Traveling from Stafford to Suffolk covers 157 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 8 minutes. Because this journey stays within the Southeast region of Virginia, you can easily complete the entire trek in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $25 on fuel for this mixed-drive route. Whether you are heading south for business or a weekend getaway, the trip offers a straightforward trajectory. It is a manageable distance for most drivers, making it a reliable option for a quick transit between these two points.
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
78.5 miles from Stafford, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
54.2 mi
59m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
27.1 mi
29m
James River Drive
14.6 mi
19m
Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi
15m
Old Stage Highway
12 mi
15m
Colonial Trail East
9.8 mi
11m
Godwin Boulevard
8.9 mi
10m
Benns Church Boulevard
4.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 54.2 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stafford, VA and Suffolk, VA.
1
Start on SR 630
0.5 mi·56 sec·Courthouse Road
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on SR 630
0.2 mi·26 sec·Courthouse Road
3
Continue on SR 630
0.4 mi·42 sec·Courthouse Road
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward I 95 South: Richmond
5
Merge onto I 95
5.6 mi·6 min·I 95
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
49 mi·53 min·I 95
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
1.9 mi·2 min
Exit 84AToward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va BeachUse the slight left / straight lanes.
8
Merge onto I 295
27 mi·29 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 15AToward VA 10 East: HopewellUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto VA 10
2.9 mi·3 min·East Hundred Road
11
Continue on VA 10
2.9 mi·4 min·West Randolph Road
12
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
15 mi·19 min·James River Drive
13
Continue on VA 10
13 mi·15 min·Colonial Trail West
14
At end of road, turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
1.0 mi·1 min·Rolfe Highway
15
Take the exit
149 ft·6 sec
16
Merge onto VA 10
9.8 mi·11 min·Colonial Trail East
17
Continue on VA 10
12 mi·15 min·Old Stage Highway
Use the left lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 10
4.3 mi·5 min·Benns Church Boulevard
19
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
8.4 mi·9 min·Godwin Boulevard
20
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
0.5 mi·48 sec·Godwin Boulevard
21
Turn left onto US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
366 ft·6 sec·Pruden Boulevard
22
Continue on US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
2.2 mi·5 min·North Main Street
23
Turn right onto VA 337
454 ft·17 sec·West Washington Street
24
Turn left onto South Saratoga Street
165 ft·4 sec·South Saratoga Street
25
Arrive at destination
South Saratoga Street
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one dedicated stop during your 3-hour journey. Since the route is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours on I-95 is always a smart move. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as you should budget around $25 to reach your destination comfortably. Since this is a mixed-drive route, stay alert for the transition between the interstate and the local highway sections. Mapping out your single stop ahead of time will ensure you stay refreshed without adding unnecessary time to your trip.
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 78.5 miles from Stafford, VA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.2 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 35 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.5 miles or 1h 27m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Suffolk, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Stafford, 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 Stafford, VA
This is one driving day of about 157 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Stafford, 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 54.2 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 7 and 157 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
7 mi into trip|~9m in|I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
55.6 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 84A
Toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va B...
5
57.4 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|I 295 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 295 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
84.5 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward VA 10 East: Hopewell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 15A
Toward VA 10 East: Hopewell
5
157 mi into trip|~3h 8m in|South Saratoga Street
Turn left onto South Saratoga Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.55 one way
$49.10 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$26.84
$53.69
premium
$4.70
$29.06
$58.11
diesel
$5.61
$34.66
$69.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.1
0
$16.49
$7.54
Efficient EV
39.3
0
$13.74
$6.28
EV Truck/SUV
62.8
0
$21.98
$10.05
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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 20, 2026
Origin
Stafford, VA
Late night
in Stafford on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Suffolk, VA
Late night
in Suffolk on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Waverly, VA
79 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
19 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 8m 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 129.9
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
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 86.6
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 140.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied experience behind the wheel, as this route transitions from high-speed interstate travel to more localized roads. You will spend about 35% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 54.2 miles on I-95. The journey shifts in character as you move from the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway onto James River Drive. This transition breaks up the monotonous grind of the interstate, offering a change in pace. Be prepared for the shift from heavy traffic zones to the more moderate flow of regional thoroughfares.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.2 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 7 miles in near I 95.
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 157 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 7 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.4 miles (I 295 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Stafford, VA and Suffolk, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Va Beach.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 157 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.2 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 Suffolk, 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 7 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.4 miles (I 295 / Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Suffolk, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
