Sussex County is located in the south central region of Virginia. The county is 45 miles southeast of the capital city Richmond, 25 miles from the tri-cities area that includes Petersburg and Hopewell. Washington D.C. and Baltimore are within a few hours drive, while Boston and Atlanta are both within a day's drive. Sussex County encompasses 317,400 acres or 496 square miles. The county lies in the Coastal Plain region on level to slightly rolling terrain. Elevations range from 50 to 250 feet above sea level. Drainage in the area is provided by the Nottoway River, Blackwater River and Stony Creek.