Richmond VA to Raleigh NC drive: Distance, time & best stops
The distance from Richmond VA to Raleigh NC by car is 155 miles, with a 2h34m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Richmond VA to Raleigh NC drive are Petersburg VA, the Fort Christanna Historical Site and Kerr Lake.
Planning a Richmond VA to Raleigh NC road trip itinerary
The Richmond VA to Raleigh NC drive connects the capitals of Virginia and North Carolina.
Once the capital of the Confederacy, Richmond VA is not entirely weighed down by its history. The surprisingly wild James River runs through it, and the west end feels energetic and more of the North than the South.
The top attraction, though, is the huge American Civil War Museum at the historic Tredegar Ironworks. After that, walk the suspension bridge to Belle Isle in the middle of the James River, see the dubious Confederate monuments on Monument Avenue, or see the grandiose tombs of the Hollywood Cemetery.
Other good Richmond experiences include food tours of the Arts District or Church Hill, Segway tours of the city landmarks, nighttime ghost walks and guided hikes along the James River.
For Richmond accommodation, the Moxy Richmond Downtown brims with fun, youthful energy. The Residence Inn by Marriott, meanwhile, is a short walk from the lively Shockoe Bottom neighbourhood.
Raleigh NC offers a series of high quality museums. The North Carolina Museum of History, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and North Carolina Museum of Art are the three big-hitters. Meanwhile, the Mordecai Historic Park is where you’ll find Raleigh’s oldest house and the William B Umstead State Park is the top spot for outdoorsy pursuits.
Top Raleigh activities include trolley pub tours and ghost tours.
For Raleigh accommodation, the Marriott is the prime address downtown and the Store is a gorgeous guesthouse.
Richmond VA to Raleigh NC distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Richmond VA to Raleigh NC is 155 miles. This is travelling along the I-85 and US-1, which is usually the quickest route. That makes for a driving time of around two hours and 34 minutes.
The best road trip stops on the Richmond VA to Raleigh NC drive are Petersburg VA, the Fort Christanna Historical Site and Kerr Lake.
Richmond VA to Raleigh NC road trip attractions: Petersburg VA
The Petersburg National Battlefield is the primary attraction in Petersburg VA. The site commemorates the nine-and-a-half month Siege of Petersburg during the Civil War. There were 70,000 casualties in the longest military event of the war. The hiking and biking trails pass a series of outdoor exhibits, while the Poplar Grove National Cemetery shows the scale of the bloodshed.
Otherwise, hang out in Old Towne Petersburg, which offers a mix of indie shops, restaurants and antiques galleries.
Richmond VA to Raleigh NC drive: Fort Christanna Historical Site
The Fort Christanna Historical Site in Lawrenceville VA celebrates a fort built in 1714. The fort is no longer there, but its outline is clearly marked. Signs tell the tale of what was once the outermost European outpost in the Virginia Colony.
These days, it’s more about the peaceful walking trails than being a busy trading post.
Best stops between Richmond VA and Raleigh NC: Kerr Lake
Kerr Lake – officially the John H Kerr Reservoir and unofficially Buggs Island Lake – straddles the Virginia/ North Carolina border. The dam on the Roanoke River is on the Virginia side, but there are several picnic areas, campgrounds and swimming beaches on both sides.
The closest section to the I-85 is in North Carolina. Here, the Kerr Lake State Recreation Area. There’s are a visitor center and bathhouses here. There are also campgrounds, picnic tables, beaches and three miles of hiking trails.
More Richmond VA road trips
Richmond VA to Asheville NC | Richmond VA to Atlanta | Baltimore to Richmond VA | Boston to Richmond VA | Richmond VA to Charlotte | Chicago to Richmond VA | Richmond VA to Durham NC | Richmond VA to Fayetteville NC | Richmond VA to Greensboro NC | Richmond to Lynchburg VA | New York City to Richmond VA | Philadelphia to Richmond VA | Richmond VA to Raleigh NC | Richmond VA to Roanoke | Washington DC to Richmond VA | Richmond VA to Wilmington NC.
More Raleigh NC road trips
Raleigh NC to Asheville | Raleigh NC to Atlanta | Raleigh to Baltimore | Boston to Raleigh NC | Charlotte to Raleigh | Columbia SC to Raleigh NC | Raleigh to Dallas | Raleigh NC to Greensboro NC | Raleigh NC to Greenville SC | Raleigh to Myrtle Beach | Raleigh to Nashville | Raleigh to New Orleans | Raleigh NC to New York City | Raleigh NC to Orlando | Raleigh NC to Philadelphia | Raleigh to Pittsburgh | Raleigh to Tampa | Raleigh NC to Washington DC | Raleigh to Wilmington NC | Winston-Salem NC to Raleigh NC.