How far is Richmond, VA from Grottoes, VA?

The driving distance from Richmond, VA to Grottoes, VA is about 108.4 miles (174.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 89.3 miles (143.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 24m 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
108.37 mi
02h 12m
Flight
89.28 mi
143.69 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
89.28 mi
Kilometers
143.69 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
108.37 mi
Kilometers
174.41 km
Drive Time
02h 12m

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 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Grottoes
Thu, Apr 23, 1:34 PM EDT
Return by in Richmond
Thu, Apr 23, 3:46 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Richmond
2026-04-23T11:22
Arrive Grottoes
Thu, Apr 23, 1:34 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:12 AM to 12:12 PM EDT

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

Leave by
2:06 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
Lake Monticello
VA

Census-designated place in Virginia, United States

From Richmond
54.1 mi
01h 06m
To Grottoes
54.2 mi
01h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Richmond and Grottoes.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Richmond and Grottoes.

  1. 1

    Start on Marcus-David Peters Circle

    525 ft · 15 sec · Marcus-David Peters Circle

  2. 2

    Exit the rotary onto Monument Avenue

    684 ft · 26 sec · Monument Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Meadow Street

    1157 ft · 30 sec · North Meadow Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Hermitage Road

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Hermitage Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Robin Hood Road

    908 ft · 32 sec · Robin Hood Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto North Arthur Ashe Boulevard

    962 ft · 30 sec · North Arthur Ashe Boulevard

  7. 7

    Turn left onto I 95 North, I 64 West

    988 ft · 24 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

    1797 ft · 28 sec · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville

    87.4 mi · 1 hr 37 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 250: Afton, Waynesboro

    1310 ft · 43 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    55 m · 6 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Three Notched Mountain Highway

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Three Notched Mountain Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on East Main Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · East Main Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto North Delphine Avenue

    1.9 mi · 3 min · North Delphine Avenue

  15. 15

    Continue on Eastside Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Eastside Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on East Side Highway

    10.5 mi · 16 min · East Side Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Eastside Highway

    620 ft · 11 sec · Eastside Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Augusta Avenue

    1067 ft · 31 sec · Augusta Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left

    2601 ft · 60 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Dogwood Avenue

    1629 ft · 35 sec · Dogwood Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn right onto 8th Street

    24 m · 4 sec · 8th Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 8th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
22 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 64 West
87.4 mi · 81%
East Side Highway
10.5 mi · 10%
North Delphine Avenue
1.94 mi · 2%
Three Notched Mountain Highway
1.74 mi · 2%
Eastside Highway
1.63 mi · 2%
East Main Street
1.44 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 64 West

Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville

87.4 mi · 01h 37m

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 12m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.1 mi
89.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lake Monticello
01h 06m from Richmond
Leave By
2:06 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Richmond and Sunny near Grottoes.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Richmond to Grottoes?

The road trip is about 108.4 miles (174.4 km) and usually takes 02h 12m 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?

Lake Monticello is a useful midpoint, sitting about 54.1 miles from Richmond and 54.2 miles from Grottoes.

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

The direct path is about 89.3 miles (143.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:06 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $15.17 one way or $30.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 34 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Richmond and Sunny near Grottoes.

Stop Ideas Near Lake Monticello

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

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

RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

18 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Culpeper station

68 mi away
109 South Commerce Street
RAIL

Staunton station

69 mi away
1 Middlebrook Avenue
RAIL

Ashland

77 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Richmond and Grottoes. Straight-line distance: 89.28 mi (143.69 km).

Richmond

#1 Richmond

The capital of Virginia.

Population232,226
Coordinates37.5537600, -77.4602600
Altitude64
CountryUnited States
Grottoes

#2 Grottoes

City in Virginia, United States of America

Population2,864
Coordinates38.2673500, -78.8258600
Altitude339
CountryUnited States
Start: Richmond (-77.46026, 37.55376)
End: Grottoes (-78.82586, 38.26735)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 174 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 42m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.83 gal
14.48 L · about $15.17
Round trip
$30.34
7.66 gal · 28.96 L
Estimated CO2
34 kg one way
Round trip: 68.1 kg / 150 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $15.17 $30.34
Mid-grade $4.43 $16.96 $33.93
Premium $4.78 $18.30 $36.60
Diesel $5.62 $21.54 $43.08

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 Richmond and Grottoes. The current time is 11:22:12.

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.