Traveling from Suffolk to Bridgewater covers 215.2 miles and takes approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes of drive time. Since this route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, you can comfortably complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $34 on fuel for the trip. Navigating through the Southeast region of Virginia, you will rely on local routes like West Washington Street, North Main Street, and Pruden Boulevard rather than major interstates. It is a straightforward trip if you prefer backroads over high-speed highway travel, making it a practical choice for those who enjoy a steady pace.
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
107.6 miles from Suffolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
99.6 mi
1h 50m
I 81
17.8 mi
19m
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
17.3 mi
21m
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
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 99.6 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Suffolk, VA and Bridgewater, 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
17 mi·21 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
100 mi·1 hr 50 min·I 64
Exit 79Toward I 64 West, I 195 South: CharlottesvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·47 sec
Toward I 81 North: Staunton, Winchester
17
Merge onto I 81
18 mi·19 min·I 81
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward VA 257, SR 682: Mount Crawford, Bridgewater, TO Walton Way, Buc-ees Boulevard
19
Keep slight left at fork
226 ft·7 sec
Toward VA 257, SR 682: Mount Crawford, Bridgewater, TO Walton Way
20
Turn left onto VA 257
0.9 mi·1 min·Friedens Church Road
21
Continue on VA 257
2.5 mi·4 min·Dinkel Avenue
22
Turn left onto North Liberty Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·North Liberty Street
23
Turn right onto East College Street
188 ft·8 sec·East College Street
24
Arrive at destination
East College Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4 hour and 20 minute drive, try to depart early in the morning to account for the local traffic patterns often found on town streets. Since you have a 1-stop plan, pick a location midway to stretch your legs and refresh, as the technical nature of these local roads can be more tiring than standard highway driving. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as local routes may have fewer high-capacity service stations than a major interstate corridor. Because this is a one-day trip, your primary advantage is flexibility; take your time through the turns and enjoy the shift in scenery. A key tip for this route is to map out your specific turns on West Washington Street and Pruden Boulevard in advance, as navigation can be trickier on local roads than on a simple highway path.
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 107.6 miles from Suffolk, VA, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 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 47 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.6 miles or 2h 17m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bridgewater, 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.
+
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 Suffolk, VA
This is one driving day of about 215.2 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Suffolk, 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 64 for about 99.6 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 211.6 — 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
9
93.5 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 79
Toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
7
211.6 mi into trip|~4h 12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward VA 257, SR 682: Mount Crawford, Bridgewater, TO Walton Way
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward VA 257, SR 682: Mount Crawford, Bridgewa...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.65 one way
$67.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$36.80
$73.59
premium
$4.70
$39.83
$79.66
diesel
$5.61
$47.51
$95.03
Estimated Tolls: $1.21
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(17.3 mi)$1.21
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
$34
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.6
0
$22.60
$10.33
Efficient EV
53.8
0
$18.83
$8.61
EV Truck/SUV
86.1
1
$30.13
$13.77
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 21, 2026
Origin
Suffolk, VA
Morning
in Suffolk on Tuesday
Local time
6:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bridgewater, VA
Morning
in Bridgewater on Tuesday
Local time
6:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
4h 19m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a unique personality, moving away from typical interstate monotony in favor of a turn-heavy local experience. With a 0% highway share, you will be navigating surface roads for the entirety of the 215.2-mile journey. Be prepared for a more engaged driving experience as you transition through various local corridors. The rhythm of the road remains consistent, requiring your full attention due to the frequent turns associated with local street travel. You won't find long, uninterrupted stretches here, so keep your focus sharp as you navigate the transition from the southeastern corner of the state toward Bridgewater.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.6 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near VA 337 / West Washington Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 215.2 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: 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Suffolk, VA to Bridgewater, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Winchester along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 19m. Total distance: 215.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.6 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.21 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Bridgewater, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Bridgewater, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
