Origin
Alexandria, VA
Evening in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
6:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
41.4 mi
67 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alexandria, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Bristow, VA
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning a quick transition from Alexandria to Bristow, you can expect a straightforward 41.4-mile journey. This trip typically takes about 59 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily through local surface streets like King Street, South Saint Asaph Street, and Duke Street rather than relying on high-speed interstates. With a fuel budget of just $7, the trip is highly economical for most vehicles. Since both locations are situated within the Southeast region of Virginia, the drive offers a consistent regional feel throughout the transit.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 66 | 17 mi | 20m |
| Capital Beltway | 8.8 mi | 10m |
| Capital Beltway (Local) | 5 mi | 6m |
| Sudley Road | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Godwin Drive | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Nokesville Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Bristow Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South Washington Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, VA and Bristow, VA.
Start on VA 400
Turn right onto King Street
Turn right onto South Saint Asaph Street
Turn right onto Duke Street
Turn left onto VA 400
Turn right onto Gibbon Street
Turn left onto US 1
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 95; I 495
Keep slight right at fork onto I 495
Continue on I 495
Keep slight right at fork onto I 495
Take the exit
Merge onto I 66
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto VA 234
Continue on VA 234 BUS
Turn right onto Godwin Drive
Turn right onto VA 28
Turn left onto SR 619
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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.
A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 20.7 miles from Alexandria, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 33.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
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
Take the exit toward I 66 West: Vienna, Front Royal
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward VA 234 North, VA 234 Business: Manassas, Manassas National Battlefield Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward VA 234 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$6.47 one way
$12.95 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.08 | $14.16 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.66 | $15.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.14 | $18.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.35 | $1.99 |
| Efficient EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.62 | $1.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.80 | $2.65 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
6:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Bristow on Sunday
Local time
6:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you transition from Alexandria’s urban environment toward Bristow. Because this route involves zero highway driving, you will remain on local arteries for the entire duration of the trip. This setup creates a more engaged experience behind the wheel, requiring you to stay alert through numerous intersections and turns. Without any long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, the journey maintains a steady, moderate pace from start to finish. You should prepare for a drive that prioritizes navigation through city and suburban corridors over open-road cruising.
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.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 19 decision points packed into just 41.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
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 15.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Alexandria, VA and Bristow, VA, road signs point toward Front Royal and Manassas National Battlefield Park.
Front Royal
Manassas National Battlefield Park
Alexandria is a city in Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C., in the United States.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 41.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Alexandria, VA or browse trips ending in Bristow, VA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VA road trips.