Alexandria, VA to Stephens City, VA is 87.6 miles and takes about 1h 45m via I 66 and Capital Beltway, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive stays within Virginia, moving you from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. With 80% of the trip on highways, expect a straightforward journey. This route is ideal for a single-day trip, offering a practical way to cover the distance without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.8 miles from Alexandria, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 66
64.2 mi
1h 12m
Capital Beltway
8.8 mi
10m
I 81
5.8 mi
6m
Capital Beltway (Local)
5 mi
6m
South Washington Street
0.3 mi
<1m
South Patrick Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Gibbon Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Fairfax Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 66
— 64.2 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, VA and Stephens City, 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 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 170AToward I 495 North: Tysons CornerUse 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 49BToward I 66 West: Vienna, Front RoyalUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 66
64 mi·1 hr 12 min·I 66
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 81 North: WinchesterUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 81
5.8 mi·6 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Winchester
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·52 sec
Exit 307Toward VA 277: Stephens CityUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn left onto VA 277
359 ft·12 sec·Fairfax Pike
20
Continue on VA 277
0.2 mi·35 sec·Fairfax Street
21
Turn right onto US 11
136 ft·4 sec·Main Street
22
Arrive at destination
US 11
Trip Plan
Given the short 1h 45m duration, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart any time of day, but leaving in the morning will help you avoid potential rush hour congestion on the Capital Beltway. The longest stretch on I 66 is over 60 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you embark on that segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, it's an economical journey, and you won't need to worry about splitting the drive.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.8 miles from Alexandria, VA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.2 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 19 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.8 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stephens City, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alexandria, VA
This is one driving day of about 87.6 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Alexandria, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 66 for about 64.2 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 87 — 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
80.5 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 81 North: Winchester
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1B
Toward I 81 North: Winchester
7
87 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward VA 277: Stephens City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 307
Toward VA 277: Stephens City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.70 one way
$27.40 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.98
$29.96
premium
$4.70
$16.21
$32.43
diesel
$5.61
$19.34
$38.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.3
0
$9.20
$4.20
Efficient EV
21.9
0
$7.66
$3.50
EV Truck/SUV
35
0
$12.26
$5.61
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Alexandria, VA
Morning
in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
7:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Stephens City, VA
Morning
in Stephens City on Sunday
Local time
7:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
20 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
1h 45m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley has a long and rich heritage that still inspires today. Native Americans first shaped the land, followed by colonists and settlers. The fertile valley became an important...
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 27.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 80% of the 87.6 miles spent on major roadways like I 66 and the Capital Beltway. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 64.2 miles on I 66, indicating a consistent speed and flow for a significant portion of the journey. The character of the drive is one of efficient travel, moving you directly between your start and end points with minimal deviations from the interstate system.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.2 mi on I 66.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 66 and Capital Beltway. 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
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.6 miles you will encounter 19 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: 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.
On the drive from Alexandria, VA to Stephens City, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Front Royal along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 87.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.2 miles on I 66. 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 Stephens City, 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 — Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park and 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 Stephens City, VA before heading back.
