If you are planning a trip from South Suffolk to East Highland Park, expect a journey covering 92.3 miles that typically takes about 2 hours and 3 minutes. This route is best suited as a comfortable day trip, requiring no overnight stops along the way. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to complete the transit between these two Southeast Virginia locations. Because the drive relies entirely on local roads rather than major interstates, you will experience a steady, turn-heavy pace. It is a straightforward trek for those who prefer navigating backroads over high-speed highway travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.1 miles from South Suffolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
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
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
6.5 mi
6m
South Laburnum Avenue
4.6 mi
7m
North Laburnum Avenue
3.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Benns Church Boulevard
— 16.3 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Suffolk, VA and East Highland Park, 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
6.5 mi·6 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 22BToward VA 5 West: VarinaUse the right lane.
16
Turn straight onto VA 5
1.1 mi·1 min·New Market Road
17
Turn right onto Strath Road
2.3 mi·3 min·Strath Road
18
Turn left onto Darbytown Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Darbytown Road
19
Turn right onto SR 7555
4.6 mi·7 min·South Laburnum Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on North Laburnum Avenue
3.6 mi·6 min·North Laburnum Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Turn left onto Fenwick Street
104 ft·4 sec·Fenwick Street
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
Fenwick Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to depart whenever it suits you best. Without any mandatory stops built into the 92.3-mile journey, you can easily complete the drive in one go, though you should keep an eye on the fuel gauge since the $15 cost is a baseline estimate. Given that the entire route consists of local roads, allow for extra travel time during peak traffic hours when turning and intersection navigation may slow your progress. Pay close attention to your GPS while transitioning between Benns Church Boulevard, James River Drive, and Colonial Trail West to ensure you stay on the correct path.
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 46.1 miles from South Suffolk, VA, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.3 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 20 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.1 miles or 1h 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Highland Park, 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 92.3 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from South Suffolk, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Benns Church Boulevard for about 16.3 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 92.3 — 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.
4
38.1 mi into trip|~50m in|VA 10; VA 31 / Rolfe Highway
Turn left onto VA 10; VA 31 / Rolfe Highway
Navigation decision point
7
79.7 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward VA 5 West: Varina
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 22B
Toward VA 5 West: Varina
6
84 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|SR 7555 / South Laburnum Avenue
Turn right onto SR 7555 / South Laburnum Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
92.3 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|Fenwick Street
Turn left onto Fenwick Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.43 one way
$28.87 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.78
$31.56
premium
$4.70
$17.08
$34.17
diesel
$5.61
$20.38
$40.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.7
0
$9.69
$4.43
Efficient EV
23.1
0
$8.08
$3.69
EV Truck/SUV
36.9
0
$12.92
$5.91
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
South Suffolk, VA
Morning
in South Suffolk on Sunday
Local time
8:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Highland Park, VA
Morning
in East Highland Park on Sunday
Local time
8:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Waverly, VA
46 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
26 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
2h 3m 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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
$15
near mile 31.8
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...
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
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 15.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a hands-on driving experience, as this route contains absolutely no highway miles. You will navigate a series of local roads, including Benns Church Boulevard, James River Drive, and Colonial Trail West, which requires your full attention behind the wheel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 16.3-mile segment on Benns Church Boulevard. Because the path is quite turn-heavy, the drive maintains a consistent local feel rather than a fast-paced interstate grind. Expect a winding journey that keeps you engaged as you transition through the Virginia landscape.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.3 mi on Benns Church Boulevard.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near Godwin Boulevard.
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 92.3 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 3.1 miles (Godwin Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 38.1 miles (VA 10; VA 31 / Rolfe Highway): Navigation decision point; at 79.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 92.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.3 miles on Benns Church Boulevard. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 3.1 miles (Godwin Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 38.1 miles (VA 10; VA 31 / Rolfe Highway): Navigation decision point; at 79.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at East Highland Park, VA before heading back.
