Origin
Arlington, VA
Late night in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
3:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arlington, VA to Gainesville, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
42m
Distance
30.8 mi
50 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 49m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, VA
Dominik Gryzbon
Gainesville, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Arlington to Gainesville, you are looking at a quick 30.8-mile trip that typically takes about 42 minutes. This drive is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, as it is short enough to avoid any need for an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize the Custis Memorial Parkway, Lee Highway, and Wilson Boulevard to navigate between these two Virginia locations. With fuel costs estimated at just $5, it is an economical choice for a local commute or a quick change of scenery. Both points of origin and destination sit firmly within the Southeast region, offering a consistent driving experience throughout the journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Custis Memorial Parkway | 27.5 mi | 34m |
| Lee Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Wilson Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Glebe Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| McGraws Corner Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Fairfax Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Custis Memorial Parkway
— 27.5 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, VA and Gainesville, 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 43A
Toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 29
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
Lee Highway
10
Turn right onto McGraws Corner Drive
388 ft
·
18 sec
·
McGraws Corner Drive
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on McGraws Corner Drive
456 ft
·
23 sec
·
McGraws Corner Drive
12
Turn left onto US 29
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Lee Highway
13
Arrive at destination
US 29
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 30.3 — 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
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
30.3 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
McGraws Corner Drive
Turn right onto McGraws Corner Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.82 one way
$9.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.27 | $10.53 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.70 | $11.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.80 | $13.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.8 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 | 9.2 | 0 | $3.23 | $1.48 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
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
Gainesville, VA
Late night in Gainesville on Sunday
Local time
3:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
27 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
42m 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 highway-focused drive, as 89% of this route consists of high-speed transit. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Custis Memorial Parkway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 27.5 miles. The road maintains a steady, efficient pace, moving you quickly away from the denser suburban landscape of Arlington. While you will eventually transition onto Lee Highway and Wilson Boulevard, the character of the drive remains functional and direct. It is a straightforward experience behind the wheel, designed for getting you from point A to point B with minimal complexity.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.5 mi on Custis Memorial Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Custis Memorial Parkway and Lee Highway. 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
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 30.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 42m.
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 28.8 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 Gainesville, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Warrenton along the way.
Warrenton
28.8 mi in
|
~38m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 42m. Total distance: 30.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.5 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 Gainesville, 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 28.8 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 Gainesville, 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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