How far is Norfolk, VA from Cape Charles, VA?

The driving distance from Norfolk, VA to Cape Charles, VA is about 43.7 miles (70.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 32.8 miles (52.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 07m 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
43.78 mi
01h 03m
Flight
32.78 mi
52.76 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Norfolk.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
32.78 mi
Kilometers
52.76 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
43.78 mi
Kilometers
70.45 km
Drive Time
01h 03m

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 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cape Charles
Sat, Apr 18, 6:28 PM EDT
Return by in Norfolk
Sat, Apr 18, 7:31 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Norfolk
2026-04-18T17:24
Arrive Cape Charles
Sat, Apr 18, 6:28 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:04 AM to 11:04 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:22 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Norfolk
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
Virginia Beach
VA

The most populous city in Virginia, Virginia Beach is a major center for tourism, military, and business.

From Norfolk
21.9 mi
00h 31m
To Cape Charles
21.9 mi
00h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 4:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph SE
Destination
Cape Charles Weather
VA
Live fallback forecast
75°F
Saturday
Using Exmore as the closest live forecast in the Northampton County weather hub.

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 13 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Norfolk and Cape Charles.

  1. 1

    Start on East City Hall Avenue

    2127 ft · 43 sec · East City Hall Avenue

  2. 2

    Keep slight right to continue on I 264 East: VA Beach, NAVSTA Norfolk

    1461 ft · 35 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight right onto Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway

    4.2 mi · 6 min · Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight left toward I 64 West: Richmond, Norfolk International Airport

    3134 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 13: Northampton Boulevard, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel

    863 ft · 21 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on US 13 North: Wesleyan Drive

    107 m · 9 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Northampton Boulevard

    4.9 mi · 7 min · Northampton Boulevard

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Northampton Boulevard

    1801 ft · 38 sec · Northampton Boulevard

  10. 10

    Continue on Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel

    17.7 mi · 24 min · Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel

  11. 11

    Continue on Lankford Highway

    10.8 mi · 15 min · Lankford Highway

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Stone Road

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Stone Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Randolph Avenue

    1561 ft · 37 sec · Randolph Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Fig Street

    102 m · 9 sec · Fig Street

  15. 15

    Continue on Mason Avenue

    1991 ft · 57 sec · Mason Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Strawberry Street

    1252 ft · 59 sec · Strawberry Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Park Row

    90 m · 13 sec · Park Row

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Park Row

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
4 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
41.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
17.7 mi · 40%
Lankford Highway
10.8 mi · 25%
Northampton Boulevard
5.26 mi · 12%
Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
4.24 mi · 10%
Stone Road
1.7 mi · 4%
Hampton Roads Beltway
1.56 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel

Continue on Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel

17.7 mi · 00h 24m

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 03m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.9 mi
32.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Virginia Beach
00h 31m from Norfolk
Leave By
4:22 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Clear leaving Norfolk and Sunny near Cape Charles.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Norfolk to Cape Charles?

The road trip is about 43.7 miles (70.4 km) and usually takes 01h 03m 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?

Virginia Beach is a useful midpoint, sitting about 21.9 miles from Norfolk and 21.9 miles from Cape Charles.

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

The direct path is about 32.8 miles (52.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.9 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 4:22 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.14 one way or $12.28 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 13.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around Norfolk and Sunny near Cape Charles.

Stop Ideas Near Virginia Beach

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

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

BUS

Virginia Beach, Virginia

1 mi away
19th St. and Pacific Ave.
BUS

Norfolk

28 mi away
215 W York Street
RAIL

Newport News station

46 mi away
9304 Warwick Boulevard
RAIL

Williamsburg Transportation Center

80 mi away
468 North Boundary Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Norfolk and Cape Charles. Straight-line distance: 32.78 mi (52.76 km).

Norfolk

#1 Norfolk

The most populous city in Virginia.

Population242,803
Coordinates36.8468100, -76.2852200
Altitude2
CountryUnited States
Cape Charles

#2 Cape Charles

Town in Virginia, United States

Population1,056
Coordinates37.2700800, -76.0164900
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Start: Norfolk (-76.28522, 36.84681)
End: Cape Charles (-76.01649, 37.27008)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 70 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 52m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.55 gal
5.85 L · about $6.14
Round trip
$12.28
3.1 gal · 11.7 L
Estimated CO2
13.8 kg one way
Round trip: 27.5 kg / 61 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $6.14 $12.28
Mid-grade $4.43 $6.86 $13.73
Premium $4.78 $7.41 $14.81
Diesel $5.62 $8.72 $17.43

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Norfolk and Cape Charles. The current time is 17:24:13.

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.