How far is Chesapeake, VA from Gretna, VA?

The driving distance from Chesapeake, VA to Gretna, VA is about 211.1 miles (339.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 170.7 miles (274.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 40m 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
211.14 mi
04h 50m
Flight
170.67 mi
274.67 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chesapeake.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
170.67 mi
Kilometers
274.67 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
211.14 mi
Kilometers
339.8 km
Drive Time
04h 50m

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 04h 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gretna
Fri, Apr 17, 11:46 PM EDT
Return by in Chesapeake
Sat, Apr 18, 4:36 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chesapeake
2026-04-17T18:56
Arrive Gretna
Fri, Apr 17, 11:46 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:50 AM to 12:50 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:20 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chesapeake
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
Brodnax
VA

Town in Virginia, United States

From Chesapeake
105.4 mi
02h 25m
To Gretna
105.7 mi
02h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 mph W
Destination
87°F
Friday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on D Street

    126 m · 21 sec · D Street

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Poindexter Street

    1617 ft · 29 sec · Poindexter Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp straight toward I 464 North

    1284 ft · 18 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    1.2 mi · 1 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on I 264 West Toll: Downtown Tunnel, Portsmouth

    580 ft · 14 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 264 West Toll: Tunnel

    2569 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    6.7 mi · 10 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond

    1 km · 47 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    2197 ft · 31 sec · Hampton Roads Beltway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military Highway

    1598 ft · 54 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    3155 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Continue on West Military Highway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · West Military Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Portsmouth Boulevard

    62.1 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Portsmouth Boulevard

  14. 14

    Continue on Courtland Road

    5.2 mi · 7 min · Courtland Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Pleasant Shade Drive

    6.3 mi · 9 min · Pleasant Shade Drive

  16. 16

    Continue on Governor Harrison Parkway

    22.5 mi · 30 min · Governor Harrison Parkway

  17. 17

    Continue on Piney Pond Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Piney Pond Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Highway 58

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Highway 58

  19. 19

    Continue on East Atlantic Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · East Atlantic Street

  20. 20

    Continue on South Hill Bypass

    3.5 mi · 5 min · South Hill Bypass

  21. 21

    Continue on Highway 1

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Highway 1

  22. 22

    Continue on Highway 58

    18.9 mi · 24 min · Highway 58

  23. 23

    Turn straight onto Clarksville Bypass

    4 mi · 5 min · Clarksville Bypass

  24. 24

    Continue on Highway 58

    18 mi · 23 min · Highway 58

  25. 25

    Turn right onto John Randolph Boulevard

    1.1 mi · 2 min · John Randolph Boulevard

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Hodges Street

    2928 ft · 1 min · Hodges Street

  27. 27

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

    1.8 mi · 3 min · North Main Street

  28. 28

    Continue on Old Halifax Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · Old Halifax Road

  29. 29

    Take the ramp straight

    81 m · 7 sec

  30. 30

    Merge slight left onto Halifax Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Halifax Road

  31. 31

    Continue on South Main Street

    2011 ft · 1 min · South Main Street

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Mountain Road

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Mountain Road

  33. 33

    Turn right onto Chatham Road

    12.9 mi · 19 min · Chatham Road

  34. 34

    Continue on Halifax Road

    14.4 mi · 20 min · Halifax Road

  35. 35

    Take the ramp right toward US 29 North

    906 ft · 22 sec

  36. 36

    Merge slight left

    8 mi · 10 min

  37. 37

    Keep slight right to continue on US 29 Business North: Gretna

    2.2 mi · 5 min

  38. 38

    Turn right onto Northside Drive

    772 ft · 19 sec · Northside Drive

  39. 39

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Northside Drive

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
39 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
5 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Portsmouth Boulevard
62.1 mi · 29%
Highway 58
40.4 mi · 19%
Governor Harrison Parkway
22.5 mi · 11%
Halifax Road
16.3 mi · 8%
Chatham Road
12.9 mi · 6%
US 29 North
8.22 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Portsmouth Boulevard

Continue on Portsmouth Boulevard

62.1 mi · 01h 21m

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
04h 50m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40.4 mi
170.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Brodnax
02h 25m from Chesapeake
Leave By
7:20 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Chesapeake and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny near Gretna.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 211.1 miles (339.8 km) and usually takes 04h 50m 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?

Brodnax is a useful midpoint, sitting about 105.4 miles from Chesapeake and 105.7 miles from Gretna.

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

The direct path is about 170.7 miles (274.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.4 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 7:20 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.51 one way or $59.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 66.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Chesapeake and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny near Gretna.

Stop Ideas Near Brodnax

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

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

RAIL

Petersburg station

80 mi away
3516 South Street
RAIL

Rocky Mount

88 mi away
101 Hammond Street
RAIL

Richmond Main Street Station

106 mi away
1500 East Main Street
RAIL

Wilson

110 mi away
401 East Nash Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chesapeake and Gretna. Straight-line distance: 170.67 mi (274.67 km).

Chesapeake

#1 Chesapeake

The second most populous city in Virginia.

Population247,011
Coordinates36.8190400, -76.2749400
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Gretna

#2 Gretna

Town of the United States

Population1,179
Coordinates36.9537500, -79.3589100
Altitude256
CountryUnited States
Start: Chesapeake (-76.27494, 36.81904)
End: Gretna (-79.35891, 36.95375)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 340 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.45 gal
28.2 L · about $29.51
Round trip
$59.02
14.9 gal · 56.4 L
Estimated CO2
66.2 kg one way
Round trip: 132.4 kg / 292 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $29.51 $59.02
Mid-grade $4.43 $33.00 $65.99
Premium $4.78 $35.60 $71.19
Diesel $5.62 $41.90 $83.80

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 Chesapeake and Gretna. The current time is 18:56:03.

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.