Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 1m
Distance
195 mi
314 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Suffolk, VA
Mark Stebnicki
Gainesville, VA
Wikimedia Commons
South Suffolk, VA to Gainesville, VA is 195 miles and takes about 4 hours 1 minute via I 95, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, and Benns Church Boulevard, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads, suggesting a varied experience rather than just pure interstate cruising. Given the relatively short duration, it's a manageable one-day trip for most drivers.
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
97.5 miles from South Suffolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 2m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 66 mi | 1h 13m |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 26.3 mi | 28m |
| Benns Church Boulevard | 16.3 mi | 21m |
| James River Drive | 14.6 mi | 19m |
| Dumfries Road | 14.2 mi | 20m |
| Colonial Trail West | 13.3 mi | 15m |
| Colonial Trail East | 9.9 mi | 11m |
| Godwin Boulevard | 8.9 mi | 10m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 94 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,176 veh/hr typical · worst 3,909
Quietest
2 AM
~501 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between South Suffolk, VA and Gainesville, VA.
Start on US 13 BUS; VA 32
Continue on US 13 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
Continue on US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
Turn right onto Godwin Boulevard
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
Continue on VA 10
Turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
Turn right onto VA 10
Continue on VA 10
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
Continue on VA 10
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 295
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; US 17
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Continue on VA 234
Continue on VA 234
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 66
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 29
Turn right onto McGraws Corner Drive
Continue on McGraws Corner Drive
Turn left onto US 29
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 195-mile drive, consider leaving early in the morning to avoid potential traffic, especially around the I 95 corridor. With a 4-hour estimated drive time, you can comfortably complete this in one day. There's one recommended stop, which is a good opportunity to stretch your legs and refuel. The estimated fuel cost is around $31, so factor that into your budget. Since this isn't an overly long trip, you have flexibility; if you encounter delays, you won't be pressed for time.
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.
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 43 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.5 miles or 2h 2m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gainesville, VA than in the middle of the route.
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 195 miles and 4h 1m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
98 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 97.5 miles from South Suffolk, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 99.5 and 193.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward VA 234 North: Manassas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 66 West: Front Royal
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$29.88 one way
$59.76 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $32.79 | $65.58 |
| premium | $4.64 | $35.60 | $71.20 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $42.98 | $85.97 |
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: 68.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58.5 | 0 | $20.48 | $9.36 |
| Efficient EV | 48.8 | 0 | $17.06 | $7.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 78 | 0 | $27.30 | $12.48 |
Gas CO2
68 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in South Suffolk on Saturday
Local time
1:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Gainesville on Saturday
Local time
1:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Battlefield
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...
National Monument
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...
National Scenic Trail
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!
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
About 38% of this 195-mile drive is on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on I 95 covering 66 miles. You'll transition from highway to surface roads and back. Keep an eye out for the dense exits and merging traffic typical of major interstates like I 95. The remaining miles will be on roads like Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway and Benns Church Boulevard.
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 99.5 miles in.
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 18 significant decision points across 195 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 99.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 191.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
387 ft
Total Descent
205 ft
Highest Point
236 ft
~139.3 mi in
Elevation Range
226 ft
Founded 1983
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 1m. Total distance: 195 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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