on a major highway. Taking your time will make this turn-heavy route much more manageable.
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 87.3 miles from South Suffolk, VA, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.1 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 38 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.3 miles or 1h 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 2h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dale City, 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 174.5 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 69.1 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 172.6 — 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
8
172 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Take the exit toward SR 784: Dale City, Rippon Landing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 156
Toward SR 784: Dale City, Rippon Landing
7
172.3 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 784 West: Dale City, Potomac Mills, Stratford University
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SR 784 West: Dale City, Potomac Mills, S...
8
172.6 mi into trip|~3h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 784 West: Dale City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 156B
Toward SR 784 West: Dale City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.29 one way
$54.58 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$29.84
$59.67
premium
$4.70
$32.30
$64.59
diesel
$5.61
$38.53
$77.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.4
0
$18.32
$8.38
Efficient EV
43.6
0
$15.27
$6.98
EV Truck/SUV
69.8
0
$24.43
$11.17
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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 18, 2026
Origin
South Suffolk, VA
Morning
in South Suffolk on Sunday
Local time
10:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dale City, VA
Morning
in Dale City on Sunday
Local time
10:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Waverly, VA
87 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
1 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 30m 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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
$15
near mile 30.1
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
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 72.2
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
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 18.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating through local infrastructure, which requires more focus than a typical high-speed cruise. Because the path relies on local boulevards and main streets, the pace remains steady but deliberate. While there are no exceptionally long, uninterrupted stretches, the constant turns keep the drive engaging from start to finish. This is a practical, ground-level way to travel between these two Virginia locations.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.1 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 174.5 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 172 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 174.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.1 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Dale City, 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 1 rest area 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 172 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Colonial National Historical Park, Petersburg National Battlefield and Fort Monroe National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Dale City, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
