How far is Merrimac, VA from Newport News, VA?

The driving distance from Merrimac, VA to Newport News, VA is about 285.1 miles (458.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 218 miles (350.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EST.
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
285.08 mi
04h 25m
Flight
218.01 mi
350.85 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Merrimac.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
218.01 mi
Kilometers
350.85 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
285.08 mi
Kilometers
458.79 km
Drive Time
04h 25m

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 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Newport News
Sun, Nov 8, 2:14 PM EST
Return by in Merrimac
Sun, Nov 8, 6:40 PM EST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Merrimac
2026-11-08T09:48
Arrive Newport News
Sun, Nov 8, 2:14 PM EST
Route Timing
04h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EST
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:26 AM to 12:26 PM EST

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

Leave by
8:08 AM EST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Merrimac
9:00 PM EST
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
Charlottesville
VA

The capital of Virginia.

From Merrimac
141.5 mi
02h 12m
To Newport News
143.6 mi
02h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Nov 8 6:00 AM EST
Wind
8 mph W
Destination
45°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Sun, Nov 8 2:00 AM EST
Wind
8 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Merrimac and Newport News.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Merrimac and Newport News.

  1. 1

    Start on Merrimac Road

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Merrimac Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    1871 ft · 36 sec · South Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on North Franklin Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North Franklin Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp straight toward US 460 East: Roanoke

    2921 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto US 460 East

    2.1 mi · 2 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 11, US 460 Business: Christiansburg

    1234 ft · 32 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Roanoke Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Roanoke Street

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 81 North, US 460 East: Salem, Roanoke

    1.5 km · 2 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    102.4 mi · 1 hr 54 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 East: Richmond

    90 mi · 1 hr 38 min

  11. 11

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

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  12. 12

    Continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    22.9 mi · 25 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  13. 13

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

    1.3 mi · 3 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    56.7 mi · 1 hr 2 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 17 South: J Clyde Morris Boulevard

    2080 ft · 51 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto J Clyde Morris Boulevard

    555 ft · 11 sec · J Clyde Morris Boulevard

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Diligence Drive

    2463 ft · 1 min · Diligence Drive

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Thimble Shoals Boulevard

    593 ft · 19 sec · Thimble Shoals Boulevard

  19. 19

    Turn left

    126 m · 33 sec

  20. 20

    At the end of the road, turn right

    25 m · 6 sec

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Merrimac and Newport News.

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
21 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 64 East
148 mi · 52%
I 81 North
103 mi · 36%
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi · 8%
US 460 East
2.63 mi · 1%
Merrimac Road
1.24 mi
I 295 North
1.23 mi
Longest Stretch

I 81 North

Merge slight left

102 mi · 01h 54m

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 25m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+67.1 mi
218 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Charlottesville
02h 12m from Merrimac
Leave By
8:08 AM EST
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Merrimac and Partly Cloudy near Newport News.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Merrimac to Newport News?

The road trip is about 285.1 miles (458.8 km) and usually takes 04h 25m 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?

Charlottesville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 141.5 miles from Merrimac and 143.6 miles from Newport News.

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

The direct path is about 218 miles (350.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 67.1 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 EST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:08 AM EST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.15 one way or $78.31 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 89.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Merrimac and Partly Cloudy near Newport News.

Stop Ideas Near Charlottesville

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

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

RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

1 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Staunton station

54 mi away
1 Middlebrook Avenue
RAIL

Culpeper station

65 mi away
109 South Commerce Street
RAIL

Ashland

92 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Merrimac and Newport News. Straight-line distance: 218.01 mi (350.85 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Merrimac

Merrimac is a place in Virginia, United States.

Population0
Coordinates37.1895700, -80.4256100
Altitude605
CountryUnited States
Newport News

#2 Newport News

The second most populous city in Virginia.

Population179,062
Coordinates37.0833900, -76.4696500
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Start: Merrimac Road (-80.425541, 37.189686)
End: (-76.469409, 37.08343)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 459 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 04m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.06 gal
38.08 L · about $39.15
Round trip
$78.31
20.12 gal · 76.16 L
Estimated CO2
89.4 kg one way
Round trip: 178.8 kg / 394 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $39.15 $78.31
Mid-grade $4.39 $44.20 $88.41
Premium $4.80 $48.26 $96.52
Diesel $6.18 $62.16 $124.32

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 07, 2026

There is no time difference between Merrimac and Newport News. The current time is 09:48:49.

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.