Getting Around Town

Getting around Richmond VA

Part of picturing a new city is picturing your daily movement through it — the commute, the errands, the weekend escapes. Here's how getting around Richmond actually works, so you can factor it into where you choose to live.

Driving and commuting

Richmond sits at the crossroads of two major interstates, I-95 (north–south) and I-64 (east–west), with I-295 looping around the metro. That means most cross-town commutes are manageable — often 15 to 30 minutes — and far less punishing than what you may be used to in a larger metro. Rush hour exists, but it's a fraction of the gridlock in D.C. or the Northeast corridor. When we talk through neighborhoods, I always factor in your commute so the drive fits your life rather than fighting it.

Walking and biking

Several city neighborhoods are genuinely walkable — the Fan, the Museum District, Carytown, and Church Hill among them — where you can handle a coffee run or dinner on foot. Richmond is also increasingly bike-friendly, with dedicated lanes, the riverfront Virginia Capital Trail (a paved path that runs all the way to Williamsburg), and the trails of the James River Park System threading through the middle of the city.

Public transit

The regional bus system, GRTC, includes the Pulse, a bus rapid-transit line running along the Broad Street corridor connecting downtown, Scott's Addition, and the near West and East ends. It's a handy option for getting into the heart of the city without parking.

Getting out of town

One of the quiet perks of living in Richmond is how well-positioned it is for a change of scenery:

• Washington, D.C. is about 100 miles north — roughly a 1¾-to-2-hour drive, plus Amtrak service straight from Richmond's stations.

• Virginia Beach and the coast are about the same distance east, an easy day-trip or weekend.

• Charlottesville and the Blue Ridge are only about an hour west when you want mountains, wineries, and overlooks.

• Shenandoah National Park and the mountains are within a couple of hours for a proper outdoor weekend.

  
  

That central location means you can have a calmer, more affordable home base and still reach big-city amenities, the ocean, or the mountains whenever the mood strikes.

Match your commute to your neighborhood

Where you live and how you get around are two halves of the same decision. Tell me where you'll be working or spending your time, and I'll help you find neighborhoods that keep your daily drive short and your weekends open.

Want your move to make sense day-to-day? Browse my relocation guides → or reach out and we'll find the spot that fits how you actually get around.

Equal Housing Opportunity. Steve Davis · River Fox Realty, Richmond, VA.