Origin
Arlington, VA
Afternoon in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
4:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arlington, VA to Bristow, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
32.6 mi
52 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, VA
Dominik Gryzbon
Bristow, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Arlington to Bristow, you can expect a manageable 32.6-mile journey that typically takes about 48 minutes to complete. This trip is perfect for a one-day outing, as it stays entirely within Virginia and requires no overnight stops to reach your destination. With a fuel budget of just $5, it is a highly economical route for a short commute or local visit. You will navigate through the Southeast region, transitioning from the dense urban environment of Arlington toward the more suburban landscape of Bristow. Since there are no scheduled stops required, you have the flexibility to make this a straightforward point-to-point drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Custis Memorial Parkway | 23.2 mi | 29m |
| Sudley Road | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Godwin Drive | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Nokesville Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Bristow Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Wilson Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Glebe Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Fairfax Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Custis Memorial Parkway
— 23.2 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, VA and Bristow, 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
20 mi
·
24 min
·
Custis Memorial Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 47B-A
Toward VA 234 North, VA 234 Business: Manassas, Manassas National Battlefield Park
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 47B
Toward VA 234 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto VA 234
366 ft
·
13 sec
·
Sudley Road
10
Continue on VA 234 BUS
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Sudley Road
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto Godwin Drive
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Godwin Drive
12
Turn right onto VA 28
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Nokesville Road
13
Turn left onto SR 619
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Bristow Road
Use the straight lane.
14
Arrive at destination
SR 619
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 32.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.3 miles from Arlington, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 31.7 — 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
24.5 mi into trip
|
~33m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 47B-A
Toward VA 234 North, VA 234 Business: Manassas,...
9
24.7 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Keep slight right at fork toward VA 234 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 47B
Toward VA 234 North
4
31.7 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
SR 619 / Bristow Road
Turn left onto SR 619 / Bristow Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.10 one way
$10.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.57 | $11.15 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.03 | $12.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.20 | $14.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.4 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 | 9.8 | 0 | $3.42 | $1.56 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.85 | $1.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.09 |
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
Bristow, VA
Afternoon in Bristow on Sunday
Local time
4:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°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
4 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
48m 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 monotonous interstate highway cruise. Your route will take you along North Glebe Road and Fairfax Drive before transitioning onto I-66. Because the highway share is 0%, you should be prepared for frequent turns and navigating local traffic patterns rather than maintaining a steady speed on long, open stretches. The road's personality is functional and busy, reflecting the shift from the bustling streets of Arlington to the suburban roads of Bristow. Stay alert, as the lack of a long, uninterrupted stretch means you will need to remain engaged with your navigation throughout the entire 48-minute duration.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.2 mi on Custis Memorial Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Custis Memorial Parkway and Sudley Road. 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 Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 32.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
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 24.5 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.
On the drive from Arlington, VA to Bristow, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Manassas National Battlefield Park along the way.
Manassas National Battlefield Park
24.5 mi in
|
~33m
About the Cities
Starting in Arlington, VA
Full guide →Arlington (along with the cities of Falls Church to the west and Alexandria to the south) forms part of the urban conglomeration around Washington, D.C. - inside the beltway. In Northern Virginia, and directly across the Potomac River from D.C. proper, Arlington is one of America's most densely populated regions. It has a land area 26 sq mi (67 km2) and a population of 230,000. Despite its density, Arlington mixes the best of both big city and suburban environments. Like the greater Washington area, Arlington has grown over the last several decades in part due to growth of the federal government.
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 48m. Total distance: 32.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.2 miles on Custis Memorial Parkway. 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 Bristow, 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 0.7 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 24.5 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 Bristow, 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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