How far is Virginia Beach, VA from South Boston, VA?

The driving distance from Virginia Beach, VA to South Boston, VA is about 184.1 miles (296.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 162.1 miles (260.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 07m 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
184.06 mi
04h 03m
Flight
162.13 mi
260.93 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Virginia Beach.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
162.13 mi
Kilometers
260.93 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
184.06 mi
Kilometers
296.22 km
Drive Time
04h 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 04h 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Boston
Sun, Apr 19, 11:41 AM EDT
Return by in Virginia Beach
Sun, Apr 19, 3:44 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Virginia Beach
2026-04-19T07:37
Arrive South Boston
Sun, Apr 19, 11:41 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:04 AM to 12:04 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
8:52 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Virginia Beach
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Emporia
VA

Independent city in Virginia, United States

From Virginia Beach
91.9 mi
02h 01m
To South Boston
92.1 mi
02h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Sunday

Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
13 to 21 mph W
Destination
69°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 13 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Virginia Beach and South Boston.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Virginia Beach and South Boston.

  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

    12.1 mi · 17 min · Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight left toward I 64 East: Chesapeake, Suffolk

    2198 ft · 54 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    2 mi · 2 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight right onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    1538 ft · 22 sec · Hampton Roads Beltway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    4.5 mi · 5 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight right onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    2351 ft · 34 sec · Hampton Roads Beltway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    5.7 mi · 6 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight right onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  13. 13

    Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway

    1 mi · 1 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military Highway

    1598 ft · 54 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    3155 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Continue on West Military Highway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · West Military Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Portsmouth Boulevard

    62.1 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Portsmouth Boulevard

  18. 18

    Continue on Courtland Road

    5.2 mi · 7 min · Courtland Road

  19. 19

    Continue on Pleasant Shade Drive

    6.3 mi · 9 min · Pleasant Shade Drive

  20. 20

    Continue on Governor Harrison Parkway

    22.5 mi · 30 min · Governor Harrison Parkway

  21. 21

    Continue on Piney Pond Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Piney Pond Road

  22. 22

    Continue on Highway 58

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Highway 58

  23. 23

    Continue on East Atlantic Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · East Atlantic Street

  24. 24

    Continue on South Hill Bypass

    3.5 mi · 5 min · South Hill Bypass

  25. 25

    Continue on Highway 1

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Highway 1

  26. 26

    Continue on Highway 58

    18.9 mi · 24 min · Highway 58

  27. 27

    Turn straight onto Clarksville Bypass

    4 mi · 5 min · Clarksville Bypass

  28. 28

    Continue on Highway 58

    18 mi · 23 min · Highway 58

  29. 29

    Turn right onto John Randolph Boulevard

    1 km · 1 min · John Randolph Boulevard

  30. 30

    Turn left onto Seymour Drive

    1.1 km · 1 min · Seymour Drive

  31. 31

    Turn right onto Broad Street

    1158 ft · 49 sec · Broad Street

  32. 32

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    124 m · 8 sec · North Main Street

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Virginia Beach and South Boston.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
33 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
4 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Portsmouth Boulevard
62.1 mi · 34%
Highway 58
40.4 mi · 22%
Governor Harrison Parkway
22.5 mi · 12%
Hampton Roads Beltway
16.3 mi · 9%
Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway
12.1 mi · 7%
Pleasant Shade Drive
6.34 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Portsmouth Boulevard

Continue on Portsmouth Boulevard

62.1 mi · 01h 21m

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 03m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22 mi
162.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Emporia
02h 01m from Virginia Beach
Leave By
8:52 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain Showers leaving Virginia Beach and Chance Rain Showers near South Boston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Virginia Beach to South Boston?

The road trip is about 184.1 miles (296.2 km) and usually takes 04h 03m 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?

Emporia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 91.9 miles from Virginia Beach and 92.1 miles from South Boston.

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

The direct path is about 162.1 miles (260.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 22 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 8:52 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.75 one way or $51.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 57.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers around Virginia Beach and Chance Rain Showers near South Boston.

Stop Ideas Near Emporia

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

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

RAIL

Petersburg station

63 mi away
3516 South Street
RAIL

Rocky Mount

86 mi away
101 Hammond Street
RAIL

Richmond Main Street Station

95 mi away
1500 East Main Street
RAIL

Williamsburg Transportation Center

99 mi away
468 North Boundary Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Virginia Beach and South Boston. Straight-line distance: 162.13 mi (260.93 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
South Boston

#2 South Boston

Town in Halifax County, Virginia, United States

Population7,519
Coordinates36.6987500, -78.9014000
Altitude131
CountryUnited States
Start: Virginia Beach (-75.97799, 36.85293)
End: South Boston (-78.9014, 36.69875)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 296 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 07m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 36m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 40m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 04m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.5 gal
24.59 L · about $25.75
Round trip
$51.49
13 gal · 49.18 L
Estimated CO2
57.8 kg one way
Round trip: 115.5 kg / 255 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $25.75 $51.49
Mid-grade $4.43 $28.79 $57.58
Premium $4.78 $31.06 $62.11
Diesel $5.62 $36.56 $73.11

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Virginia Beach and South Boston. The current time is 07:37:22.

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.