How far is Bedford, VA from Norfolk, VA?

The driving distance from Bedford, VA to Norfolk, VA is about 212.6 miles (342.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 181.6 miles (292.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 33m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
212.56 mi
03h 46m
Flight
181.6 mi
292.25 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bedford.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
181.6 mi
Kilometers
292.25 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
212.56 mi
Kilometers
342.08 km
Drive Time
03h 46m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Norfolk
Thu, Apr 23, 10:33 AM EDT
Return by in Bedford
Thu, Apr 23, 2:19 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bedford
2026-04-23T06:46
Arrive Norfolk
Thu, Apr 23, 10:33 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:47 AM to 11:47 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:26 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bedford
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Chesterfield Court House
VA

Census designated place in Virginia, USA

From Bedford
108.3 mi
01h 53m
To Norfolk
104.3 mi
01h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph W
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bedford and Norfolk.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bedford and Norfolk.

  1. 1

    Start on East Main Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · East Main Street

  2. 2

    Take the ramp left toward US 460 East

    76.9 mi · 1 hr 36 min

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Holly Farms Road

    9.3 mi · 13 min · Holly Farms Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Patrick Henry Highway

    17.2 mi · 22 min · Patrick Henry Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Hull Street Road

    13.7 mi · 20 min · Hull Street Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Commonwealth Centre Parkway

    1.5 km · 2 min · Commonwealth Centre Parkway

  7. 7

    Take the ramp straight

    19 m · 2 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on VA 288 South

    1577 ft · 40 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto World War II Veterans Memorial Highway

    12.1 mi · 14 min · World War II Veterans Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 95 South: Petersburg

    1495 ft · 37 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 10 East: Hopewell

    1605 ft · 39 sec

  13. 13

    Continue on West Hundred Road

    6.8 mi · 10 min · West Hundred Road

  14. 14

    Continue on West Randolph Road

    2.9 mi · 4 min · West Randolph Road

  15. 15

    Continue on James River Drive

    14.6 mi · 19 min · James River Drive

  16. 16

    Continue on Colonial Trail West

    13.3 mi · 15 min · Colonial Trail West

  17. 17

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Rolfe Highway

    1 mi · 2 min · Rolfe Highway

  18. 18

    Take the exit right

    45 m · 6 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Colonial Trail East

    9.8 mi · 11 min · Colonial Trail East

  20. 20

    Continue on Old Stage Highway

    12 mi · 16 min · Old Stage Highway

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on Brewers Neck Boulevard

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Brewers Neck Boulevard

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right

    713 ft · 20 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left onto Carrollton Boulevard

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Carrollton Boulevard

  24. 24

    Continue on Bridge Road

    6.2 mi · 11 min · Bridge Road

  25. 25

    Keep slight right to continue on Western Freeway

    6.8 mi · 9 min · Western Freeway

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight left toward US 58 East: Tunnel Norfolk

    1881 ft · 36 sec

  27. 27

    Keep slight left to continue on US 58 East: Tunnel Norfolk

    2003 ft · 38 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight right

    1.2 mi · 3 min

  29. 29

    Take the exit slight right toward US 58 East: Brambleton Avenue, Downtown Norfolk

    1.6 mi · 4 min

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Saint Pauls Boulevard

    2593 ft · 1 min · Saint Pauls Boulevard

  31. 31

    Turn left onto East City Hall Avenue

    48 m · 10 sec · East City Hall Avenue

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East City Hall Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bedford and Norfolk.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
32 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
5 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 460 East
76.9 mi · 36%
Patrick Henry Highway
17.2 mi · 8%
James River Drive
14.6 mi · 7%
Hull Street Road
13.7 mi · 6%
Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi · 6%
World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
12.1 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

US 460 East

Take the ramp left toward US 460 East

76.9 mi · 01h 36m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 46m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31 mi
181.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chesterfield Court House
01h 53m from Bedford
Leave By
9:26 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Bedford and Sunny near Norfolk.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bedford to Norfolk?

The road trip is about 212.6 miles (342.1 km) and usually takes 03h 46m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Chesterfield Court House is a useful midpoint, sitting about 108.3 miles from Bedford and 104.3 miles from Norfolk.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 181.6 miles (292.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 31 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:26 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.71 one way or $59.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 66.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Bedford and Sunny near Norfolk.

Stop Ideas Near Chesterfield Court House

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Chesterfield Court House, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Chesterfield Court House.

RAIL

Petersburg station

16 mi away
3516 South Street
RAIL

Richmond Main Street Station

19 mi away
1500 East Main Street
RAIL

Richmond Staples Mill Road station

26 mi away
7519 Staples Mill Road
RAIL

Ashland

43 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bedford and Norfolk. Straight-line distance: 181.6 mi (292.25 km).

Bedford

#1 Bedford

Town in Bedford County, Virginia, United States

Population6,644
Coordinates37.3343100, -79.5230900
Altitude306
CountryUnited States
Norfolk

#2 Norfolk

The most populous city in Virginia.

Population242,803
Coordinates36.8468100, -76.2852200
Altitude2
CountryUnited States
Start: East Main Street (-79.523079, 37.334334)
End: US 460 Alternate (-76.285227, 36.846793)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 342 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 15m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.5 gal
28.39 L · about $29.71
Round trip
$59.42
15 gal · 56.78 L
Estimated CO2
66.7 kg one way
Round trip: 133.3 kg / 294 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $29.71 $59.42
Mid-grade $4.43 $33.22 $66.44
Premium $4.78 $35.83 $71.67
Diesel $5.62 $42.18 $84.36

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Virginia · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Bedford and Norfolk. The current time is 06:46:06.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.