Origin
Annandale, VA
Morning in Annandale on Tuesday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Annandale, VA to Leesburg, VA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
31.7 mi
51 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Annandale, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Leesburg, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Annandale to Leesburg, you are looking at a straightforward 31.7-mile journey that typically takes about 49 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single day, as it is a compact local transit within Northern Virginia. You will navigate primarily using Backlick Road, Columbia Pike, and Little River Turnpike rather than relying on major interstates. With an estimated fuel cost of just $5, this is an incredibly budget-friendly route. Since both locations are situated in the Southeast region of the state, you won't experience any major shifts in geography, making this a reliable and predictable commute or local excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Leesburg Pike | 18.1 mi | 26m |
| Capital Beltway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| East Market Street | 3 mi | 6m |
| Little River Turnpike | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Dulles Toll Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Columbia Pike | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Backlick Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Leesburg Pike
— 18.1 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Annandale, VA and Leesburg, VA.
1
Start on VA 236
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Little River Turnpike
2
Turn left onto SR 617
373 ft
·
20 sec
·
Backlick Road
3
Turn left onto VA 244
527 ft
·
20 sec
·
Columbia Pike
4
Turn right onto VA 236
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Little River Turnpike
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 495 North: Tysons Corner
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 495
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 45
Toward VA 267 Toll West: Reston, Herndon, Dulles Airport
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto VA 267
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Dulles Toll Road
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
22 sec
10
Merge onto VA 267
263 ft
·
4 sec
·
Dulles Toll Road
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 16
Toward VA 7: Tysons Corner, Leesburg, Leesburg Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward VA 7 West: Leesburg Pike, Leesburg
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto VA 7
18 mi
·
26 min
·
Leesburg Pike
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on VA 7
3.0 mi
·
6 min
·
East Market Street
15
Arrive at destination
VA 7 BUS
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 31.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.8 miles from Annandale, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 10.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SR 617 / Backlick Road
Turn left onto SR 617 / Backlick Road
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
VA 244 / Columbia Pike
Turn left onto VA 244 / Columbia Pike
Navigation decision point
8
8.3 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward VA 267 Toll West: Reston, Herndon, Dulles Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 45
Toward VA 267 Toll West: Reston, Herndon, Dulle...
9
10.1 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward VA 7: Tysons Corner, Leesburg, Leesburg Pike
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 16
Toward VA 7: Tysons Corner, Leesburg, Leesburg...
9
10.4 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward VA 7 West: Leesburg Pike, Leesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward VA 7 West: Leesburg Pike, Leesburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.96 one way
$9.91 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.42 | $10.84 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.87 | $11.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.00 | $14.00 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.30
Dulles Toll Road
(1.1 mi)
$0.23
Little River Turnpike
(1.1 mi)
$0.07
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$0
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.77 | $1.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.44 | $2.03 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Leesburg, VA
Morning in Leesburg on Tuesday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Potomac, MD
16 mi in
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
1 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
49m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate experience, as this route features a 0% highway share. Because you are staying off the major freeways, your time behind the wheel will be spent navigating suburban corridors and local turns. There are no long, uninterrupted stretches of road here, so you should stay alert for frequent intersections and changing traffic patterns. The character of the drive is defined by its series of local connections, requiring your full attention as you transition between the various turnpikes and secondary roads. It is a practical, utilitarian route that prioritizes local access over open-road cruising.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.1 mi on Leesburg Pike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near SR 617 / Backlick Road.
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 12 decision points packed into just 31.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (SR 617 / Backlick Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (VA 244 / Columbia Pike): Navigation decision point; at 8.3 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 Annandale, VA and Leesburg, VA, road signs point toward Herndon and Dulles Airport.
Herndon
8.3 mi in
|
~12m
Dulles Airport
8.3 mi in
|
~12m
About the Cities
Arriving in Leesburg, VA
Full guide →Founded 1758
Leesburg is in Loudoun County, Virginia. During the War of 1812, Leesburg was used as a temporary capital of the United States when the British occupied Washington.
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 49m. Total distance: 31.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.1 miles on Leesburg Pike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.30 in tolls one way, starting with Dulles Toll Road. 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.
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 Leesburg, 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 0.1 miles (SR 617 / Backlick Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (VA 244 / Columbia Pike): Navigation decision point; at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Leesburg, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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