This 147.6-mile drive from Suffolk, VA, to Falmouth, VA, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 1 minute to complete. Expect a fuel cost of around $23 for this journey. The route primarily utilizes I-95 and local roads like Benns Church Boulevard, with about 27% of the drive on highways. Given its relatively short duration and the mix of road types, this trip offers a flexible travel experience within the Southeast region. It's a straightforward drive that can be completed with minimal planning.
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
73.8 miles from Suffolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
39.9 mi
43m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
26.3 mi
28m
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
Emancipation Highway
3.3 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 39.9 mi, about 43m
Traffic on I-295
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 41 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~2,725 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,223
Quietest
2 AM
~162 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Suffolk, VA and Falmouth, 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
2.5 mi·3 min·East Hundred Road
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward I 295 North: Washington
14
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·46 sec·this road
Toward I 295 North: Washington
15
Merge onto I 295
26 mi·28 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
16
Take the exit
2.4 mi·2 min
Exit 43AToward I 95 North: WashingtonUse the slight left lane.
17
Merge onto I 95
40 mi·43 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 126AToward US 1 North: FredericksburgUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn straight onto US 1
2.2 mi·4 min·Patriot Highway
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on US 1
3.3 mi·6 min·Emancipation Highway
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 1; US 17 BUS
0.3 mi·27 sec·Cambridge Street
22
Turn right onto Carter Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·Carter Street
23
Turn left onto VA 218
0.1 mi·14 sec·Butler Road
24
Arrive at destination
VA 218
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour drive, starting your journey earlier in the day is a good strategy to avoid potential traffic, especially if you encounter any on I-95. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $23, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to pause. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a significant break is nearly 40 miles. Since this is a single-day trip, you can adjust your pace as needed, but factor in the "turn-heavy" nature of the route when estimating your arrival 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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.8 miles from Suffolk, VA, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.9 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 32 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.8 miles or 1h 35m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Falmouth, 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 147.6 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 95 for about 39.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 141 — 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.
7
98.7 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 43A
Toward I 95 North: Washington
5
101.1 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
141 mi into trip|~2h 48m in
Take the exit toward US 1 North: Fredericksburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 126A
Toward US 1 North: Fredericksburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.48 one way
$46.95 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$25.60
$51.20
premium
$4.78
$27.77
$55.54
diesel
$5.35
$31.09
$62.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.3
0
$15.50
$7.08
Efficient EV
36.9
0
$12.92
$5.90
EV Truck/SUV
59
0
$20.66
$9.45
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 Jun 3, 2026
Origin
Suffolk, VA
Evening
in Suffolk on Wednesday
Local time
6:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Clear
SW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 2 at 8:05PM EDT until June 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Falmouth, VA
Evening
in Falmouth on Wednesday
Local time
6:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
NW 2 to 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 2 at 8:05PM EDT until June 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
85°F
Waverly, VA
74 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
2 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 1m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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
~26 min detour
$15
near mile 30.5
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 71.2
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 15.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a "turn-heavy local drive" experience, meaning you'll encounter frequent changes in direction rather than long, monotonous stretches. While only 27% of the drive is on highways, the longest uninterrupted segment you'll experience is 39.9 miles on I-95. This suggests a journey that blends faster-paced highway travel with more engaging, varied local road navigation. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience as you transition between these different road types throughout the 147.6 miles.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.9 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near VA 337 / West Washington Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 147.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 (VA 337 / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (Godwin Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 98.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 1m. Total distance: 147.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.9 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 Falmouth, 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: near the start (VA 337 / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (Godwin Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 98.7 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Falmouth, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
