Origin
Alexandria, VA
Afternoon in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alexandria, VA to Greenbriar, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
26.7 mi
43 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alexandria, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Greenbriar, VA
Gilberto Olimpio
Trip Overview
This short 26.7-mile drive from Alexandria, VA, to Greenbriar, VA, is easily manageable within a single day, taking approximately 40 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the Capital Beltway and I-66, with a brief stint on Capital Beltway (Local). Given its short distance and estimated $4 fuel cost, this trip is ideal for a quick excursion without needing an overnight stay. The route stays within the Southeast region, offering a straightforward journey through familiar territory. It's a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 8.8 mi | 10m |
| I 66 | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| Capital Beltway (Local) | 5 mi | 6m |
| Route 50 | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Majestic Lane | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Washington Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Patrick Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Poplar Tree Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 8.8 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, VA and Greenbriar, 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, Baltimore
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 South, I 495 West
Use 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 right at fork onto I 495
0.7 mi
·
47 sec
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on I 495
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Capital Beltway
Exit 170A
Toward I 495 North: Tysons Corner
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 495
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 49B
Toward I 66 West: Vienna, Front Royal
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 66
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
I 66
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 57B
Toward US 50 West: Fair Oaks, Winchester
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight
296 ft
·
8 sec
Toward US 50 West
18
Keep slight left at fork
177 ft
·
4 sec
Toward US 50 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto US 50
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Route 50
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Turn left onto SR 4840
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Majestic Lane
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto SR 4831
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Poplar Tree Road
22
Turn left onto Pond Way
283 ft
·
14 sec
·
Pond Way
23
Turn right onto Pennypacker Lane
285 ft
·
12 sec
·
Pennypacker Lane
24
Arrive at destination
Pennypacker Lane
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 23.5 — 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
8
15.4 mi into trip
|
~22m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49B
Toward I 66 West: Vienna, Front Royal
8
22.6 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward US 50 West: Fair Oaks, Winchester
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.
Exit 57B
Toward US 50 West: Fair Oaks, Winchester
8
23.5 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 50 West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.18 one way
$8.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.57 | $9.13 |
| premium | $4.70 | $4.94 | $9.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.90 | $11.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8 | 0 | $2.80 | $1.28 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.34 | $1.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.74 | $1.71 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Greenbriar, VA
Afternoon in Greenbriar on Sunday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
8 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
40m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with about 33% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.8 miles on the Capital Beltway, offering a period of consistent speed. The drive transitions between the faster pace of major interstates and potentially slower local road sections as you approach your destination. This blend means you'll experience varied driving conditions, from open highway cruising to more stop-and-go traffic.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.8 mi on Capital Beltway.
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 Effort
10/10
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 21 decision points packed into just 26.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Alexandria, VA and Greenbriar, VA, road signs point toward Front Royal and Winchester.
Front Royal
15.4 mi in
|
~22m
Winchester
22.6 mi in
|
~32m
About the Cities
Starting in Alexandria, VA
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 26.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.8 miles on Capital Beltway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Greenbriar, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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.
Yes — Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Greenbriar, VA before heading back.
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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