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

The driving distance from Richmond, VA to Cape Charles, VA is about 130.2 miles (209.6 km), with a travel time of about 02h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 81.6 miles (131.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 30m 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
130.26 mi
02h 45m
Flight
81.62 mi
131.36 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Richmond.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
81.62 mi
Kilometers
131.36 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
130.26 mi
Kilometers
209.63 km
Drive Time
02h 45m

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 02h 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cape Charles
Sat, Apr 18, 8:09 PM EDT
Return by in Richmond
Sat, Apr 18, 10:54 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Richmond
2026-04-18T17:24
Arrive Cape Charles
Sat, Apr 18, 8:09 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:45 AM to 12:45 PM EDT

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

Leave by
1:00 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Richmond
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
Newport News
VA

The second most populous city in Virginia.

From Richmond
65.1 mi
01h 22m
To Cape Charles
65.2 mi
01h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
91°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 8 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 Richmond and Cape Charles.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Marcus-David Peters Circle

    43 m · 4 sec · Marcus-David Peters Circle

  2. 2

    Exit the rotary onto Monument Avenue

    892 ft · 25 sec · Monument Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Lombardy Street

    2035 ft · 49 sec · North Lombardy Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Leigh Street

    3166 ft · 2 min · West Leigh Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto North Belvidere Street

    57 m · 10 sec · North Belvidere Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 95 South, I 64 East: Petersburg, Norfolk

    1380 ft · 34 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

    156 m · 8 sec · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 East: Williamsburg, Norfolk

    78.1 mi · 1 hr 29 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Hampton Roads Beltway

    104 m · 5 sec · Hampton Roads Beltway

  10. 10

    Continue on Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel

  11. 11

    Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway

    10.2 mi · 13 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  12. 12

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

    1149 ft · 44 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Northampton Boulevard

    5.1 mi · 8 min · Northampton Boulevard

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Northampton Boulevard

    1801 ft · 38 sec · Northampton Boulevard

  15. 15

    Continue on Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel

    17.7 mi · 24 min · Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel

  16. 16

    Continue on Lankford Highway

    10.8 mi · 15 min · Lankford Highway

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Stone Road

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Stone Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Randolph Avenue

    1561 ft · 37 sec · Randolph Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Fig Street

    102 m · 9 sec · Fig Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Mason Avenue

    1991 ft · 57 sec · Mason Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Strawberry Street

    1252 ft · 59 sec · Strawberry Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Park Row

    90 m · 13 sec · Park Row

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Park Row

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 64 East
78.1 mi · 60%
Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
17.7 mi · 14%
Lankford Highway
10.8 mi · 8%
Hampton Roads Beltway
10.2 mi · 8%
Northampton Boulevard
5.45 mi · 4%
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
3.5 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 64 East

Keep slight right to continue on I 64 East: Williamsburg, Norfolk

78.1 mi · 01h 29m

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
02h 45m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+48.6 mi
81.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Newport News
01h 22m from Richmond
Leave By
1:00 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Richmond 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 Richmond to Cape Charles?

The road trip is about 130.2 miles (209.6 km) and usually takes 02h 45m 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?

Newport News is a useful midpoint, sitting about 65.1 miles from Richmond and 65.2 miles from Cape Charles.

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

The direct path is about 81.6 miles (131.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.6 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 1:00 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.22 one way or $36.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 40.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Richmond and Sunny near Cape Charles.

Stop Ideas Near Newport News

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Newport News and the surrounding midpoint area.
Oxford Run Trail
Scenic stop 6.8 mi away

Oxford Run Trail

Poquoson , VA
500 City Hall Ave, Poquoson, VA 23662, United States
Rating 4.6/5 22 reviews Tourist attraction,Park
Poquoson (DMV Select) By Appointment Only
Meeting point 6.8 mi away

Poquoson (DMV Select) By Appointment Only

Poquoson , VA
Poquoson City Hall, 500 City Hall Ave, Poquoson, VA 23662
Rating 4.0/5 80 reviews Department of motor vehicles,County government office
Poquoson Public Library
Nearby stop 6.8 mi away

Poquoson Public Library

Poquoson , VA
500 City Hall Ave, Poquoson, VA 23662
Rating 4.9/5 26 reviews Library,Public library
Historic City Hall
Scenic stop 12 mi away

Historic City Hall

Hampton , VA
30 Kings Way, Hampton, VA 23669
Rating 4.4/5 10 reviews Historical landmark

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Newport News.

RAIL

Newport News station

7 mi away
9304 Warwick Boulevard
RAIL

Williamsburg Transportation Center

30 mi away
468 North Boundary Street
BUS

Norfolk

30 mi away
215 W York Street
BUS

Virginia Beach, Virginia

51 mi away
19th St. and Pacific Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Richmond and Cape Charles. Straight-line distance: 81.62 mi (131.36 km).

Richmond

#1 Richmond

The capital of Virginia.

Population232,226
Coordinates37.5537600, -77.4602600
Altitude64
CountryUnited States
Cape Charles

#2 Cape Charles

Town in Virginia, United States

Population1,056
Coordinates37.2700800, -76.0164900
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Start: Richmond (-77.46026, 37.55376)
End: Cape Charles (-76.01649, 37.27008)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 210 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 15m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 51m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.6 gal
17.4 L · about $18.22
Round trip
$36.44
9.2 gal · 34.8 L
Estimated CO2
40.9 kg one way
Round trip: 81.8 kg / 180 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $18.22 $36.44
Mid-grade $4.43 $20.37 $40.75
Premium $4.78 $21.98 $43.96
Diesel $5.62 $25.87 $51.74

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 Richmond 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.