How far is Charlottesville, VA from Chesapeake, VA?

The driving distance from Charlottesville, VA to Chesapeake, VA is about 164.4 miles (264.5 km), with a travel time of about 02h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 146.9 miles (236.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
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
164.37 mi
02h 39m
Flight
146.92 mi
236.45 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Charlottesville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
146.92 mi
Kilometers
236.45 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
164.37 mi
Kilometers
264.52 km
Drive Time
02h 39m

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 02h 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chesapeake
Thu, Apr 30, 11:52 AM EDT
Return by in Charlottesville
Thu, Apr 30, 2:32 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Charlottesville
2026-04-30T09:12
Arrive Chesapeake
Thu, Apr 30, 11:52 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:40 AM to 12:40 PM EDT

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

Leave by
1:10 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Charlottesville
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Windsor
VA

Town in southeastern Virginia, United States

From Charlottesville
82.8 mi
01h 19m
To Chesapeake
81.5 mi
01h 19m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph NW
Destination
73°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
12 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Charlottesville and Chesapeake.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Charlottesville and Chesapeake.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    71 m · 19 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Market Street

    75 m · 10 sec · East Market Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 9th Street Northeast

    666 ft · 31 sec · 9th Street Northeast

  4. 4

    Continue on East High Street

    1.4 km · 3 min · East High Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Long Street

    96 m · 8 sec · Long Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Richmond Road

    1.9 mi · 4 min · Richmond Road

  7. 7

    Take the exit left toward I 64 East

    1558 ft · 38 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    52.4 mi · 56 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    22.9 mi · 25 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach

    1.3 mi · 3 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    66.8 mi · 1 hr 15 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Hampton Roads Beltway

    104 m · 5 sec · Hampton Roads Beltway

  14. 14

    Continue on Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel

  15. 15

    Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway

    6.7 mi · 9 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 194 South: Chesapeake Boulevard

    1312 ft · 32 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto Chesapeake Boulevard

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Chesapeake Boulevard

  18. 18

    Turn straight

    41 m · 8 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Ballentine Boulevard

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Ballentine Boulevard

  20. 20

    Turn right onto East Princess Anne Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · East Princess Anne Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Park Avenue

    3186 ft · 1 min · Park Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn left onto East Brambleton Avenue

    1692 ft · 58 sec · East Brambleton Avenue

  23. 23

    Continue on Campostella Road

    1.1 km · 2 min · Campostella Road

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Wilson Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Wilson Road

  25. 25

    Continue on 22nd Street

    1606 ft · 27 sec · 22nd Street

  26. 26

    Continue on Poindexter Street

    1391 ft · 29 sec · Poindexter Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto D Street

    126 m · 18 sec · D Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · D Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Charlottesville and Chesapeake.

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
28 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 64 East
121 mi · 74%
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi · 14%
Hampton Roads Beltway
6.8 mi · 4%
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
3.5 mi · 2%
Chesapeake Boulevard
2.11 mi · 1%
Richmond Road
1.94 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 64 East

Merge slight left

66.8 mi · 01h 15m

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
02h 39m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+17.5 mi
146.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Windsor
01h 19m from Charlottesville
Leave By
1:10 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Charlottesville and Mostly Sunny near Chesapeake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Charlottesville to Chesapeake?

The road trip is about 164.4 miles (264.5 km) and usually takes 02h 39m 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?

Windsor is a useful midpoint, sitting about 82.8 miles from Charlottesville and 81.5 miles from Chesapeake.

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

The direct path is about 146.9 miles (236.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 17.5 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:10 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.97 one way or $45.95 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Charlottesville and Mostly Sunny near Chesapeake.

Stop Ideas Near Windsor

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Windsor and the surrounding midpoint area.
Town Hall
Food stop 14.1 mi away

Town Hall

Richmond , VA
3123 W Cary St, Richmond, VA 23221
Rating 4.9/5 13 reviews Restaurant
Old City Hall
Scenic stop 11.3 mi away

Old City Hall

Richmond , VA
1001 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219, United States
Rating 4.4/5 32 reviews Tourist attraction,Land surveyor,Historical landmark
City of Richmond Virginia (City Hall)
Meeting point 11.4 mi away

City of Richmond Virginia (City Hall)

Richmond , VA
900 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219
Rating 2.9/5 40 reviews City government office,Police department,Tax assessor
City Hall
Nearby stop 11.4 mi away

City Hall

Richmond , VA
900 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219
Rating 3.9/5 85 reviews Bike sharing station

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Windsor.

RAIL

Richmond Main Street Station

19 mi away
1500 East Main Street
RAIL

Richmond Staples Mill Road station

27 mi away
7519 Staples Mill Road
RAIL

Petersburg station

35 mi away
3516 South Street
RAIL

Ashland

37 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Charlottesville and Chesapeake. Straight-line distance: 146.92 mi (236.45 km).

Charlottesville

#1 Charlottesville

The capital of Virginia.

Population46,950
Coordinates38.0293100, -78.4766800
Altitude142
CountryUnited States
Chesapeake

#2 Chesapeake

The second most populous city in Virginia.

Population247,011
Coordinates36.8190400, -76.2749400
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Start: (-78.476567, 38.029526)
End: D Street (-76.275044, 36.81897)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 265 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 28m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 06m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 17m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.8 gal
21.96 L · about $22.97
Round trip
$45.95
11.6 gal · 43.92 L
Estimated CO2
51.5 kg one way
Round trip: 103.1 kg / 227 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $22.97 $45.95
Mid-grade $4.43 $25.69 $51.38
Premium $4.78 $27.71 $55.42
Diesel $5.62 $32.62 $65.24

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Charlottesville and Chesapeake. The current time is 09:12:09.

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.