Traveling from Arlington to Bassett covers 283.7 miles and typically takes about 5 hours and 36 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey is manageable in a single day, you can easily complete it in one go without the need for an overnight stay. You will begin your trip by navigating local thoroughfares like North Glebe Road and Fairfax Drive before transitioning onto I-66. Budget approximately $45 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Virginia locations. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Southeast, you will notice a consistent regional character throughout the trek. It is a straightforward trip that works well for those who prefer an efficient, direct route.
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
141.8 miles from Arlington, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
156.4 mi
2h 50m
Custis Memorial Parkway
70.4 mi
1h 20m
US 220
51.4 mi
1h 14m
Fairystone Park Highway
2.1 mi
3m
Fairy Stone Park Highway
1 mi
1m
Wilson Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
Fairystone Parkway
0.2 mi
<1m
North Glebe Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 156.4 mi, about 2h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, VA and Bassett, VA.
1
Start on Wilson Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Wilson Boulevard
2
Turn slight right onto VA 120
0.2 mi·30 sec·North Glebe Road
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto Fairfax Drive
0.1 mi·27 sec·Fairfax Drive
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·1 min·this road
Toward I 66 Toll West
5
Merge onto I 66
3.3 mi·4 min·Custis Memorial Parkway
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 66
67 mi·1 hr 16 min·Custis Memorial Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 1AToward I 81 South: RoanokeUse the straight lane.
8
Merge onto I 81
109 mi·1 hr 58 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: Roanoke
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
48 mi·52 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto US 220
51 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 220
Exit 143Toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, RoanokeUse the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward VA 57 West: Stanleytown, Bassett
12
Turn straight onto VA 57
1.0 mi·1 min·Fairy Stone Park Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on VA 57
2.1 mi·3 min·Fairystone Park Highway
14
Continue on VA 57
0.2 mi·18 sec·Fairystone Parkway
15
Turn right onto County Road 673
111 ft·9 sec·County Road 673
16
Turn left onto SR 673
265 ft·11 sec·Sunset Drive
17
Arrive at destination
SR 673
Trip Plan
Planning for this trip requires a focus on navigation, as the turn-heavy nature of the route means you should keep your GPS accessible at all times. Since the drive takes over five hours, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid peak traffic congestion on local roads. With only one recommended stop planned, try to time your break for the midpoint of the 283.7-mile journey to keep your energy levels consistent. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $45 estimate may fluctuate depending on idling time in local traffic. Taking advantage of the flexibility of a one-day trip allows you to adjust your departure time based on the latest traffic reports for your specific route.
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 141.8 miles from Arlington, VA, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.4 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 62 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.8 miles or 2h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bassett, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arlington, 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 Arlington, VA
This is one driving day of about 283.7 miles and 5h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Arlington, 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 I 81 for about 156.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 228.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|Fairfax Drive
Turn left onto Fairfax Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
4.6 mi into trip|~8m in|I 66 / Custis Memorial Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 66 / Custis Memorial Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
71.7 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 81 South: Roanoke
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 1A
Toward I 81 South: Roanoke
6
181 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
228.7 mi into trip|~4h 16m in|US 220
Take the exit onto US 220 toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke
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 143
Toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.36 one way
$88.73 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$48.51
$97.02
premium
$4.70
$52.51
$105.01
diesel
$5.61
$62.64
$125.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.1
1
$29.79
$13.62
Efficient EV
70.9
0
$24.82
$11.35
EV Truck/SUV
113.5
1
$39.72
$18.16
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Arlington, VA
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bassett, VA
Late night
in Bassett on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Amherst, VA
142 mi in
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
35 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
5h 36m 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.
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...
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 254.3
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...
15 mi from route
~39 min detour
$30
near mile 107.6
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 19.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous highway cruise. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for a route defined by winding local roads rather than long, straight interstate stretches. The navigation will be active, requiring you to stay alert as you transition away from the dense suburban streets of Arlington. Because the path lacks extended, uninterrupted stretches of high-speed pavement, the pace remains steady and technical. You will experience a more intimate look at the Virginia landscape as you maneuver through the turns that characterize this 5 hour and 36 minute journey.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 156.4 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and Custis Memorial Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Fairfax Drive.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 283.7 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 0.7 miles (Fairfax Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (I 66 / Custis Memorial Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Arlington, VA to Bassett, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Roanoke along the way.
Roanoke
228.7 mi in|~4h 16m|via US 220
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 36m. Total distance: 283.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 156.4 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Bassett, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (Fairfax Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (I 66 / Custis Memorial Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park, Booker T Washington National Monument and Shenandoah National Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bassett, VA before the return drive.
