How far is Charlottesville, VA from Petersburg, VA?

The driving distance from Charlottesville, VA to Petersburg, VA is about 80.6 miles (129.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 65 miles (104.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 30m 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
80.59 mi
01h 45m
Flight
64.97 mi
104.56 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
64.97 mi
Kilometers
104.56 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
80.59 mi
Kilometers
129.7 km
Drive Time
01h 45m

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 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Petersburg
Fri, Apr 17, 4:47 AM EDT
Return by in Charlottesville
Fri, Apr 17, 6:33 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Charlottesville
2026-04-17T03:02
Arrive Petersburg
Fri, Apr 17, 4:47 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:45 AM to 11:45 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:00 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

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
Madison
VA

City in Madison County, Florida, United States

From Charlottesville
40.2 mi
00h 52m
To Petersburg
40.4 mi
00h 52m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Friday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph W
Destination
79°F
Friday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    71 m · 23 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Market Street

    55 m · 10 sec · East Market Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 7th Street Northeast

    587 ft · 31 sec · 7th Street Northeast

  4. 4

    Turn left onto East High Street

    96 m · 15 sec · East High Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Park Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Park Street

  6. 6

    Turn left

    77 m · 7 sec

  7. 7

    Take the ramp straight toward US 250 West

    43 m · 4 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto U.S. 250 Bypass

    1.5 mi · 3 min · U.S. 250 Bypass

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Hydraulic Road

    1341 ft · 34 sec · Hydraulic Road

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Hydraulic Road

    29 m · 3 sec · Hydraulic Road

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout onto Hydraulic Road

    865 ft · 23 sec · Hydraulic Road

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Seminole Trail

    24.7 mi · 37 min · Seminole Trail

  13. 13

    Turn slight left onto South Main Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

  14. 14

    Turn slight left onto North Blue Ridge Turnpike

    5.4 mi · 8 min · North Blue Ridge Turnpike

  15. 15

    Continue on South F T Valley Road

    7.1 mi · 11 min · South F T Valley Road

  16. 16

    Continue on F.T. Valley Road

    8.2 mi · 11 min · F.T. Valley Road

  17. 17

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Sperryville Pike

    1.1 km · 1 min · Sperryville Pike

  18. 18

    Continue on Sperryville Pike

    543 ft · 21 sec · Sperryville Pike

  19. 19

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Lee Highway

    8.1 mi · 11 min · Lee Highway

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Zachary Taylor Highway

    10.1 mi · 15 min · Zachary Taylor Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on Remount Road

    4.7 mi · 7 min · Remount Road

  22. 22

    Turn right onto John Marshall Highway

    7.3 mi · 12 min · John Marshall Highway

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · John Marshall Highway

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
23 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
28.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Seminole Trail
24.7 mi · 31%
Zachary Taylor Highway
10.1 mi · 12%
F.T. Valley Road
8.17 mi · 10%
Lee Highway
8.07 mi · 10%
John Marshall Highway
7.26 mi · 9%
South F T Valley Road
7.09 mi · 9%
Longest Stretch

Seminole Trail

Turn right onto Seminole Trail

24.7 mi · 00h 37m

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 45m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15.6 mi
65 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Madison
00h 52m from Charlottesville
Leave By
3:00 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Charlottesville and Chance Rain Showers near Petersburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 80.6 miles (129.7 km) and usually takes 01h 45m 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?

Madison is a useful midpoint, sitting about 40.2 miles from Charlottesville and 40.4 miles from Petersburg.

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

The direct path is about 65 miles (104.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 15.6 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:00 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.29 one way or $22.58 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 25.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers around Charlottesville and Chance Rain Showers near Petersburg.

Stop Ideas Near Madison

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

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

RAIL

Culpeper station

25 mi away
109 South Commerce Street
RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

44 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Fredericksburg

70 mi away
200 Lafayette Blvd.
RAIL

Staunton station

76 mi away
1 Middlebrook Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Charlottesville and Petersburg. Straight-line distance: 64.97 mi (104.56 km).

Charlottesville

#1 Charlottesville

The capital of Virginia.

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

#2 Petersburg

Independent city in Virginia, United States

Population30,446
Coordinates38.9092800, -78.0533300
Altitude240
CountryUnited States
Start: (-78.476567, 38.029526)
End: John Marshall Highway (-78.053329, 38.909317)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 130 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.85 gal
10.77 L · about $11.29
Round trip
$22.58
5.7 gal · 21.54 L
Estimated CO2
25.3 kg one way
Round trip: 50.7 kg / 112 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $11.29 $22.58
Mid-grade $4.43 $12.62 $25.25
Premium $4.78 $13.62 $27.23
Diesel $5.62 $16.03 $32.06

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Charlottesville and Petersburg. The current time is 03:02:25.

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.