Taking a road trip from Belfast, Maine to Charlottesville, Virginia? Here's what it'll cost you!
If you're planning on taking a road trip from Belfast, Maine to Charlottesville, Virginia, you're probably wondering what the cost will be. Fortunately, we've got some great information to help you out!
Route 1: The Shortest Route
The shortest route from Belfast to Charlottesville is 828 miles and takes about 13 hours to complete, assuming no stops. If you take this route, you'll be spending a lot of time on I-95 South.
Gas prices vary from state to state but according to AAA, the average gas price in Maine and Virginia is currently $2.88 per gallon. Given that your car gets an average of 25 miles per gallon, you'll need to fill up about 33 gallons of gas for the entire trip. That comes out to $95.04.
There are tolls on this route as well. You'll need to pay a toll of $7.50 when crossing the George Washington Bridge in New York and another toll of $5 on the Delaware Memorial Bridge. That brings the total cost of this route to $107.54.
Route 2: The Scenic Route
If you're not in a hurry, you can take this scenic route along the eastern seaboard. This route is about 946 miles and takes roughly 15 hours with no stops. You'll get to see some stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean as you make your way south.
Since you'll be driving a good distance outside of Maine and Virginia, you'll need to take local gas prices into account. AAA puts the average gas price along this route at $2.95 per gallon. Let's assume your car still gets 25 miles per gallon, and you'll be using about 38 gallons of gas the entire trip. That means you'll be spending approximately $111.10 on gas.
Tolls on this route can add up. For starters, you'll need to pay the same $7.50 toll as Route 1 when crossing the George Washington Bridge in New York. Moreover, you'll have to shell out another $18.50 when crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in Virginia. Thus, this route will more or less set you back $137.10.
Route 3: The Quickest Route
Our final route is about 967 miles long and takes about 15 hours with no stops. This route takes you down I-95 just like Route 1, but it also takes you down I-64 for the last stretch of the journey.
As mentioned earlier, Maine and Virginia gas prices average at around $2.88 per gallon. Thus filling up around 39.5 gallons of gas should cost you about $113.52.
Tolls on this route are similar to Route 2. You'll pay a toll of $7.50 when crossing the George Washington Bridge in New York. Subsequently, you'll pay the same $18.50 toll when crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in Virginia. This route will cost you approximately $139.52.
Final Thoughts
Clearly, the cost of driving from Belfast, Maine to Charlottesville, Virginia can vary considerably depending on the route you take. The shortest route is the cheapest at $107.54, while the quickest route is the most expensive at $139.52. However, no matter what route you decide to take, you're in for a memorable road trip filled with scenic views and good times. Safe travels!