Origin
Virginia Beach, VA
Morning in Virginia Beach on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 45m
Distance
185.3 mi
298 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Virginia Beach, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Ruckersville, VA
Eric Joseph
Virginia Beach, VA to Ruckersville, VA is 185.3 miles and takes about 3h 45m via I 64, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region and entirely within Virginia, offering a straightforward journey. It's a drive that balances highway speeds with a touch of local road familiarity. Given its manageable length and single-day feasibility, it's a great option for a quick relocation or a direct trip to your destination without feeling overly rushed.
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
92.6 miles from Virginia Beach, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 101.3 mi | 1h 50m |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 22.6 mi | 24m |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | 17.7 mi | 24m |
| Spotswood Trail | 12.4 mi | 18m |
| James Madison Highway | 10.8 mi | 15m |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway | 10.6 mi | 14m |
| Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| South Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Virginia Beach, VA and Ruckersville, VA.
Start on 25th Street
Turn right onto US 60
Turn right onto 22nd Street
Continue on I 264
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 64
Continue on I 64; US 60
Continue on I 64; US 60
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 295
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 64
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto US 15
Continue on US 15; US 33
Continue on US 15; US 33
Enter roundabout onto US 33; VA 231
Continue on US 33; VA 231
Continue on US 33
Enter roundabout onto US 33; VA 20
Continue on US 33; VA 20
Continue on US 33
Arrive at destination
With a drive time under 4 hours, this trip is easily completed in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid peak rush hour traffic in the Virginia Beach area. The single stop suggested is likely sufficient for a break on this 185.3-mile journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 101.3-mile stretch on I 64, as services can sometimes be spaced out on longer highway segments. Plan to fill up before you embark or at your designated stop to ensure a smooth arrival in Ruckersville.
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.
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 41 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.6 miles or 1h 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 2h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ruckersville, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach, VA
This is one driving day of about 185.3 miles and 3h 45m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 92.6 miles from Virginia Beach, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 101.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 95.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto US 60 / Pacific Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 64 West, US 13: Newtown Road, Richmond, Military Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 64 West: Norfolk International Airport, Hampton, Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 295 North: Washington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$28.98 one way
$57.95 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $31.68 | $63.37 |
| premium | $4.70 | $34.30 | $68.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.91 | $81.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.6 | 0 | $19.46 | $8.89 |
| Efficient EV | 46.3 | 0 | $16.21 | $7.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.1 | 0 | $25.94 | $11.86 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Virginia Beach on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Ruckersville on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
53°F
Ashland, VA
93 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route features a mixed drive profile, with about 60% on highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 64, which also includes stretches of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway and the Hampton Roads Beltway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 101.3 miles on I 64, offering a good opportunity to settle into a steady pace. Expect the drive to transition from more urban-influenced highway sections early on to potentially more open road as you progress westward.
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 early in the drive near US 60 / Pacific Avenue.
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 16 significant decision points across 185.3 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: near the start (US 60 / Pacific Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Virginia Beach, VA and Ruckersville, VA, road signs point toward Richmond, Military Highway, Hampton, Rocky Mount and Palmyra.
Richmond
Military Highway
Hampton
Rocky Mount
Palmyra
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 45m. Total distance: 185.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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