Origin
Arlington, VA
Morning in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arlington, VA to Nellysford, VA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 10m
Distance
139.6 mi
225 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 59m
★
6 AM
3h 11m
8 AM
3h 34m
10 AM
3h 19m
12 PM
3h 16m
3 PM
3h 20m
5 PM
3h 33m
8 PM
3h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, VA
Dominik Gryzbon
Nellysford, VA
Guilherme Simão
Trip Overview
This 139.6-mile drive from Arlington, VA to Nellysford, VA will take you about 3 hours and 10 minutes, making it a perfect single-day road trip. You'll primarily be on North Seminole Trail, Custis Memorial Parkway, and James Madison Highway, with about 34% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $22. Since both destinations are within the Southeast region, you'll experience a consistent regional feel throughout your journey. It's a manageable distance that allows for a relaxed pace.
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
69.8 miles from Arlington, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Seminole Trail | 33.8 mi | 47m |
| Custis Memorial Parkway | 27.5 mi | 34m |
| James Madison Highway | 23.3 mi | 30m |
| Lee Highway | 10.6 mi | 15m |
| I 64 | 10.2 mi | 10m |
| Rockfish Valley Highway | 8.8 mi | 13m |
| James Monroe Highway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| Rockfish Gap Turnpike | 4.8 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
North Seminole Trail
— 33.8 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, VA and Nellysford, 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
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
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
US 29
Toward US 29 South, US 250 West
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 64 West
19
Merge onto I 64
10 mi
·
10 min
·
I 64
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward US 250: Crozet, Yancey Mills
21
Turn left onto US 250
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Rockfish Gap Turnpike
22
Enter roundabout onto Critzer Shop Road
190 ft
·
7 sec
·
Critzer Shop Road
23
Continue on Critzer Shop Road
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Critzer Shop Road
24
Continue on VA 6; VA 151
8.8 mi
·
13 min
·
Rockfish Valley Highway
25
Arrive at destination
VA 151
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize your time at your destination. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to decide when and where to pull over. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $22, and plan your refueling accordingly. Since this is a relatively short trip, you can easily complete it in one day without needing to split it. A specific tip for this route is to be aware of the transition points between the highway segments and the more local roads to adjust your speed and driving style smoothly.
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 69.8 miles from Arlington, VA, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.8 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 31 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.8 miles or 1h 34m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nellysford, 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 139.6 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 North Seminole Trail for about 33.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.8 miles from Arlington, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 40.3 — 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
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.83 one way
$43.66 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $23.87 | $47.74 |
| premium | $4.70 | $25.84 | $51.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.82 | $61.64 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.33
Rockfish Gap Turnpike
(4.8 mi)
$0.33
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
$22
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.9 | 0 | $14.66 | $6.70 |
| Efficient EV | 34.9 | 0 | $12.21 | $5.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.8 | 0 | $19.54 | $8.93 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Destination
Nellysford, VA
Morning in Nellysford on Tuesday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
17 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
3h 10m 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.
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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
$30
near mile 81.8
Caution: 4/13/26 Fire ban in effect
Caution: Parking at Boundary Access Areas
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
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 19.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route. While 34% of your trip will be on highways, offering stretches of faster travel, you'll also navigate local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 33.8 miles on North Seminole Trail, providing a solid period of consistent driving. The character of the drive shifts between these highway segments and the more varied local road sections, keeping things interesting as you progress toward Nellysford.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.8 mi on North Seminole Trail.
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 0.7 miles in near Fairfax Drive.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 15 significant decision points across 139.6 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 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.
Between Arlington, VA and Nellysford, VA, road signs point toward Warrenton and Yancey Mills.
Warrenton
28.8 mi in
|
~38m
Yancey Mills
123.2 mi in
|
~2h 45m
About the Cities
Starting in Arlington, VA
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 10m. Total distance: 139.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.8 miles on North Seminole Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.33 in tolls one way, starting with Rockfish Gap 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.
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 Nellysford, 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 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 — Shenandoah National Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Nellysford, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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