Arlington, VA to Exmore, VA is 194.4 miles and takes about 4h 31m via Lankford Highway, Ocean Highway, and John Hanson Highway, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, traversing Virginia from its northern suburbs to the Eastern Shore. Expect a drive that is mostly on surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate experience. It's a manageable distance for a single day, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a direct trip without needing an overnight stay.
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
97.2 miles from Arlington, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lankford Highway
37.6 mi
54m
Ocean Highway
26.5 mi
36m
John Hanson Highway
24.3 mi
28m
Blue Star Memorial Highway
21.6 mi
30m
Sussex Highway
18.9 mi
25m
Shore Highway
13.5 mi
18m
Salisbury Bypass
10.6 mi
12m
Seashore Highway
7.5 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Lankford Highway
— 37.6 mi, about 54m
Traffic on I-66
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,091 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,746
Quietest
2 AM
~155 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Exmore, VA.
1
Start on Wilson Boulevard
0.4 mi·1 min·Wilson Boulevard
2
Turn straight
207 ft·9 sec
3
Turn straight onto VA 237
0.7 mi·2 min·10th Street North
4
At end of road, turn left
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 50 EastUse the left lane.
5
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·13 sec·this road
Toward US 50 East: WashingtonUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto US 50
1.1 mi·1 min·Arlington Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 50
0.5 mi·50 sec·Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge
8
Take the exit onto I 66
0.1 mi·18 sec·I 66
Toward I 66 East: E StreetUse the slight left lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward E StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on E Street Expressway
0.3 mi·23 sec·E Street Expressway
11
Continue on E Street Northwest
0.3 mi·37 sec·E Street Northwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
At end of road, turn left onto 17th Street Northwest
0.3 mi·41 sec·17th Street Northwest
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto H Street Northwest
0.4 mi·58 sec·H Street Northwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto H Street Northwest
277 ft·7 sec·H Street Northwest
15
Turn left onto New York Avenue Northwest
0.4 mi·46 sec·New York Avenue Northwest
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on K Street Northwest
0.1 mi·17 sec·K Street Northwest
17
Turn left onto 7th Street Northwest
155 ft·6 sec·7th Street Northwest
18
Turn right onto K Street Northwest
0.7 mi·1 min·K Street Northwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on K Street Northeast
0.6 mi·1 min·K Street Northeast
20
Turn left onto 6th Street Northeast
0.5 mi·1 min·6th Street Northeast
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on Brentwood Parkway Northeast
0.3 mi·28 sec·Brentwood Parkway Northeast
22
Turn right onto Mount Olivet Road Northeast
363 ft·8 sec·Mount Olivet Road Northeast
Use the right lane.
23
Turn left
500 ft·16 sec
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto US 50; US 1 Alternate
2.8 mi·4 min·New York Avenue Northeast
Use the right lane.
25
Continue on US 50
0.2 mi·10 sec·John Hanson Highway
26
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50
24 mi·28 min·John Hanson Highway
Toward US 50 East: Annapolis, Richmond, Alexandria, BlandensburgUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on US 50; US 301; MD 2
22 mi·30 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50
6.9 mi·9 min·US 50
Toward US 50 East: Ocean City, Rehoboth
29
Turn left onto MD 404
6.2 mi·8 min·Queen Anne Highway
Use the left lane.
30
Continue on Shore Highway
5.3 mi·7 min·Shore Highway
Use the left lane.
31
Take the exit onto MD 404 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·MD 404 Business
32
Turn slight right onto MD 404 Business
0.4 mi·50 sec·Franklin Street
33
Turn right onto South 5th Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·South 5th Avenue
34
Turn left onto Legion Road
282 ft·7 sec·Legion Road
35
Turn right onto MD 313; MD 404
8.1 mi·11 min·Shore Highway
36
Continue on DE 404
7.5 mi·9 min·Seashore Highway
37
At end of road, turn left onto DE 404 Business
0.4 mi·46 sec·Market Street
38
At end of road, turn right onto US 13 Business; DE 404 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·South Main Street
39
Turn right onto US 13
19 mi·25 min·Sussex Highway
40
Continue on US 13
3.8 mi·5 min·North Salisbury Boulevard
41
Take the exit onto US 13
270 ft·6 sec·US 13
Toward US 13, US 50
42
Keep slight left at fork onto US 13
0.8 mi·1 min·US 13
Toward US 13, US 50 East: Norfolk, Ocean City
43
Merge onto US 13; US 50
11 mi·12 min·Salisbury Bypass
44
Continue on US 13
0.6 mi·40 sec·South Fruitland Boulevard
45
Continue on US 13
26 mi·36 min·Ocean Highway
46
Continue on US 13
38 mi·54 min·Lankford Highway
47
Turn left onto VA 178
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
48
Turn right onto Westfield Avenue
47 ft·2 sec·Westfield Avenue
49
Arrive at destination
Westfield Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4.5-hour duration, departing Arlington in the morning will allow you to reach Exmore with plenty of daylight to spare. While the drive is short enough for one day, you do have flexibility if you prefer a more leisurely pace. The route includes one stop, so plan to take a break around the halfway point or when you feel ready. Keep an eye on your fuel as you get closer to Exmore, especially on the surface road sections where gas stations might be less frequent than on major interstates. A specific tip for this drive is to be aware of the longest stretch of 37.6 miles on Lankford Highway; plan your fuel and rest stops before entering this segment if needed.
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 97.2 miles from Arlington, VA, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.6 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 43 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.2 miles or 2h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Exmore, 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 194.4 miles and 4h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 Lankford Highway for about 37.6 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 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 10.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in
At end of road, turn left toward US 50 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 50 East
6
3 mi into trip|~6m in|I 66
Take the exit onto I 66 toward I 66 East: E Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 66 East: E Street
8
3.2 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward E Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward E Street
6
4 mi into trip|~8m in|17th Street Northwest
At end of road, turn left onto 17th Street Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
10.5 mi into trip|~21m in|US 50 / John Hanson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50 / John Hanson Highway toward US 50 East: Annapolis, Richmond, Alexandria, Blandensburg
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 50 East: Annapolis, Richmond, Alexand...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.92 one way
$61.84 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$33.71
$67.43
premium
$4.78
$36.58
$73.15
diesel
$5.35
$40.95
$81.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.3
0
$20.41
$9.33
Efficient EV
48.6
0
$17.01
$7.78
EV Truck/SUV
77.8
0
$27.22
$12.44
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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 May 31, 2026
Origin
Arlington, VA
Afternoon
in Arlington on Wednesday
Local time
4:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Clear
N 3 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 30 at 7:53PM EDT until May 31 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Exmore, VA
Afternoon
in Exmore on Wednesday
Local time
4:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Clear
NE 2 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 30 at 7:53PM EDT until May 31 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
60°F
Seaford, DE
97 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
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
4h 31m 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.
Assateague Island National Seashore
National Seashore
Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime for...
16 mi from route
~41 min detour
$25
near mile 154.1
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 route is primarily surface roads, with only about 5% of the drive on highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 37.6 miles on Lankford Highway, which likely means a more consistent pace without frequent exits. As you transition from highway segments to surface roads, anticipate more local traffic and varied speed limits. The profile suggests a drive characterized by navigating through towns and more developed areas rather than high-speed cruising.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
49 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.6 mi on Lankford Highway.
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 1.1 miles in.
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 27 significant decision points across 194.4 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 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 66): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
268 ft9 ft
Total Climb
123 ft
Total Descent
356 ft
Highest Point
268 ft
Elevation Range
259 ft
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 Exmore, VA, road signs point toward Richmond, Alexandria, Blandensburg, Rehoboth and Ocean City.
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 4h 31m. Total distance: 194.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.6 miles on Lankford Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 Exmore, 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 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 66): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Assateague Island National Seashore and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Exmore, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
