Origin
Abingdon, VA
Late night in Abingdon on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Abingdon, VA to Harrisonburg, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 18m
Distance
231.6 mi
373 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 5m
★
6 AM
4h 18m
8 AM
4h 45m
10 AM
4h 28m
12 PM
4h 25m
3 PM
4h 29m
5 PM
4h 44m
8 PM
4h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Abingdon, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Harrisonburg, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 231.6-mile drive from Abingdon, VA to Harrisonburg, VA is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 4 hours and 18 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-81 and I-77, with a brief stint on South Main Street, this route offers a 99% highway experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $36, it's an economical option for a single-day trip. The drive stays within the Southeast region, making it a familiar landscape for many. It’s a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
115.8 miles from Abingdon, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 7m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 221.2 mi | 4h 2m |
| I 77 | 7.1 mi | 7m |
| South Main Street | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| Cummings Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Port Republic Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| I 64 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 221.2 mi, about 4h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Abingdon, VA and Harrisonburg, VA.
1
Start on VA 75
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cummings Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
3
Merge onto I 81; US 58
57 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
I 81; US 58
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on I 77; I 81; US 11; US 52
7.1 mi
·
7 min
·
I 77; I 81; US 11; US 52
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 11
140 mi
·
2 hr 33 min
·
I 81; US 11
Toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on I 64; I 81
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 64; I 81
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
24 mi
·
26 min
·
I 81
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward VA 253: Harrisonburg
9
Turn left onto VA 253
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Port Republic Road
10
Turn right onto US 11
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
11
Arrive at destination
US 11; US 33
Trip Plan
This 4-hour, 18-minute drive is well-suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving early to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 221.2 miles on I-81, plan your breaks accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point or when you feel the need to stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the long interstate segments, as services can be spaced out. The $36 fuel cost is a good estimate to budget for.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 115.8 miles from Abingdon, VA, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 221.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 51 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.8 miles or 2h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harrisonburg, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Abingdon, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Abingdon, VA
This is one driving day of about 231.6 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Abingdon, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 221.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
116 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 115.8 miles from Abingdon, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 221.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 229.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
VA 75 / Cummings Street
Depart onto VA 75 / Cummings Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 81; US 58
Merge onto I 81; US 58
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
65.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
I 81; US 11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 11 toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
4
205.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 45m in
|
I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
229.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 12m in
Take the exit toward VA 253: Harrisonburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward VA 253: Harrisonburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.22 one way
$72.43 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
81 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $39.60 | $79.20 |
| premium | $4.70 | $42.86 | $85.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.13 | $102.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.5 | 0 | $24.32 | $11.12 |
| Efficient EV | 57.9 | 0 | $20.26 | $9.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 92.6 | 1 | $32.42 | $14.82 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Harrisonburg, VA
Late night in Harrisonburg on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 18m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Booker T Washington National Monument
National Monument
Booker T. Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 127.8
View on nps.gov
Shenandoah National Park
National Park
Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
$30
near mile 231.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive on this route, with 99% of the journey taking place on interstates. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 221.2 miles primarily on I-81. This suggests a consistent pace with minimal slowdowns or changes in road type for the majority of your travel. The character is one of steady forward motion, ideal for covering ground quickly. While largely interstate, the initial and final segments might involve navigating local roads like South Main Street.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 221.2 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 77. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near VA 75 / Cummings Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 231.6 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (VA 75 / Cummings Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (I 81; US 58): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.3 miles (I 81; US 11): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 18m. Total distance: 231.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 221.2 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (VA 75 / Cummings Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (I 81; US 58): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.3 miles (I 81; US 11): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Booker T Washington National Monument and Shenandoah National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Harrisonburg, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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