How far is Brightwood, VA from Richmond, VA?

The driving distance from Brightwood, VA to Richmond, VA is about 88.6 miles (142.6 km), with a travel time of about 01h 40m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 72 miles (115.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 20m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
88.6 mi
01h 40m
Flight
72.04 mi
115.93 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Brightwood.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
72.04 mi
Kilometers
115.93 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
88.6 mi
Kilometers
142.58 km
Drive Time
01h 40m

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 01h 40m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Richmond
Tue, Nov 10, 9:32 AM EST
Return by in Brightwood
Tue, Nov 10, 11:12 AM EST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Brightwood
2026-11-10T07:52
Arrive Richmond
Tue, Nov 10, 9:32 AM EST
Route Timing
01h 40m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:40 AM to 11:40 AM EST

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:10 PM EST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Brightwood
9:30 PM EST
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Louisa
VA

County in Virginia, United States

From Brightwood
44 mi
00h 50m
To Richmond
44.6 mi
00h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Nov 10 6:00 AM EST
Wind
0 to 3 mph SW
Destination
70°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Nov 10 6:00 AM EST
Wind
2 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Brightwood and Richmond.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brightwood and Richmond.

  1. 1

    Start on Ridgeview Road

    1374 ft · 39 sec · Ridgeview Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Seminole Trail

    5 mi · 7 min · North Seminole Trail

  3. 3

    Turn slight left onto Fairground Road

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Fairground Road

  4. 4

    Continue on South Blue Ridge Turnpike

    9.9 mi · 17 min · South Blue Ridge Turnpike

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Blue Ridge Turnpike

    36 m · 2 sec · Blue Ridge Turnpike

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto Blue Ridge Turnpike

    6.1 mi · 11 min · Blue Ridge Turnpike

  7. 7

    At the end of the road, turn left onto North Main Street

    813 ft · 15 sec · North Main Street

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    22 m · 1 sec

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout

    1.1 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Turn slight right onto Martinsburg Avenue

    2056 ft · 35 sec · Martinsburg Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on James Madison Highway

    11 mi · 16 min · James Madison Highway

  12. 12

    Take the ramp slight left

    2073 ft · 51 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    49.3 mi · 55 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 195 South: Laburnum Avenue

    953 ft · 15 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 195 South

    1076 ft · 17 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on Beltline Expressway

    1.2 km · 1 min · Beltline Expressway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 33, US 250: Broad Street, Hamilton Street

    969 ft · 24 sec

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto North Hamilton Street

    866 ft · 32 sec · North Hamilton Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto West Broad Street

    1.5 mi · 4 min · West Broad Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto North Allen Avenue

    651 ft · 18 sec · North Allen Avenue

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout toward Marcus-David Peters Circle

    84 m · 8 sec · Marcus-David Peters Circle

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Marcus-David Peters Circle

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Brightwood and Richmond.

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
22 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
1 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
24.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
James Madison Highway
60.6 mi · 68%
South Blue Ridge Turnpike
9.88 mi · 11%
Blue Ridge Turnpike
6.11 mi · 7%
North Seminole Trail
4.99 mi · 6%
Fairground Road
1.73 mi · 2%
West Broad Street
1.53 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

James Madison Highway

Merge slight left

49.3 mi · 00h 55m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 40m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.6 mi
72 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Louisa
00h 50m from Brightwood
Leave By
3:10 PM EST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Brightwood and Sunny near Richmond.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Brightwood to Richmond?

The road trip is about 88.6 miles (142.6 km) and usually takes 01h 40m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Louisa is a useful midpoint, sitting about 44 miles from Brightwood and 44.6 miles from Richmond.

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

The direct path is about 72 miles (115.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:10 PM EST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $12.08 one way or $24.17 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 27.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Brightwood and Sunny near Richmond.

Stop Ideas Near Louisa

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Louisa, 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 Louisa.

RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

43 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Culpeper station

50 mi away
109 South Commerce Street
RAIL

Ashland

55 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Fredericksburg

57 mi away
200 Lafayette Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Brightwood and Richmond. Straight-line distance: 72.04 mi (115.93 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Brightwood

Brightwood is a place in Virginia, United States.

Population0
Coordinates38.4215200, -78.1936100
Altitude179
CountryUnited States
Richmond

#2 Richmond

The capital of Virginia.

Population232,226
Coordinates37.5537600, -77.4602600
Altitude64
CountryUnited States
Start: Ridgeview Road (-78.19368, 38.421607)
End: Robert E. Lee Circle (-77.460437, 37.553637)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 143 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.13 gal
11.83 L · about $12.08
Round trip
$24.17
6.26 gal · 23.66 L
Estimated CO2
27.8 kg one way
Round trip: 55.6 kg / 123 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.86 $12.08 $24.17
Mid-grade $4.35 $13.62 $27.24
Premium $4.77 $14.93 $29.85
Diesel $6.16 $19.27 $38.54

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 · Nov 09, 2026

There is no time difference between Brightwood and Richmond. The current time is 07:52:41.

Distance to Other Cities

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