This 81.5-mile journey from Suffolk to Bellwood, Virginia, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 47 minutes. You'll navigate primarily local roads, with about 6% of the drive on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $13. Given its relatively short duration and turn-heavy profile, this route is best suited for a focused drive rather than an extended exploration. Both your origin and destination are within Virginia's Southeast region, meaning you'll stay within a familiar geographic area throughout your travels.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.7 miles from Suffolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m 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
East Hundred Road
6.6 mi
9m
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
3.2 mi
3m
East Randolph Road
2.9 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Benns Church Boulevard
— 16.3 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Suffolk, VA and Bellwood, VA.
1
Start on South Saratoga Street
165 ft·10 sec·South Saratoga Street
2
Turn right onto VA 337
454 ft·16 sec·West Washington Street
3
Turn left onto US 13 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
2.2 mi·4 min·North Main Street
4
Continue on US 460 BUS; VA 10; VA 32
366 ft·8 sec·Pruden Boulevard
5
Turn right onto Godwin Boulevard
8.9 mi·10 min·Godwin Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on VA 10; VA 32
16 mi·21 min·Benns Church Boulevard
7
Continue on VA 10
9.9 mi·11 min·Colonial Trail East
8
Turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
1.0 mi·1 min·Rolfe Highway
9
Turn right onto VA 10
13 mi·15 min·Colonial Trail West
10
Continue on VA 10
15 mi·19 min·James River Drive
11
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
2.9 mi·4 min·East Randolph Road
12
Continue on VA 10
6.6 mi·9 min·East Hundred Road
Use the left lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 95 North: RichmondUse the right lane.
14
Merge onto I 95
3.2 mi·3 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·25 sec
Exit 64Toward SR 613: Willis RoadUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto SR 613
0.4 mi·51 sec·Willis Road
17
Turn right onto US 1; US 301
1.5 mi·2 min·Route 1
Use the right lane.
18
Arrive at destination
US 1; US 301
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under two hours and no designated stops, this 81.5-mile trip offers significant flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive at your destination, Bellwood, VA, well before midday. Consider leaving Suffolk, VA, after morning rush hour to maximize your time on the road. Since this is a turn-heavy route, pay close attention to your navigation, especially during the 16.3-mile stretch on Benns Church Boulevard. The estimated fuel cost of $13 is quite reasonable, so ensure your tank is sufficiently filled before you depart to avoid any unexpected stops.
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 40.7 miles from Suffolk, VA, or about 53m 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.7 miles or 53m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bellwood, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Suffolk, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Suffolk, VA
This is one driving day of about 81.5 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from 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 0 and 79.9 — 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|VA 337 / West Washington Street
Turn right onto VA 337 / West Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.4 mi into trip|~5m in|Godwin Boulevard
Turn right onto Godwin Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
75.9 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Richmond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 95 North: Richmond
7
79.4 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward SR 613: Willis Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 64
Toward SR 613: Willis Road
6
79.9 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|US 1; US 301 / Route 1
Turn right onto US 1; US 301 / Route 1
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.74 one way
$25.49 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.94
$27.87
premium
$4.70
$15.08
$30.17
diesel
$5.61
$17.99
$35.99
Estimated Tolls: $0.22
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(3.2 mi)$0.22
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.5
0
$8.56
$3.91
Efficient EV
20.4
0
$7.13
$3.26
EV Truck/SUV
32.6
0
$11.41
$5.22
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Suffolk, VA
Late night
in Suffolk on Sunday
Local time
3:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bellwood, VA
Late night
in Bellwood on Sunday
Local time
3:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Waverly, VA
41 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 47m 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 30.9
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 75.9
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...
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 for the majority of your 81.5 miles. While only 6% of the route involves highway driving, the longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 16.3 miles along Benns Church Boulevard. This suggests a route that will have you actively navigating through communities and making frequent adjustments. The character of the road is likely to be more engaging than a simple interstate cruise, offering a more hands-on driving experience as you transition between different local roads like James River Drive and Colonial Trail West.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 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?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near VA 337 / West Washington Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 47m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (VA 337 / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (Godwin Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 75.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Expect about $0.22 in tolls one way, starting with Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 (VA 337 / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (Godwin Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 75.9 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 Bellwood, VA before heading back.
