Origin
Staunton, VA
Morning in Staunton on Tuesday
Local time
8:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Staunton, VA to Charlottesville, VA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
38.8 mi
62 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Staunton, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Charlottesville, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick jaunt across Virginia, the 38.8-mile journey from Staunton to Charlottesville is an efficient option. You can expect to complete this trip in about 50 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, specifically I-64, Richmond Avenue, and 5th Street. With a fuel budget of just $6, this is a highly economical drive for your itinerary. Because both cities are located within the Southeast region, you will find the transition between the two familiar and straightforward. It serves as a practical, no-nonsense connection for travelers looking to move between these two hubs without unnecessary complications.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 32.2 mi | 35m |
| Richmond Avenue | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| 5th Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Ridge Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West Market Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I 81 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Greenville Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Water Street West | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 32.2 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Staunton, VA and Charlottesville, VA.
1
Start on this road
150 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto US 11 BUS; US 250
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Augusta Street
3
Turn left onto US 11 BUS; US 250
308 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Johnson Street
4
Continue on US 11 BUS; US 250
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Greenville Avenue
5
Turn slight right onto US 11 Bus
158 ft
·
5 sec
·
US 11 Bus
6
Turn slight right onto US 11; US 250
271 ft
·
14 sec
·
Greenville Avenue
7
Turn left onto US 250
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Richmond Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
9
Merge onto I 81
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
I 81
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 64 East: Richmond
11
Merge onto I 64
32 mi
·
35 min
·
I 64
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward VA 631: Charlottesville
13
Turn left onto SR 631
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
5th Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on Ridge Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Ridge Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
15
Turn slight right onto Water Street West
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Water Street West
16
Turn left onto 2nd Street Southwest
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
2nd Street Southwest
17
Turn right onto US 250 BUS
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
West Market Street
18
Turn right onto 7th Street Northeast
286 ft
·
15 sec
·
7th Street Northeast
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.4 miles from Staunton, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 38.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 11 BUS; US 250 / North Augusta Street
Turn right onto US 11 BUS; US 250 / North Augusta Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 11 BUS; US 250 / East Johnson Street
Turn left onto US 11 BUS; US 250 / East Johnson Street
Navigation decision point
4
2.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 81
Merge onto I 81
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 64 East: Richmond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 64 East: Richmond
5
38.3 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
2nd Street Southwest
Turn left onto 2nd Street Southwest
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.07 one way
$12.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.63 | $13.27 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.18 | $14.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.57 | $17.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.07 | $1.86 |
| Efficient EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.39 | $1.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Charlottesville, VA
Morning in Charlottesville on Tuesday
Local time
8:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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
50m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily a highway-focused experience, with 84% of the journey spent on high-speed roads. You will find yourself cruising along a 32.2-mile stretch of I-64 for the vast majority of your time behind the wheel. The road maintains a consistent pace, shifting from the local transition of Richmond Avenue into the interstate flow before eventually navigating onto 5th Street upon arrival. Expect a reliable, steady drive that favors efficiency over technical maneuvering or secondary roads. It is a straightforward transit route that keeps you moving toward your destination with minimal interruptions.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.2 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Richmond Avenue. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 11 BUS; US 250 / North Augusta Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 38.8 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (US 11 BUS; US 250 / North Augusta Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 11 BUS; US 250 / East Johnson Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,789 ft
450 ft
Total Climb
491 ft
Total Descent
1,437 ft
Highest Point
1,789 ft
~16.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,338 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Charlottesville, VA
Full guide →Charlottesville, in central Virginia, is a lovely university town of about 40,000 with lots to offer. Charlottesville is a town steeped in history and culture. Charlottesville is a major cultural center for central Virginia, and features more fine dining, shopping, and entertainment than one might expect for a town of its size. Ensconced in beautiful Albemarle County, Charlottesville is also surrounded by vineyards and horse country.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 38.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.2 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 11 BUS; US 250 / North Augusta Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 11 BUS; US 250 / East Johnson Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Charlottesville, VA before heading back.
How this page is built
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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