How far is Virginia Beach, VA from Cape Charles, VA?

The driving distance from Virginia Beach, VA to Cape Charles, VA is about 43.7 miles (70.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 28.9 miles (46.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 17m 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
43.77 mi
01h 08m
Flight
28.9 mi
46.51 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Virginia Beach.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
28.9 mi
Kilometers
46.51 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
43.77 mi
Kilometers
70.44 km
Drive Time
01h 08m

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 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cape Charles
Sat, Apr 18, 6:34 PM EDT
Return by in Virginia Beach
Sat, Apr 18, 7:42 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Virginia Beach
2026-04-18T17:25
Arrive Cape Charles
Sat, Apr 18, 6:34 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:09 AM to 11:09 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:12 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Virginia Beach
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
East Hampton
VA

Town in New York

From Virginia Beach
21.9 mi
00h 34m
To Cape Charles
21.9 mi
00h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 12 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 Virginia Beach and Cape Charles.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Virginia Beach and Cape Charles.

  1. 1

    Start on 25th Street

    37 m · 8 sec · 25th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Pacific Avenue

    1213 ft · 34 sec · Pacific Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 22nd Street

    2796 ft · 46 sec · 22nd Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward First Colonial Road, Oceana Naval Air Station

    1414 ft · 38 sec

  6. 6

    Turn right onto First Colonial Road

    2.3 mi · 5 min · First Colonial Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto North Great Neck Road

    3.2 mi · 5 min · North Great Neck Road

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Shore Drive

    3.4 mi · 8 min · Shore Drive

  9. 9

    Take the exit right toward US 13 North

    1043 ft · 29 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Northampton Boulevard

    1910 ft · 31 sec · Northampton Boulevard

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Northampton Boulevard

    1801 ft · 38 sec · Northampton Boulevard

  12. 12

    Continue on Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel

    17.7 mi · 24 min · Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel

  13. 13

    Continue on Lankford Highway

    10.8 mi · 15 min · Lankford Highway

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Stone Road

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Stone Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Randolph Avenue

    1561 ft · 37 sec · Randolph Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Fig Street

    102 m · 9 sec · Fig Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Mason Avenue

    1991 ft · 57 sec · Mason Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Strawberry Street

    1252 ft · 59 sec · Strawberry Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Park Row

    90 m · 13 sec · Park Row

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Park Row

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Virginia Beach 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
20 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
45.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
17.7 mi · 40%
Lankford Highway
10.8 mi · 25%
Shore Drive
3.41 mi · 8%
North Great Neck Road
3.19 mi · 7%
First Colonial Road
2.6 mi · 6%
Stone Road
1.7 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 08m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14.8 mi
28.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
East Hampton
00h 34m from Virginia Beach
Leave By
4:12 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach to Cape Charles?

The road trip is about 43.7 miles (70.4 km) and usually takes 01h 08m 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?

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

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

The direct path is about 28.9 miles (46.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.8 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:12 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 Sunny around Virginia Beach and Sunny near Cape Charles.

Stop Ideas Near East Hampton

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

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

RAIL

Newport News station

11 mi away
9304 Warwick Boulevard
BUS

Norfolk

21 mi away
215 W York Street
BUS

Virginia Beach, Virginia

38 mi away
19th St. and Pacific Ave.
RAIL

Williamsburg Transportation Center

43 mi away
468 North Boundary Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Virginia Beach and Cape Charles. Straight-line distance: 28.9 mi (46.51 km).

Virginia Beach

#1 Virginia Beach

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

Population451,231
Coordinates36.8529300, -75.9779900
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Cape Charles

#2 Cape Charles

Town in Virginia, United States

Population1,056
Coordinates37.2700800, -76.0164900
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Start: Virginia Beach (-75.97799, 36.85293)
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 Virginia Beach and Cape Charles. The current time is 17:25:23.

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.