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

The driving distance from Newport News, VA to Sterling, VA is about 177.5 miles (285.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 142.7 miles (229.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 14m 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
177.46 mi
03h 37m
Flight
142.73 mi
229.7 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Newport News.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
142.73 mi
Kilometers
229.7 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
177.46 mi
Kilometers
285.59 km
Drive Time
03h 37m

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 03h 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sterling
Sat, May 2, 9:44 AM EDT
Return by in Newport News
Sat, May 2, 1:21 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Newport News
2026-05-02T06:06
Arrive Sterling
Sat, May 2, 9:44 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:37 AM to 11:37 AM EDT

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

Leave by
9:46 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Newport News
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
Ashland
VA

Town in Virginia, United States

From Newport News
88.7 mi
01h 48m
To Sterling
88.7 mi
01h 48m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Saturday

Rain

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 13 mph N
Destination
60°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    25 m · 12 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left

    126 m · 32 sec

  3. 3

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

    593 ft · 20 sec · Thimble Shoals Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Diligence Drive

    2366 ft · 1 min · Diligence Drive

  5. 5

    Turn left onto J Clyde Morris Boulevard

    1.1 km · 1 min · J Clyde Morris Boulevard

  6. 6

    Continue on J Clyde Morris Boulevard

    51 m · 10 sec · J Clyde Morris Boulevard

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond

    1272 ft · 31 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    56.6 mi · 1 hr 2 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC

    2434 ft · 32 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 295 North: Washington

    1.3 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    11.9 mi · 13 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight left toward I 95 North: Washington

    2.4 mi · 3 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight right

    45.7 mi · 50 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    1 mi · 1 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    18.6 mi · 21 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 234 North: Manassas

    1717 ft · 42 sec

  18. 18

    Continue on Dumfries Road

    13.9 mi · 20 min · Dumfries Road

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right

    1653 ft · 46 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto Prince William Parkway

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Prince William Parkway

  21. 21

    Continue on Liberia Avenue

    1.7 mi · 4 min · Liberia Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Centreville Road

    5.5 mi · 10 min · Centreville Road

  23. 23

    Continue on Sully Road

    12 mi · 17 min · Sully Road

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 625 East: Sterling

    1432 ft · 35 sec

  25. 25

    Turn straight onto West Church Road

    682 ft · 19 sec · West Church Road

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Atlantic Boulevard

    789 ft · 29 sec · Atlantic Boulevard

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Sterling Station Way

    45 m · 8 sec · Sterling Station Way

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Ruritan Road

    136 m · 27 sec · Ruritan Road

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Ruritan Circle

    35 m · 5 sec · Ruritan Circle

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Ruritan Circle

Car Route Details

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

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
30 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
5 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 95 North
69.3 mi · 39%
I 64 West
56.9 mi · 32%
Dumfries Road
14.2 mi · 8%
Sully Road
12 mi · 7%
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
11.9 mi · 7%
Centreville Road
5.51 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 64 West

Merge slight left

56.6 mi · 01h 02m

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
03h 37m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.8 mi
142.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ashland
01h 48m from Newport News
Leave By
9:46 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain leaving Newport News and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Sterling.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 177.5 miles (285.6 km) and usually takes 03h 37m 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?

Ashland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 88.7 miles from Newport News and 88.7 miles from Sterling.

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

The direct path is about 142.7 miles (229.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.8 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 9:46 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.80 one way or $49.59 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 55.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain around Newport News and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Sterling.

Stop Ideas Near Ashland

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

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

RAIL

Ashland

112 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Richmond Staples Mill Road station

16 mi away
7519 Staples Mill Road
RAIL

Richmond Main Street Station

25 mi away
1500 East Main Street
RAIL

Petersburg station

58 mi away
3516 South Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Newport News and Sterling. Straight-line distance: 142.73 mi (229.7 km).

Newport News

#1 Newport News

The second most populous city in Virginia.

Population179,062
Coordinates37.0833900, -76.4696500
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Sterling

Census-designated place in Loudoun County, Virginia, US

Population27,822
Coordinates39.0062200, -77.4286000
Altitude89
CountryUnited States
Start: Newport News (-76.46965, 37.08339)
End: Sterling (-77.4286, 39.00622)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 286 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 54m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.26 gal
23.7 L · about $24.80
Round trip
$49.59
12.52 gal · 47.4 L
Estimated CO2
55.6 kg one way
Round trip: 111.3 kg / 245 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $24.80 $49.59
Mid-grade $4.43 $27.73 $55.45
Premium $4.78 $29.91 $59.82
Diesel $5.62 $35.21 $70.41

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 · May 02, 2026

There is no time difference between Newport News and Sterling. The current time is 06:06:54.

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.