Arlington, VA to Ettrick, VA is 128.6 miles and takes about 2h 39m via I 95, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia, starting in the Southeast region and ending in the same area. With over 60% of the drive on highways, expect a relatively straightforward route focused on covering ground efficiently. This is a practical choice for a quick trip between these two locations, likely suitable for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.3 miles from Arlington, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
58.4 mi
1h 5m
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
42.2 mi
50m
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
21.4 mi
27m
North Glebe Road
2.4 mi
6m
East River Road
0.8 mi
1m
Hamilton Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
North Oakland Street
0.4 mi
1m
Dupuy Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 58.4 mi, about 1h 5m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 218 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,354 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,970
Quietest
2 AM
~453 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, VA and Ettrick, VA.
1
Start on Wilson Boulevard
90 ft·8 sec·Wilson Boulevard
2
Turn right onto North Oakland Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Oakland Street
3
Turn right onto North Pershing Drive
0.1 mi·28 sec·North Pershing Drive
4
Turn left onto VA 120
2.4 mi·6 min·North Glebe Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 395 South: Richmond
6
Keep slight left at fork
315 ft·7 sec
Toward I 395 South: Richmond, Quaker Lane
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward I 395 South: RichmondUse the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 395
5.8 mi·7 min·Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 395
36 mi·43 min·Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Exit 1AToward I 95 South: RichmondUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
58 mi·1 hr 5 min·I 95
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
21 mi·27 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 54Toward VA 144: Temple AvenueUse the slight right lane.
13
Enter roundabout onto VA 144
217 ft·4 sec·Temple Avenue
14
Continue on VA 144
0.2 mi·31 sec·Temple Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto Hamilton Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Hamilton Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto East Westover Avenue
0.3 mi·38 sec·East Westover Avenue
17
Turn left onto US 1; US 301
0.4 mi·1 min·Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
18
Turn right onto Dupuy Avenue
0.4 mi·37 sec·Dupuy Avenue
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on SR 1107
0.6 mi·1 min·East River Road
20
Continue on East River Road
0.1 mi·31 sec·East River Road
Use the right lane.
21
Arrive at destination
East River Road
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 39m duration, leaving Arlington, VA in the morning should allow you to reach Ettrick, VA well before evening. The route has only one recommended stop, and with a fuel cost estimated at $20, you can plan accordingly. The longest continuous highway segment is 58.4 miles on I 95, so consider a brief break before or after this stretch. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; however, be aware of potential traffic congestion around the DC metro area if you depart during peak commuting hours.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.3 miles from Arlington, VA, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.4 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 28 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.3 miles or 1h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ettrick, 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 128.6 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 95 for about 58.4 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 125.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.3 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 395 South: Richmond, Quaker Lane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 395 South: Richmond, Quaker Lane
8
3.4 mi into trip|~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 395 South: Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 395 South: Richmond
6
45.7 mi into trip|~59m in|I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
104.1 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
125.5 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Take the exit toward VA 144: Temple Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 54
Toward VA 144: Temple Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.86 one way
$41.73 round trip
$4.12/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$23.36
$46.72
premium
$5.00
$25.30
$50.60
diesel
$6.21
$31.44
$62.87
Estimated Tolls: $1.50
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(21.4 mi)$1.50
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.6
0
$13.50
$6.17
Efficient EV
32.2
0
$11.25
$5.14
EV Truck/SUV
51.4
0
$18.00
$8.23
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Arlington, VA
Morning
in Arlington on Saturday
Local time
10:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 13 mph35% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Ettrick, VA
Morning
in Ettrick on Saturday
Local time
10:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 8 to 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
48°F
Bowling Green, VA
64 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
6 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 39m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Petersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Two hundred ninety-two days, eight offensives, over 70,000 casualties, U. S. Colored Troops, and the decline of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. U.S. forces c...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 128.6
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!
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 62% of the 128.6 miles on major roads like I 95. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 58.4 miles on I 95, so be prepared for sustained driving on the freeway. Expect a significant number of exits and potential for merging traffic as you navigate urban and suburban areas along Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway and the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike before transitioning to less developed stretches.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.4 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in.
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 18 significant decision points across 128.6 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 3.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.7 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Top landmarks
•The Pentagon — headquarters of the United States Department of Defense; named after the shape o...
•Arlington National Cemetery — national cemetery in Virginia, United States
•Marine Corps War Memorial — monument consisting of a large sculptural group on a circular base in Arlington,...
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 39m. Total distance: 128.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.4 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.50 in tolls one way, starting with Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. 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.
Yes — we found about 14 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Ettrick, 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. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.7 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Petersburg National Battlefield 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 Ettrick, VA before heading back.
