You're standing in the middle of Colonial Williamsburg, surrounded by tricorn hats and the smell of woodsmoke, but the kids are already complaining that they want to see the ocean. It happens to everyone. You start wondering how far from Williamsburg VA to Virginia Beach you actually have to travel before you can put your toes in the sand.
On paper? It’s a breeze. In reality? It’s a roll of the dice.
If you just look at a map, the distance is roughly 60 miles. If you’re driving at 3:00 AM on a Tuesday, you’ll probably pull into a parking garage at 2nd Street in about an hour. But nobody goes to the beach at 3:00 AM on a Tuesday. Depending on the season, the time of day, and whether or not a single car has a flat tire on the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT), that 60-mile trip can easily morph into a two-hour ordeal.
Breaking Down the Miles and the Minutes
The route is pretty straightforward. You’re basically living on I-64 East for the entire duration. You leave the historic area, pass through Newport News, cross the water into Norfolk, and then shoot over to the oceanfront.
Google Maps will tell you it's 58.7 miles from the Williamsburg Visitor Center to the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. Most locals just call it an hour. But that’s a "Virginia Hour," which is a flexible unit of measurement based entirely on the whims of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
The Three Main Segments
First, you’ve got the stretch from Williamsburg through Newport News. This is usually fine, though the construction near the Jefferson Avenue exits has been a thorn in everyone’s side for years. You’re looking at about 25 miles of standard highway driving here.
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Next comes the gauntlet: the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. This is the literal bottleneck of the entire Mid-Atlantic. It’s about 15 miles of anticipation followed by a slow crawl. If the "Bridge-Tunnel" signs say there’s a 3-mile delay, honestly, count your blessings. If it’s 6 miles or more, you might as well grab a coffee because you aren't moving.
Finally, once you pop out in Norfolk, you have about 18 miles left. You’ll merge onto I-264 East, which takes you directly to the beach. This part is usually fast, unless there’s an accident at the "Witchduck Road" exit, which, for some reason, there often is.
Why the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Changes Everything
You cannot talk about how far from Williamsburg VA to Virginia Beach without talking about the HRBT. It is the Great Equalizer. It doesn't matter if you're driving a Ferrari or a minivan; everyone sits in the same exhaust fumes.
The tunnel connects the Peninsula (Hampton/Newport News) to Southside (Norfolk/Virginia Beach). Because it’s a tunnel, people tap their brakes the second they see the entrance. It’s a psychological phenomenon. People get nervous in the dark, or they’re worried about the height of their vehicle, or they just want to look at the water. This creates a "phantom traffic jam" that can back up for miles even when there’s no actual accident.
Pro tip from a local: Check the VDOT 511 website or app before you leave your hotel. If the HRBT is looking like a parking lot, you have an alternative: the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (I-664).
Going the "MM" route adds about 10 to 12 miles to the total distance, but it often saves you 30 minutes of sitting still. You’ll take I-64 to I-664 South, cross the bridge, and then loop back around on I-264 East. It’s a longer physical distance, but often a shorter temporal one.
Seasonal Sanity: When to Make the Drive
If you’re visiting in July, Godspeed.
Saturday is the worst day to travel between these two points. Why? Because Saturday is "turnover day" for vacation rentals. Thousands of people are checking out of their beach houses at 10:00 AM, and thousands more are trying to get into them at 3:00 PM.
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If you're trying to figure out how far from Williamsburg VA to Virginia Beach in terms of time during a summer weekend, give yourself two hours. Seriously.
- Mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday): Your best bet. You’ll still hit commuter traffic in the morning (7:00 AM – 9:00 AM) and afternoon (4:00 PM – 6:30 PM), but the middle of the day is usually clear.
- The "Shoulder" Season: Late September and October are actually the best times to go. The water is still warm enough to swim, the crowds are gone, and the I-64 corridor is much more manageable.
- Winter: It's a ghost town. You can zip down there in 55 minutes, but you’ll be wearing a parka on the sand.
Is it Worth the Drive for a Day Trip?
Absolutely. But you have to be smart about it.
If you leave Williamsburg at 10:00 AM, you're hitting the road right as the late-start tourists are waking up. You’ll get to the beach by noon, spend four hours in the sun, and then try to leave at 4:30 PM? You’re going to be miserable. You’ll hit the Norfolk commuter rush and the tunnel will be a nightmare.
Instead, make it a full day. Leave Williamsburg at 8:00 AM. Grab breakfast in Virginia Beach by 9:30 AM. Stay for dinner at one of the spots on Shore Drive or the ViBe District. Wait until 7:30 PM or 8:00 PM to head back to Williamsburg. The road will be wide open, the sun will be down, and you’ll actually enjoy the drive.
Real Talk on Gas and Tolls
The good news is that there are no tolls on the direct I-64 route or the I-664 detour. Your only cost is gas and the inevitable $20-$30 you’ll spend on parking near the boardwalk. If you decide to take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (which is a different thing entirely and goes toward the Eastern Shore), that'll cost you a pretty penny, but for the Williamsburg to VA Beach run, you’re in the clear.
Alternative Ways to Get There
Maybe you don't want to drive. I get it. The I-64 corridor is stressful.
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Amtrak
You can actually take the train. Amtrak’s Northeast Regional runs from the Williamsburg Transportation Center to the Norfolk station. From the Norfolk station, you can take a Lyft or the "The Tide" light rail (though the light rail doesn't go all the way to the oceanfront yet). It’s not necessarily faster, but you can drink a beer and look at your phone instead of staring at someone’s bumper.
Bus Services
There are Greyhound and various shuttle services, but honestly, they’re at the mercy of the same traffic you are. Unless you really hate driving, the flexibility of having your own car at the beach usually wins out.
Hidden Stops Along the Way
If the traffic is making you crazy, pull off. There’s no law saying you have to do the 60 miles in one go.
- Fort Monroe (Hampton): Right before you hit the HRBT, you can exit into Fort Monroe. It’s a massive stone fort with incredible history (and a beach of its own that’s much quieter than the main strip).
- The Mariners' Museum (Newport News): One of the best maritime museums in the country. If you see a massive red blob on your GPS, stop here for two hours and let the traffic clear.
- Town Center (Virginia Beach): About 10 miles before you hit the ocean, you’ll pass Town Center. It’s got high-end shopping and great food if you want a break from the "tourist" vibe of the boardwalk.
Final Logistics Check
So, just to recap the "how far" question:
- The Mileage: ~60 miles.
- The Time (Optimal): 60 minutes.
- The Time (Typical): 75-90 minutes.
- The Time (Holiday Weekend): 2+ hours.
Don't let the distance scare you off. Virginia Beach has a completely different energy than the quiet, colonial streets of Williamsburg. You get the best of both worlds—world-class history and a classic American boardwalk—all within a single afternoon's reach. Just check your GPS for that "dark red" line at the tunnel before you put the keys in the ignition.
Actionable Advice for Your Trip
- Download the 511Virginia App: This is non-negotiable. It gives you access to the traffic cameras so you can see the tunnel entrance for yourself.
- Leave Early or Leave Late: Avoid the 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM "tourist swell" and the 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM "commuter hell."
- Budget for Parking: The closer you get to the 31st Street Hilton, the more you'll pay. Look for the municipal lots on 9th or 19th street for slightly better rates.
- Pack a Cooler: If you do get stuck at the tunnel for 45 minutes, having a cold water and a snack makes the situation feel a lot less like a disaster.
- Check the Wind: If you're heading to the beach, check the wind direction. A strong "NE" wind means the oceanfront will be choppy and cold, even in summer. If that's the case, consider hitting First Landing State Park instead; it's on the bay side and much calmer.