Alexandria, VA to Bedford, VA is 201 miles and takes about 4h 28m via US 29 and I-95, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia, starting in the Southeast region and ending in the same area. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads, offering a varied experience as you travel between these two points. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a manageable distance for a single day's travel, allowing you to reach your destination without an overnight stop.
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
100.5 miles from Alexandria, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 29
59.9 mi
1h 13m
I 95
41 mi
48m
Constitution Highway
21.6 mi
30m
Richmond Highway
12.7 mi
15m
Plank Road
12.5 mi
18m
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
12.3 mi
15m
Gordonsville Road
8.2 mi
12m
James Madison Highway
7.9 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
US 29
— 59.9 mi, about 1h 13m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 39 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,913 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~363 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, VA and Bedford, 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
59 mi·1 hr 12 min·US 29
31
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29
0.6 mi·1 min·US 29
Toward US 29 South, US 460 West: Lynchburg, Danville
32
Merge onto US 29; US 460
13 mi·15 min·Richmond Highway
33
Continue on US 460
12 mi·15 min·East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
34
Take the exit onto US 460 BUS
0.2 mi·22 sec·US 460 BUS
Toward US 460 Business, VA 122
35
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460 BUS
1.3 mi·2 min·US 460 BUS
36
Arrive at destination
US 460 BUS; VA 43; VA 122 BUS
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 28-minute drive, leaving Alexandria, VA in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. Since the total distance is 201 miles and you're budgeted for just one stop, you can afford to be flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches on US 29, as services can be more spread out in some sections. The estimated fuel cost of $31 should give you a good baseline for planning your expenses.
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 100.5 miles from Alexandria, VA, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.9 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 44 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.5 miles or 2h 19m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bedford, 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 201 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 59.9 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 26
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
$29.68 one way
$59.35 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$32.61
$65.22
premium
$4.49
$35.55
$71.09
diesel
$4.80
$37.95
$75.91
Estimated Tolls: $0.86
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
(12.3 mi)$0.86
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.3
0
$21.11
$9.65
Efficient EV
50.3
0
$17.59
$8.04
EV Truck/SUV
80.4
1
$28.14
$12.86
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Alexandria, VA
Afternoon
in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
2:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
SW 7 mph34% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bedford, VA
Afternoon
in Bedford on Sunday
Local time
2:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Cloudy
W 7 mph5% chanceLive 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
2 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 28m 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.
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the effective end of the nation's largest war. Question...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 173.3
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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 201
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...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
$30
near mile 83.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 60% of this 201-mile route is on highways. You'll encounter a stretch of 59.9 miles on US 29 before potentially merging onto other roads. The profile is mixed highway and surface, meaning you'll transition between faster-paced driving and more local roads. Be prepared for varying traffic patterns as you move between different types of thoroughfares.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.9 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 26 significant decision points across 201 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,009 ft37 ft
Total Climb
1,219 ft
Total Descent
248 ft
Highest Point
1,009 ft
~201 mi in
Elevation Range
972 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Alexandria, VA to Bedford, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Danville along the way.
Bedford is a town and former independent city in the county of the same name in Central Virginia of the Southern United States of America. With an estimated population of 6,585 as of 2018, the town – which is the county seat of Bedford County – is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town, despite its seemingly unremarkable size, is home to a plethora of historical sites, notably those devoted to the World War II history of the citizens in the town.
Bedford is known as "the place that sells itself," boasting multiple cultural and natural sites in the immediate vicinity, including the Blue Ridge Mountains to the north, with the Peaks of Otter overlooking the town. Smith Mountain Lake, a reservoir and the largest lake fully in Virginia, is roughly 14 miles (25 km) to the south, and boasts a variety of fishing activities and water sports.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 28m. Total distance: 201 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.9 miles on US 29. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.86 in tolls one way, starting with East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas 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 Bedford, 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 5 rest areas 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.
Yes — Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, 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 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Bedford, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
