Suffolk, VA to Lebanon, VA is 378.3 miles and takes about 7h 57m via I 81 and Richmond Highway, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia, traveling from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a mix of interstate cruising and surface road driving. It's a manageable one-day trip, perfect if you want to reach your destination without an overnight stop.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
189.2 miles from Suffolk, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
131.7 mi
2h 24m
Richmond Highway
31.1 mi
38m
US 460
30 mi
36m
New Cox Road
23 mi
26m
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
16 mi
20m
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
14.6 mi
18m
General Mahone Highway
14.3 mi
19m
West Colonial Trail Highway
13.1 mi
16m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 131.7 mi, about 2h 24m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 102 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,662 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,297
Quietest
2 AM
~250 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Lebanon, VA.
1
Start on South Saratoga Street
165 ft·9 sec·South Saratoga Street
2
Turn left onto VA 337
0.8 mi·1 min·West Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Turn right onto US 58 BUS
0.3 mi·46 sec·West Constance Road
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto SR 604
3.9 mi·6 min·Pitchkettle Road
5
At end of road, turn right onto SR 634
0.1 mi·15 sec·Kings Fork Road
6
Turn left onto Providence Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Providence Road
7
Turn left onto US 460
3.1 mi·5 min·Pruden Boulevard
8
Continue on US 460
9.9 mi·15 min·Windsor Boulevard
9
Continue on US 460
8.4 mi·11 min·General Mahone Boulevard
10
Continue on US 460
0.1 mi·9 sec·Mahone Highway
11
Continue on US 460
2.0 mi·2 min·General Mahone Highway
12
Continue on US 460
1.1 mi·2 min·South County Drive
13
Continue on US 460
6.2 mi·8 min·General Mahone Highway
14
Continue on US 460
1.4 mi·2 min·South County Drive
15
Continue on US 460
6.1 mi·8 min·General Mahone Highway
16
Continue on US 460
9.5 mi·14 min·County Drive
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto SR 630
1.9 mi·3 min·Rives Road
Use the left lane.
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 95 North
19
Merge onto I 95
3.7 mi·4 min·I 95
20
Take the exit onto US 460
0.6 mi·1 min·US 460
Toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham, BlackstoneUse the right lane.
21
Merge onto I 85; US 460
6.0 mi·7 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
22
Take the exit onto US 460
0.2 mi·25 sec·US 460
Exit 61Toward US 460 West: Blackstone, LynchburgUse the slight right lane.
23
Continue on US 460
1.1 mi·1 min·Airport Street
24
Continue on US 460
23 mi·26 min·New Cox Road
25
Continue on US 460
4.3 mi·5 min·East Colonial Trail Highway
26
Continue on US 460
6.9 mi·7 min·East Colonial Trail Road
27
Continue on US 460
7.5 mi·11 min·East Colonial Trail
28
Merge onto US 360; US 460
1.5 mi·2 min·West Colonial Trail Highway
29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
12 mi·14 min·West Colonial Trail Highway
30
Keep slight left at fork onto US 460
29 mi·34 min·US 460
31
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
31 mi·38 min·Richmond Highway
Toward US 460 West: Lynchburg
32
Continue on US 460
16 mi·20 min·East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
33
Continue on US 221; US 460
15 mi·18 min·West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
34
Continue on US 221; US 460
5.5 mi·7 min·Blue Ridge Boulevard
35
Continue on US 221; US 460
0.3 mi·32 sec·Challenger Avenue Northeast
Use the straight lane.
36
Turn right onto US 220 Alt
5.0 mi·6 min·Cloverdale Road
37
Continue on US 220
0.2 mi·13 sec·Roanoke Road
38
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
39
Merge onto I 81
76 mi·1 hr 25 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
40
Continue on I 77; I 81; US 52
1.3 mi·1 min·I 77; I 81; US 52
Use the straight lane.
41
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 52
56 mi·59 min·I 81; US 52
Use the straight lane.
42
Take the exit onto US 58 ALT
0.2 mi·25 sec·US 58 ALT
Toward US 58 Alternate, VA 75: Abingdon, South Holston Dam
43
Turn right onto US 58 ALT; VA 75
0.8 mi·2 min·Cummings Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
44
At end of road, turn left onto Valley Street Northwest
0.3 mi·48 sec·Valley Street Northwest
Use the left lane.
45
At end of road, turn right onto US 58 ALT
0.9 mi·2 min·Russell Road Northwest
Use the right lane.
46
Turn slight right onto US 19; US 58 ALT
10 mi·14 min·Porterfield Highway
47
Continue on US 19; US 58 ALT
7.2 mi·9 min·US 19; US 58 ALT
Use the left lane.
48
Take the exit onto US 19 Business
0.3 mi·38 sec·US 19 Business
Toward US 19 BUS, SR 660: Lebanon, Cleveland
49
Turn left onto US 19 Business
1.5 mi·3 min·West Main Street
Use the straight lane.
50
Arrive at destination
US 19 Business
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7h 57m drive, consider leaving Suffolk early in the morning. With 2 planned stops, you can break up the 378.3 miles comfortably. The longest stretch without a stop could be up to 131.7 miles on I 81, so make sure you're fueled up before entering that segment. The estimated fuel cost is around $58, so budget accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition from highway to surface roads in the latter half of the trip.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 189.2 miles from Suffolk, VA, or about 4h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131.7 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 83 miles or 1h 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.2 miles or 4h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lebanon, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Suffolk, VA
This is one driving day of about 378.3 miles and 7h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Suffolk, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 131.7 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 357.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|US 58 BUS / West Constance Road
Turn right onto US 58 BUS / West Constance Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
53.3 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|SR 630 / Rives Road
Turn left onto SR 630 / Rives Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
59.2 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|US 460
Take the exit onto US 460 toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham, Blackstone
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham, Blackst...
8
65.8 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|US 460
Take the exit onto US 460 toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 61
Toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg
7
357.8 mi into trip|~7h 25m in|Valley Street Northwest
At end of road, turn left onto Valley Street Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.10 one way
$120.19 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg132 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$65.53
$131.06
premium
$4.78
$71.19
$142.38
diesel
$6.18
$92.03
$184.06
Estimated Tolls: $2.56
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
(16 mi)$1.12
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
(14.6 mi)$1.02
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(6 mi)$0.42
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
$60
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113.5
1
$39.72
$18.16
Efficient EV
94.6
1
$33.10
$15.13
EV Truck/SUV
151.3
1
$52.96
$24.21
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Suffolk, VA
Afternoon
in Suffolk on Monday
Local time
3:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Partly Cloudy
N 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 19 at 5:03AM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 19 at 4:09AM EDT until October 22 at 1:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Lebanon, VA
Afternoon
in Lebanon on Monday
Local time
3:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 19 at 5:03AM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 19 at 4:09AM EDT until October 22 at 1:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
66°F
Bedford, VA
189 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
13 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
7h 57m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Petersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
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...
On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the effective end of the nation's largest war. Question...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 156.5
Booker T. Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 195.7
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...
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...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
$15
near mile 26.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 56% highway, so you'll spend a good portion of your time on I 81. The longest continuous stretch on the interstate is 131.7 miles. You'll transition from Richmond Highway onto US 460 before joining I 81, and then eventually exit the interstate for the final leg. Expect typical interstate traffic patterns and then more rural cruising as you get closer to Lebanon.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
50 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 131.7 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 0.9 miles in near US 58 BUS / West Constance Road.
Driving Effort10/10
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 26 significant decision points across 378.3 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 0.9 miles (US 58 BUS / West Constance Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 53.3 miles (SR 630 / Rives Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 59.2 miles (US 460): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,316 ft50 ft
Total Climb
2,304 ft
Total Descent
301 ft
Highest Point
2,316 ft
~324.3 mi in
Elevation Range
2,266 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Suffolk, VA and Lebanon, VA, road signs point toward Blackstone, Lynchburg and Holston Dam.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 57m. Total distance: 378.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 57m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 131.7 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.56 in tolls one way, starting with East Lynchburg Salem 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 — we found about 21 rest areas or service plazas 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 Lebanon, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (US 58 BUS / West Constance Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 53.3 miles (SR 630 / Rives Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 59.2 miles (US 460): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Petersburg National Battlefield, Appomattox Court House National Historical Park and Booker T Washington National Monument (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 15.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lebanon, VA before the return drive.
