Arlington, VA to Chatmoss, VA is 252.2 miles and takes about 5h 42m via US 29, North Seminole Trail, and Wards Road, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip covers a distance within the Southeast region, staying entirely within Virginia. Expect a mixed drive that balances efficiency with local road experiences. Given its manageable length and duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day journey, allowing ample time for departure and arrival without feeling rushed. It offers a practical way to travel between these two points without the intensity of a pure interstate experience.
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
126.1 miles from Arlington, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 29
66.3 mi
1h 21m
North Seminole Trail
33.8 mi
47m
Wards Road
30.7 mi
38m
Custis Memorial Parkway
27.5 mi
34m
James Madison Highway
23.3 mi
30m
Chatham Road
12.2 mi
18m
Callands Road
12.1 mi
17m
Lee Highway
10.6 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
US 29
— 66.3 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, VA and Chatmoss, 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
24 mi·29 min·Custis Memorial Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 43AToward US 29 South: Gainesville, WarrentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 29 South: Gainesville, WarrentonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 29
11 mi·15 min·Lee Highway
Use the left lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29
0.5 mi·44 sec·US 15; US 29
Toward US 15 South, US 29 South
11
Merge onto US 15; US 17; US 29
2.6 mi·3 min·Eastern Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 15; US 17; US 29
5.1 mi·7 min·James Madison Highway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29
18 mi·23 min·James Madison Highway
14
Continue on US 29
7.8 mi·9 min·James Monroe Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 29
34 mi·47 min·North Seminole Trail
16
Continue on US 29
0.3 mi·41 sec·Emmet Street North
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit onto US 29
63 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 29
Toward US 29 South, US 250 West
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29
0.6 mi·1 min·US 29
Toward US 29 South, US 460 West: Lynchburg, Danville
19
Merge onto US 29; US 460
6.4 mi·8 min·Richmond Highway
20
Take the exit onto US 29
0.4 mi·46 sec·US 29
Toward US 29 South
21
Merge onto US 29
31 mi·38 min·Wards Road
22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29
2.1 mi·2 min·US 29
Toward US 29 South
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward VA 40
24
Turn right onto VA 40
1.8 mi·2 min·West Gretna Road
25
Turn left onto SR 790
4.4 mi·7 min·Piney Road
26
Continue on SR 799
6.1 mi·10 min·Climax Road
27
At end of road, turn right onto VA 57
12 mi·17 min·Callands Road
28
Continue on VA 57
12 mi·18 min·Chatham Road
29
Turn left onto SR 777
3.3 mi·7 min·Mount Olivet Road
30
Arrive at destination
SR 777
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 252.2-mile trip, consider an early morning departure from Arlington to maximize daylight. With a drive time of around 5h 42m, you can comfortably complete this in one day. Plan for one main stop to break up the journey, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 66.3-mile stretch on US 29, as services might be less frequent than on a major interstate. The estimated fuel cost of $39 provides a good budget baseline for planning.
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 126.1 miles from Arlington, VA, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.3 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 55 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.1 miles or 2h 50m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chatmoss, 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 252.2 miles and 5h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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 US 29 for about 66.3 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.6 and 172 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
28.8 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
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 43A
Toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
8
29.6 mi into trip|~39m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
6
40.3 mi into trip|~55m in|US 15; US 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29 toward US 15 South, US 29 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 15 South, US 29 South
6
172 mi into trip|~3h 46m in|US 29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29 toward US 29 South, US 460 West: Lynchburg, Danville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 29 South, US 460 West: Lynchburg, Dan...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.44 one way
$78.88 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$43.12
$86.24
premium
$4.70
$46.68
$93.35
diesel
$5.61
$55.68
$111.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.7
0
$26.48
$12.11
Efficient EV
63.1
0
$22.07
$10.09
EV Truck/SUV
100.9
1
$35.31
$16.14
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
12:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 7 to 13 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Chatmoss, VA
Late night
in Chatmoss on Sunday
Local time
12:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Amherst, VA
126 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
26 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 42m 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.
Shenandoah National Park
National Park
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...
On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the effective end of the nation's largest war. Question...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 165.2
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 217.4
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 17.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive presents a mixed character, with 37% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on US 29, North Seminole Trail, and Wards Road, which means you won't be on a single type of road for the entire 5h 42m. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 66.3 miles on US 29, offering a good segment of consistent travel. This blend of highway and local roads provides a varied driving experience, shifting between quicker travel and more community-focused segments as you progress south.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.3 mi on US 29.
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 4.6 miles in near I 66 / Custis Memorial Parkway.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 252.2 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 4.6 miles (I 66 / Custis Memorial Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Arlington, VA and Chatmoss, VA, road signs point toward Warrenton and Danville.
Warrenton
28.8 mi in|~38m
Danville
172 mi in|~3h 46m|via US 29
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 42m. Total distance: 252.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.3 miles on US 29. 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 Chatmoss, 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 4.6 miles (I 66 / Custis Memorial Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Shenandoah National Park, Appomattox Court House National Historical Park and Booker T Washington National Monument (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Chatmoss, VA before the return drive.
