Dale City Car-Only Safety Rest Area South
0 mi from route
Trip from Arlington, VA to Waverly, VA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 3m
Distance
153 mi
246 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 52m
★
6 AM
3h 4m
8 AM
3h 27m
10 AM
3h 12m
12 PM
3h 10m
3 PM
3h 13m
5 PM
3h 26m
8 PM
2h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, VA
Dominik Gryzbon
Waverly, VA
Mitchell Luo
Trip Overview
Arlington, VA to Waverly, VA is 153 miles and takes about 3h 3m via I 95, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, specifically within Virginia, making it a straightforward drive. You'll experience a mixed driving profile, with a significant portion on major highways but also some variation. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this route is easily manageable as a single-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time and stops.
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
76.5 miles from Arlington, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 48.6 mi | 53m |
| Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway | 42.2 mi | 50m |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 39.4 mi | 42m |
| County Drive | 10.2 mi | 15m |
| General Mahone Highway | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| North Glebe Road | 2.4 mi | 6m |
| North Oakland Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North County Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 48.6 mi, about 53m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 116 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,172 veh/hr typical · worst 3,836
Quietest
2 AM
~455 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Waverly, 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: Richmond
Use 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 1A
Toward I 95 South: Richmond
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
49 mi
·
53 min
·
I 95
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
1.9 mi
·
2 min
Exit 84A
Toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Merge onto I 295
39 mi
·
42 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 3A
Toward US 460 East: Norfolk
Use the right lane.
14
Merge onto US 460
10 mi
·
15 min
·
County Drive
15
Continue on US 460
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
General Mahone Highway
16
Continue on US 460
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
North County Drive
17
Turn right onto SR T-1002
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Maifield Avenue
18
At end of road, turn left onto VA 40
80 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
VA 40
Trip Plan
With a drive of just over 3 hours, this route offers considerable flexibility. Aiming for an early morning departure from Arlington will help you bypass potential commuter traffic. You'll have ample daylight to complete the 153-mile journey, and with only one recommended stop, you can choose a convenient point along I 95 for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $24, and plan your refueling accordingly, especially considering the longest stretch is nearly 50 miles on the interstate.
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 76.5 miles from Arlington, VA, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.6 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 34 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.5 miles or 1h 33m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waverly, 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 153 miles and 3h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 48.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
77 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 76.5 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Dale City Car-Only Safety Rest Area North
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Virginia Welcome Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Ladysmith Safety Rest Area North
0.2 mi from route
Ladysmith Safety Rest Area south
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Mr. Fuel Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Dorey Park Maintenance Facility
1.7 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 135.6 — 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.
8
94.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 84A
Toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va B...
7
135.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 37m in
Take the exit toward US 460 East: Norfolk
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 3A
Toward US 460 East: Norfolk
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.59 one way
$45.18 round trip
$3.75/gal
25.4 MPG avg
54 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.12 | $24.82 | $49.65 |
| premium | $4.49 | $27.06 | $54.12 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $28.89 | $57.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.9 | 0 | $16.07 | $7.34 |
| Efficient EV | 38.3 | 0 | $13.39 | $6.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.2 | 0 | $21.42 | $9.79 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Origin
Arlington, VA
Late night in Arlington on Monday
Local time
2:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Cloudy
W 7 mph
11% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Waverly, VA
Late night in Waverly on Monday
Local time
2:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 6 mph
21% chance
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
1 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
3h 3m 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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 137.1
Park Closure: Eastern Front Tour Road south of Route 36 - Closed
Colonial National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On May 13, 1607, Jamestown was established as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Three cultures came together – European, Virginia Indian and African–to create a new society that...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
$15
near mile 153
View on nps.gov
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!
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
The drive from Arlington to Waverly features a substantial 32% on highways, primarily I 95. You'll encounter Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway and Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, suggesting a predominantly fast-paced interstate experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll cover is 48.6 miles on I 95, meaning extended periods of consistent speed. This mixed drive profile indicates that while much of the journey is highway cruising, there might be transitions or sections that offer a change of pace.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.6 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 3.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 153 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
268 ft
42 ft
Total Climb
190 ft
Total Descent
347 ft
Highest Point
268 ft
Elevation Range
226 ft
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 Waverly, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk and Va Beach.
Norfolk
94.3 mi in
|
~1h 52m
Va Beach
94.3 mi in
|
~1h 52m
About the Cities
Starting in Arlington, VA
Full guide →Founded 1801
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,...
Arriving in Waverly, VA
Full guide →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 3m. Total distance: 153 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.6 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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 Waverly, 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 16 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, Colonial National Historical Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Waverly, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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