Arlington, VA to Gordonsville, VA is 93.4 miles and takes about 2 hours 9 minutes via Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway and Plank Road, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia, moving from the bustling Southeast region around Arlington to the more rural Southeast of Gordonsville. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll primarily be on surface roads, so expect a more relaxed pace than a pure interstate drive. It's a straightforward drive for anyone looking to get from point A to point B without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.7 miles from Arlington, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
42.2 mi
50m
Constitution Highway
21.6 mi
30m
Plank Road
12.5 mi
18m
James Madison Highway
7.9 mi
11m
I 95
3.8 mi
4m
North Glebe Road
2.4 mi
6m
Berry Hill Road
0.7 mi
1m
North Oakland Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
— 42.2 mi, about 50m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 68 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,016 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~399 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.6×
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 Gordonsville, 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 right at fork onto I 95
3.8 mi·4 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 130BToward VA 3 West: CulpeperUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
13
Merge onto VA 3
12 mi·18 min·Plank Road
Use the left lane.
14
Take the exit
498 ft·15 sec
15
Merge onto VA 20
22 mi·30 min·Constitution Highway
16
Continue on VA 20
0.7 mi·1 min·Berry Hill Road
17
Turn left onto US 15
0.3 mi·47 sec·Caroline Street
18
Continue on US 15
7.9 mi·11 min·James Madison Highway
19
Continue on US 15
0.2 mi·20 sec·East Gordon Avenue
20
Enter roundabout onto US 15; US 33
167 ft·2 sec·US 15; US 33
21
Continue on US 15; US 33
0.4 mi·34 sec·US 15; US 33
22
Turn right onto West King Street
45 ft·2 sec·West King Street
23
Arrive at destination
West King Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 2-hour, 9-minute drive, consider departing Arlington, VA, before the morning commute peaks, or aim for a mid-morning departure to avoid the heaviest traffic. With only 93.4 miles and a fuel cost around $14, you have flexibility for spontaneous stops, though none are officially marked on this route. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a break from highway travel is 42.2 miles on the Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway. Plan to refuel before you leave the main highway segments to ensure you have plenty of gas for the surface road portions.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.7 miles from Arlington, VA, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.2 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 21 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.7 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gordonsville, 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 93.4 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Arlington, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway for about 42.2 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 49.4 — 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
5
3.5 mi into trip|~9m in|I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
45.7 mi into trip|~59m in|I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
49.4 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward VA 3 West: Culpeper
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 130B
Toward VA 3 West: Culpeper
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.31 one way
$28.62 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$15.71
$31.41
premium
$4.64
$17.05
$34.10
diesel
$5.60
$20.59
$41.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28
0
$9.81
$4.48
Efficient EV
23.4
0
$8.17
$3.74
EV Truck/SUV
37.4
0
$13.08
$5.98
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 Sep 2, 2026
Origin
Arlington, VA
Evening
in Arlington on Wednesday
Local time
6:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 5 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 9:46PM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Gordonsville, VA
Evening
in Gordonsville on Wednesday
Local time
6:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 1 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 9:46PM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
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
3 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
2h 9m 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.
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...
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 mostly surface roads, with only about 25% of the drive on highways (based on a highway share of 4 out of 10). You'll experience a significant stretch of 42.2 miles on the Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway before transitioning to Constitution Highway and Plank Road. Expect to navigate more local traffic and intersections as you move away from the initial highway segment. The shift from highway cruising to surface road driving will be noticeable as you get closer to Gordonsville.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.2 mi on Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 3.3 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 17 significant decision points across 93.4 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 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 3.5 miles (I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 9m. Total distance: 93.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.2 miles on Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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 Gordonsville, 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. There are 5 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 3.5 miles (I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Shenandoah National Park 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 Gordonsville, VA before heading back.
