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Trip from Williamsburg, VA to Richmond, VA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 4m

Distance

53.2 mi

86 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
0h 59m ★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Williamsburg, VA, VA

Williamsburg, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling between Williamsburg and Richmond is a straightforward 53.2-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 4 minutes. Because the route is short and manageable, it serves perfectly as a quick day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You can expect to spend approximately $9 on fuel for the one-way transit, making it a highly budget-friendly commute within the Southeast region of Virginia. Since the entire trip stays within the same regional boundaries, you won't experience significant shifts in climate or terrain. Whether you are heading to the state capital for business or a change of pace, this direct connection is designed for efficiency. It is an ideal option for travelers who prefer a quick transition between cities without the need for complex travel logistics.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 64 48.2 mi 53m
North Henry Street 2 mi 3m
North Lombardy Street 0.6 mi 1m
Brook Road 0.6 mi 1m
Capitol Landing Road 0.6 mi 1m
Admiral Street 0.2 mi <1m
North Boundary Street 0.2 mi <1m
Monument Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 64 — 48.2 mi, about 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Williamsburg, VA and Richmond, VA.

1

Start on VA 5

14 ft · 1 sec · Jamestown Road
2

Turn left onto South Boundary Street

120 ft · 4 sec · South Boundary Street
3

Continue on North Boundary Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · North Boundary Street
4

Turn right onto Scotland Street

474 ft · 20 sec · Scotland Street
5

Turn left onto VA 5; VA 132

2.0 mi · 3 min · North Henry Street
6

At end of road, turn left onto VA 143

0.6 mi · 1 min · Capitol Landing Road
Use the straight lane.
7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 28 sec
8

Merge onto I 64

48 mi · 53 min · I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Exit 76A Toward US 1, US 301: Chamberlayne Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Turn right onto Chamberlayne Avenue

314 ft · 10 sec · Chamberlayne Avenue
Use the right lane.
11

Continue on Brook Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Brook Road
12

Turn left onto Admiral Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Admiral Street
Use the left lane.
13

Enter roundabout onto North Lombardy Street

138 ft · 3 sec · North Lombardy Street
14

Continue on North Lombardy Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Lombardy Street
15

Turn slight right onto Monument Avenue

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Monument Avenue
16

Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle

463 ft · 13 sec · Marcus-David Peters Circle
17

Arrive at destination

Marcus-David Peters Circle

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in southeastern Virginia, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Windsor, VA

27 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.

Pacing Suggestions

West Point, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Windsor, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 26.6 miles from Williamsburg, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 51.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Scotland Street

Turn right onto Scotland Street

Navigation decision point

5
2.3 mi into trip | ~4m in | VA 143 / Capitol Landing Road

At end of road, turn left onto VA 143 / Capitol Landing Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
3.1 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 64

Merge onto I 64

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
51.3 mi into trip | ~59m in

Take the exit toward US 1, US 301: Chamberlayne Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 76A Toward US 1, US 301: Chamberlayne Avenue
6
51.4 mi into trip | ~1h in | Chamberlayne Avenue

Turn right onto Chamberlayne Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.32 one way

$16.64 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $9.10 $18.19
premium $4.70 $9.85 $19.69
diesel $5.61 $11.75 $23.49

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16 0 $5.59 $2.55
Efficient EV 13.3 0 $4.66 $2.13
EV Truck/SUV 21.3 0 $7.45 $3.40

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (68% 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 14, 2026

Origin

Williamsburg, VA

Late night in Williamsburg on Sunday

Local time

2:01 AM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Richmond, VA

Late night in Richmond on Sunday

Local time

2:01 AM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Mostly Clear

SW 3 to 12 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 9:10AM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 8:55AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA

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

6 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 4m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 91% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your trip—48.2 miles—cruising along I-64, which provides a consistent and predictable pace for the duration of the ride. Transitioning from the interstate into the city, you will navigate North Henry Street and North Lombardy Street to reach your final destination. Expect a straightforward experience behind the wheel, as the route lacks technical curves or winding backroads. It is a functional, high-speed corridor that prioritizes getting you to Richmond as quickly as possible rather than offering a leisurely scenic tour.

91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.2 mi on I 64.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and North Henry Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Scotland Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 4m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Scotland Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (VA 143 / Capitol Landing Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 53.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 48.2 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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: at 0.2 miles (Scotland Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (VA 143 / Capitol Landing Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Richmond, VA before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Explore more options from Williamsburg, VA or browse trips ending in Richmond, VA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VA road trips.