How far is Norfolk, VA from Buchanan, VA?

The driving distance from Norfolk, VA to Buchanan, VA is about 252 miles (405.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 48m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 192.7 miles (310.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 36m 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
251.95 mi
04h 48m
Flight
192.66 mi
310.06 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Norfolk.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
192.66 mi
Kilometers
310.06 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
251.95 mi
Kilometers
405.47 km
Drive Time
04h 48m

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 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Buchanan
Thu, Apr 23, 2:43 AM EDT
Return by in Norfolk
Thu, Apr 23, 7:32 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Norfolk
2026-04-22T21:55
Arrive Buchanan
Thu, Apr 23, 2:43 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 48m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:48 AM to 12:48 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
7:24 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Norfolk
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
Mineral
VA

Town of the United States

From Norfolk
125.9 mi
02h 24m
To Buchanan
126.1 mi
02h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Wednesday

Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 17 mph SW
Destination
78°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 13 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Norfolk and Buchanan.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Norfolk and Buchanan.

  1. 1

    Start on East City Hall Avenue

    2127 ft · 43 sec · East City Hall Avenue

  2. 2

    Keep slight left to continue on VA 337: Tidewater Drive

    645 ft · 28 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left onto Tidewater Drive

    4.6 mi · 10 min · Tidewater Drive

  4. 4

    Turn left

    1157 ft · 28 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    5.6 mi · 8 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  6. 6

    Continue on Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel

  7. 7

    Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    61.1 mi · 1 hr 8 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

    22.6 mi · 25 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West: Charlottesville

    2936 ft · 55 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto I 64 West: Charlottesville

    120.3 mi · 2 hr 11 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    22.8 mi · 24 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 614: Arcadia

    990 ft · 26 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Arcadia Road

    29 m · 8 sec · Arcadia Road

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Lee Highway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Lee Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Main Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Main Street

  19. 19

    Turn left

    33 m · 8 sec

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Norfolk and Buchanan.

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
20 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
4 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 64 West
144 mi · 57%
Hampton Roads Beltway
72.5 mi · 29%
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.6 mi · 9%
Tidewater Drive
4.56 mi · 2%
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
3.5 mi · 1%
I 295 North
1.3 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 64 West

Merge slight left onto I 64 West: Charlottesville

120 mi · 02h 11m

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 48m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+59.3 mi
192.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mineral
02h 24m from Norfolk
Leave By
7:24 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Norfolk and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Buchanan.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Norfolk to Buchanan?

The road trip is about 252 miles (405.5 km) and usually takes 04h 48m 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?

Mineral is a useful midpoint, sitting about 125.9 miles from Norfolk and 126.1 miles from Buchanan.

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

The direct path is about 192.7 miles (310.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 59.3 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 7:24 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.21 one way or $70.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 79 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Norfolk and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Buchanan.

Stop Ideas Near Mineral

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

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

RAIL

Ashland

47 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

51 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Fredericksburg

51 mi away
200 Lafayette Blvd.
RAIL

Culpeper station

52 mi away
109 South Commerce Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Norfolk and Buchanan. Straight-line distance: 192.66 mi (310.06 km).

Norfolk

#1 Norfolk

The most populous city in Virginia.

Population242,803
Coordinates36.8468100, -76.2852200
Altitude2
CountryUnited States
Buchanan

#2 Buchanan

Town in Virginia, United States

Population1,182
Coordinates37.5273600, -79.6797600
Altitude259
CountryUnited States
Start: Norfolk (-76.28522, 36.84681)
End: Buchanan (-79.67976, 37.52736)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 405 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 17m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.89 gal
33.65 L · about $35.21
Round trip
$70.43
17.78 gal · 67.3 L
Estimated CO2
79 kg one way
Round trip: 158 kg / 348 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $35.21 $70.43
Mid-grade $4.43 $39.37 $78.75
Premium $4.78 $42.48 $84.95
Diesel $5.62 $50.00 $99.99

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Norfolk and Buchanan. The current time is 21:55:18.

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.