Spanning 160.4 miles, this journey from Alexandria to Amherst takes approximately 3 hours and 38 minutes to complete. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate sprint, you should plan for a full day on the road. Budget about $26 for fuel to cover the distance, which is entirely manageable as a single-day excursion. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region of Virginia, the drive remains within a consistent geographic context. Whether you are heading out for a weekend getaway or a quick change of scenery, this route offers a straightforward, localized experience that avoids the typical highway rush.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.2 miles from Alexandria, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 29
45 mi
56m
I 95
41 mi
48m
Constitution Highway
21.6 mi
30m
Plank Road
12.5 mi
18m
Gordonsville Road
8.2 mi
12m
James Madison Highway
7.9 mi
11m
I 64
6 mi
6m
Louisa Road
5.3 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
US 29
— 45 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, VA and Amherst, VA.
1
Start on VA 400
75 ft·6 sec·South Washington Street
2
Turn right onto King Street
314 ft·14 sec·King Street
3
Turn right onto South Saint Asaph Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·South Saint Asaph Street
4
Turn right onto Duke Street
334 ft·18 sec·Duke Street
5
Turn left onto VA 400
0.2 mi·50 sec·South Washington Street
6
Turn right onto Gibbon Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·Gibbon Street
7
Turn left onto US 1
0.2 mi·34 sec·South Patrick Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
438 ft·10 sec
Toward I 95 South, I 495 West, I 95 North, I 495 East: Richmond, BaltimoreUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 South, I 495 WestUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 95; I 495
5.0 mi·6 min·Capital Beltway (Local)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
37 mi·43 min·I 95
Use the slight left lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
3.8 mi·4 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 130BToward VA 3 West: CulpeperUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
15
Merge onto VA 3
12 mi·18 min·Plank Road
Use the left lane.
16
Take the exit
498 ft·15 sec
17
Merge onto VA 20
22 mi·30 min·Constitution Highway
18
Continue on VA 20
0.7 mi·1 min·Berry Hill Road
19
Turn left onto US 15
0.3 mi·47 sec·Caroline Street
20
Continue on US 15
7.9 mi·11 min·James Madison Highway
21
Continue on US 15
0.2 mi·20 sec·East Gordon Avenue
22
Enter roundabout onto VA 231
121 ft·1 sec·West Gordon Avenue
23
Continue on VA 231
1.4 mi·2 min·West Gordon Avenue
24
Continue on VA 231
8.2 mi·12 min·Gordonsville Road
25
Continue on VA 22
5.3 mi·9 min·Louisa Road
26
Turn straight onto US 250
2.1 mi·3 min·Richmond Road
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 64 West
28
Merge onto I 64
6.0 mi·6 min·I 64
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward US 29 South
30
Merge onto US 29
45 mi·56 min·US 29
31
Take the exit
0.3 mi·27 sec
Toward US 60: Amherst
32
Keep slight right at fork
169 ft·4 sec
33
Turn right onto US 60
0.1 mi·16 sec·Richmond Highway
34
Turn sharp left onto SR T1112
432 ft·14 sec·Washington Street
35
Turn right onto 2nd Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·2nd Street
36
Turn right onto Goodwin Street
146 ft·6 sec·Goodwin Street
37
Arrive at destination
Goodwin Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3 hour and 38 minute journey, aim to depart early to avoid local traffic congestion near your starting point. You only need to plan for one major stop along the way, giving you plenty of flexibility to pace the trip according to your personal comfort. Keep in mind that since you are navigating local streets, your actual travel time may fluctuate based on local conditions, so stay alert at intersections. Prioritize refueling before you leave Alexandria to ensure you don't have to worry about finding a station while navigating the turn-heavy sections of the route. Having a clear idea of your route through King and Duke Streets will help you stay on track as you transition toward Amherst.
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 80.2 miles from Alexandria, VA, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45 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 35 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.2 miles or 1h 47m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Amherst, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alexandria, 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 Alexandria, VA
This is one driving day of about 160.4 miles and 3h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Alexandria, 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 US 29 for about 45 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 28
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 47.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0.9 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South, I 495 West, I 95 North, I 495 East: Richmond, Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, I 495 West, I 95 North, I 49...
8
1 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, I 495 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95 South, I 495 West
6
6.6 mi into trip|~11m in|I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
43.8 mi into trip|~55m in|I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
47.6 mi into trip|~59m in
Take the exit toward VA 3 West: Culpeper
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 130B
Toward VA 3 West: Culpeper
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.08 one way
$50.17 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$27.43
$54.85
premium
$4.70
$29.69
$59.37
diesel
$5.61
$35.41
$70.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.1
0
$16.84
$7.70
Efficient EV
40.1
0
$14.04
$6.42
EV Truck/SUV
64.2
0
$22.46
$10.27
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Alexandria, VA
Late night
in Alexandria on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Amherst, VA
Late night
in Amherst on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 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
4 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 38m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a hands-on driving experience as you navigate away from Alexandria using King Street, South Saint Asaph Street, and Duke Street. With a highway share of 0%, this route is characterized by its turn-heavy, local nature rather than long, monotonous interstate stretches. You will find that the road demands your full attention, as it lacks the high-speed, uninterrupted sections found on major thoroughfares. Navigating these local roads provides a different perspective of the landscape compared to standard highway travel. Prepare for a steady pace where the focus is on the turns and the local surroundings rather than reaching a top speed.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45 mi on US 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 160.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 38m. Total distance: 160.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45 miles on US 29. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Amherst, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Amherst, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
