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3 cleaner spots within a 3-hour drive

Virginia Beach is breathing 3.1 cigarettes a week

9.7
PM2.5 µg/m³
52
AQI
5.1
Cleanest in reach · µg/m³
See the 3 cleaner spots

Where are you?

Search covers Canada and the United States.

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

Chincoteague looks like the better move.47% cleaner air with a verified 2 h 35 min road trip. Rankings balance cleaner air with trip ease.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
Virginia Beach Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
Norfolk
Cel-shaded illustration of Norfolk
#1NorfolkPM2.5 7.4~25 min drivesaves 0.7 cigs/wk

Virginia· PM2.5 7.4 µg/m³

A major Virginia city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 7.4 µg/m³ here vs 9.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 7.4/22 × 7 = 2.4 here; 9.7/22 × 7 = 3.1 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Virginia Beach right now

24% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Williamsburg
Cel-shaded illustration of Williamsburg
#2WilliamsburgPM2.5 8.3Checking road routesaves 0.4 cigs/wk

Virginia· PM2.5 8.3 µg/m³

Colonial capital between the James and York rivers, with tidewater air and an extensive hotel base.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 8.3 µg/m³ here vs 9.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 8.3/22 × 7 = 2.6 here; 9.7/22 × 7 = 3.1 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
14% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Chesapeake
Cel-shaded illustration of Chesapeake
#3ChesapeakeParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.1 cigs/wk

Virginia

Virginia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Portsmouth Heights
Cel-shaded illustration of Portsmouth Heights
#4Portsmouth HeightsParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.1 cigs/wk

Virginia

Virginia community with a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
East Hampton
Cel-shaded illustration of East Hampton
#5East HamptonParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.1 cigs/wk

Virginia

Virginia community with a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Moyock
Cel-shaded illustration of Moyock
#6MoyockParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.1 cigs/wk

North Carolina

North Carolina community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Newport News
Cel-shaded illustration of Newport News
#7Newport NewsParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.1 cigs/wk

Virginia

Virginia community with a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Poquoson
Cel-shaded illustration of Poquoson
#8PoquosonParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.1 cigs/wk

Virginia

Virginia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Carrollton
Cel-shaded illustration of Carrollton
#9CarrolltonParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.1 cigs/wk

Virginia

Virginia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Suffolk
Cel-shaded illustration of Suffolk
#10SuffolkParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.1 cigs/wk

Virginia

Virginia community with a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Smithfield
Cel-shaded illustration of Smithfield
#11SmithfieldParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.1 cigs/wk

Virginia

Virginia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Gloucester Point
Cel-shaded illustration of Gloucester Point
#12Gloucester PointParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.1 cigs/wk

Virginia

Virginia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Chincoteague
Cel-shaded illustration of Chincoteague
#13ChincoteaguePM2.5 5.1~2 h 35 min drivesaves 1.5 cigs/wk

Virginia· PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³

Barrier-island town beside Assateague's wild beaches on Virginia's Eastern Shore, wrapped by bay and ocean air with plentiful lodging.

47% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 5.1 µg/m³ here vs 9.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 5.1/22 × 7 = 1.6 here; 9.7/22 × 7 = 3.1 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

4.6 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Virginia Beach right now

47% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Kill Devil Hills
Cel-shaded illustration of Kill Devil Hills
#14Kill Devil HillsPM2.5 5.5~2 h 5 min drivesaves 1.3 cigs/wk

North Carolina· PM2.5 5.5 µg/m³

Outer Banks beach town on a narrow Atlantic barrier island, swept by open-ocean wind, with oceanfront rentals and hotels.

43% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 5.5 µg/m³ here vs 9.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 5.5/22 × 7 = 1.8 here; 9.7/22 × 7 = 3.1 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

4.2 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Virginia Beach right now

43% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Nags Head
Cel-shaded illustration of Nags Head
#15Nags HeadPM2.5 5.5~2 h 15 min drivesaves 1.3 cigs/wk

North Carolina· PM2.5 5.5 µg/m³

Outer Banks beach town on the barrier islands, exposed to constant Atlantic wind, with cottages and hotels along the shore.

43% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 5.5 µg/m³ here vs 9.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 5.5/22 × 7 = 1.8 here; 9.7/22 × 7 = 3.1 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

4.2 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Virginia Beach right now

43% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Berlin
Cel-shaded illustration of Berlin
#16BerlinPM2.5 9.5Checking road route

Maryland· PM2.5 9.5 µg/m³

Eastern Shore Victorian town minutes from Assateague's beaches, a quieter inland base than Ocean City.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 9.5 µg/m³ here vs 9.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 9.5/22 × 7 = 3.0 here; 9.7/22 × 7 = 3.1 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
2% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Cambridge
Cel-shaded illustration of Cambridge
#17CambridgePM2.5 11Checking road route

Maryland· PM2.5 11 µg/m³

Eastern Shore town on the wide Choptank River, with waterfront air and a growing base of inns.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 11 µg/m³ here vs 9.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 11/22 × 7 = 3.5 here; 9.7/22 × 7 = 3.1 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
13% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Shelter Island
Cel-shaded illustration of Shelter Island
#18Shelter IslandPM2.5 6.2Checking road routesaves 1.1 cigs/wk

New York· PM2.5 6.2 µg/m³

Ferry-only island between Long Island's North and South Forks, ringed by Peconic Bay water with quiet inns and rentals.

36% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 6.2 µg/m³ here vs 9.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.2/22 × 7 = 2.0 here; 9.7/22 × 7 = 3.1 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Virginia Beach right now

36% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Greenport
Cel-shaded illustration of Greenport
#19GreenportPM2.5 6.2Checking road routesaves 1.1 cigs/wk

New York· PM2.5 6.2 µg/m³

North Fork harbor village surrounded by bays and Long Island Sound, with waterfront inns and steady marine air.

36% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 6.2 µg/m³ here vs 9.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.2/22 × 7 = 2.0 here; 9.7/22 × 7 = 3.1 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Virginia Beach right now

36% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Montauk
Cel-shaded illustration of Montauk
#20MontaukPM2.5 6.2Checking road routesaves 1.1 cigs/wk

New York· PM2.5 6.2 µg/m³

Ocean-wrapped village at Long Island's eastern tip, with surf beaches, steady Atlantic wind and motels and resorts along the shore.

36% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 6.2 µg/m³ here vs 9.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.2/22 × 7 = 2.0 here; 9.7/22 × 7 = 3.1 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Virginia Beach right now

36% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT · 53 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

Browse all 200 cities by province & state →

All 54 Canadian cities →
TorontoMontréalVancouverCalgaryEdmontonOttawaWinnipegQuébec CityHamiltonKitchener-WaterlooLondonHalifaxVictoriaWindsorOshawaSaskatoonReginaSt. CatharinesKelownaBarrieSherbrookeGuelphAbbotsfordKingstonGreater SudburySaguenayTrois-RivièresMonctonSaint JohnSt. John'sThunder BayPeterboroughLethbridgeNanaimoKamloopsMississaugaBramptonSault Ste. MarieNorth BayWhitehorsePrince GeorgeFort McMurrayMedicine HatFrederictonYellowknifeChilliwackBellevilleBrantfordSurreyLavalMarkhamVaughanBurnabyRichmond
All 145 U.S. cities →
New York CityLos AngelesChicagoHoustonPhoenixPhiladelphiaSan AntonioSan DiegoDallasFort WorthJacksonvilleAustinSan JoseCharlotteColumbusIndianapolisSan FranciscoSeattleDenverWashington, D.C.NashvilleOklahoma CityBostonPortlandLas VegasDetroitMemphisLouisvilleBaltimoreMilwaukeeAlbuquerqueTucsonFresnoSacramentoAtlantaKansas CityColorado SpringsOmahaRaleighMiamiMinneapolisTulsaTampaWichitaClevelandNew OrleansPittsburghCincinnatiSt. LouisOrlandoBuffaloSalt Lake CityRichmondBirminghamCharlestonProvidenceHartfordGrand RapidsEugeneBoiseSpokaneMissoulaBillingsBozemanRenoBakersfieldStocktonModestoRiversideSan BernardinoChicoReddingSalemMedfordBendYakimaAnchorageEl PasoAmarilloLubbockLittle RockBaton RougeShreveportJacksonMobileMontgomeryKnoxvilleLexingtonDaytonToledoAkronFort WayneDes MoinesMadisonGreen BayFargoSioux FallsRapid CityAlbanyRochesterSyracuseWorcesterSpringfieldAllentownHarrisburgNorfolkGreensboroWinston-SalemDurhamColumbiaGreenvilleAugustaTallahasseeSarasotaFort MyersSt. PetersburgSpringfieldBoulderFort CollinsProvoOgdenHonoluluCorpus ChristiBellinghamTacomaOlympiaYumaErieScrantonYoungstownCantonPeoriaRockfordTopekaPensacolaLafayetteBeaumontWacoMcAllenLaredoMesaArlingtonAuroraAnaheimHenderson

What this means · Virginia Beach

Phew.

3.1cigarettes

per week, if this air holds

Act two · The scale

Where today lands

From a crisp horizon to smoke you can taste — here’s your reading on it.

9.7 µg/m³
CrispSome smokeHeavy smoke

Act three · The ladder

What each rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · The fine print

The receipts

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 9.7 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 9.7/22 × 7 = 3.1 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →