Traveling from Virginia Beach to Onancock is a straightforward 76.6-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 54 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to head north through the Southeast region without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Shore Drive, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel, and Lankford Highway to reach your destination. With an estimated fuel cost of just $12, it is a budget-friendly way to explore the local area. Because the drive is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your own schedule rather than rushing to beat a long-distance deadline.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.3 miles from Virginia Beach, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lankford Highway
44.2 mi
1h 2m
Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
17.7 mi
24m
Shore Drive
3.4 mi
7m
North Great Neck Road
3.2 mi
5m
First Colonial Road
2.3 mi
4m
Market Street
1.9 mi
3m
Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
1.7 mi
2m
Northampton Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Lankford Highway
— 44.2 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Virginia Beach, VA and Onancock, VA.
1
Start on 25th Street
121 ft·8 sec·25th Street
2
Turn right onto US 60
0.2 mi·33 sec·Pacific Avenue
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto 22nd Street
0.5 mi·46 sec·22nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on I 264
1.7 mi·2 min·Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 21Toward First Colonial Road, Oceana Naval Air StationUse the slight right lane.
6
Turn right onto First Colonial Road
2.3 mi·4 min·First Colonial Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7
Turn right onto VA 279
3.2 mi·5 min·North Great Neck Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto US 60
3.4 mi·7 min·Shore Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 13 NorthUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto US 13
0.4 mi·30 sec·Northampton Boulevard
11
Merge onto US 13
0.3 mi·38 sec·Northampton Boulevard
12
Continue on US 13
18 mi·24 min·Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
13
Continue on US 13
44 mi·1 hr 2 min·Lankford Highway
14
Turn left onto VA 179
0.2 mi·19 sec·West Main Street
15
Continue on VA 179
1.9 mi·3 min·Market Street
16
Turn left onto Queen Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·Queen Street
17
Turn right
173 ft·12 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact trip with no required stops, you have the freedom to hit the road whenever it suits you best. Keep in mind that with a total duration of 1 hour and 54 minutes, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to plan for extended breaks. Before you head out, ensure your vehicle is ready for the specific demands of a turn-heavy route, as consistent maneuvering requires a bit more focus than typical highway driving. Budgeting $12 for fuel is a safe baseline, but always check local prices near your starting point to stay on track. A helpful tip for this specific route is to familiarize yourself with the transition onto Lankford Highway, as it accounts for the majority of your time behind the wheel.
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 38.3 miles from Virginia Beach, VA, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.2 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 17 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.3 miles or 59m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Onancock, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Virginia Beach, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Virginia Beach, VA
This is one driving day of about 76.6 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Virginia Beach, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Lankford Highway for about 44.2 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 11.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 60 / Pacific Avenue
Turn right onto US 60 / Pacific Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|22nd Street
Turn right onto 22nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
2.5 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward First Colonial Road, Oceana Naval Air Station
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 21
Toward First Colonial Road, Oceana Naval Air St...
5
2.7 mi into trip|~4m in|First Colonial Road
Turn right onto First Colonial Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7
11.7 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit toward US 13 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 13 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.98 one way
$23.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.10
$26.19
premium
$4.70
$14.18
$28.35
diesel
$5.61
$16.91
$33.82
Estimated Tolls: $4.00
Chesapeake Bay Bridge
$4.00
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
$12
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23
0
$8.04
$3.68
Efficient EV
19.2
0
$6.70
$3.06
EV Truck/SUV
30.6
0
$10.72
$4.90
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 20, 2026
Origin
Virginia Beach, VA
Late night
in Virginia Beach on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Onancock, VA
Late night
in Onancock on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°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
21 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
1h 54m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While the journey covers 76.6 miles, only a small portion—roughly 2%—is classified as highway, meaning you will spend most of your time on local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs along the 44.2-mile section of Lankford Highway, which serves as the backbone of your route. As you transition from the urban feel of Virginia Beach across the Chesapeake Bay, the road character shifts significantly. You should be prepared for varying road conditions that require steady navigation throughout the nearly two-hour transit.
Only 2% 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: 44.2 mi on Lankford Highway.
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 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 60 / Pacific Avenue.
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 76.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 60 / Pacific Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (22nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 76.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.2 miles on Lankford Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.00 in tolls one way, starting with Chesapeake Bay Bridge. 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.
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 Onancock, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 60 / Pacific Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (22nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Onancock, VA before heading back.
