Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 6m
Distance
101.5 mi
163 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bedford, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Harrisonburg, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Bedford, VA to Harrisonburg, VA is 101.5 miles and takes about 2h 6m via I 81, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Virginia, moving from the Southeast region to itself. It's a fairly straightforward trip, mostly on a major interstate, making it a convenient option for getting between these two points. You'll find it's a quick journey, easily manageable in a single day, and the estimated fuel cost suggests it's an economical choice for your travels.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.8 miles from Bedford, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 56.8 mi | 1h 1m |
| Big Island Highway | 16.8 mi | 25m |
| Glasgow Highway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| Elon Road | 5.3 mi | 6m |
| Lee Jackson Highway | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| East Midland Trail | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| South Magnolia Avenue | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Longwood Avenue | 1.8 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bedford, VA and Harrisonburg, VA.
Start on US 460 BUS; VA 43; VA 122 BUS
Turn right onto US 221; VA 43
Continue on US 221
Turn left onto VA 122
Continue on VA 122
At end of road, turn left onto US 501
At end of road, turn left onto US 501; VA 130
Continue on US 501; VA 130
Continue on US 501
Turn straight onto US 501
Turn straight onto US 501
Turn left onto US 60
Continue on US 60
Take the exit
Merge onto I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
Take the exit
Turn left onto VA 253
Turn right onto US 11
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 6 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility with this drive. Leaving anytime in the morning will comfortably get you to Harrisonburg with plenty of daylight remaining. While the longest stretch on I 81 is about 56.8 miles, you won't need to worry too much about pacing stops; however, it's always wise to take a break if you feel tired. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before getting onto the longer interstate segment, as service areas can sometimes be spaced out on I 81.
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.
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 22 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.8 miles or 1h 7m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harrisonburg, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Bedford, 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 Bedford, VA
This is one driving day of about 101.5 miles and 2h 6m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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.
A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 50.8 miles from Bedford, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 75.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto US 221; VA 43 / North Bridge Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto US 501 / Lee Jackson Highway
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto US 501; VA 130 / Elon Road
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 60 / West 29th Street
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$15.87 one way
$31.74 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $17.35 | $34.71 |
| premium | $4.70 | $18.79 | $37.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.41 | $44.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.5 | 0 | $10.66 | $4.87 |
| Efficient EV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.88 | $4.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.6 | 0 | $14.21 | $6.50 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Bedford on Tuesday
Local time
8:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Harrisonburg on Tuesday
Local time
8:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
72°F
Buena Vista, VA
51 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Monument
Booker T. Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This trip is a mixed drive, with 57% of the route on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 56.8 miles on I 81, offering a period of consistent, faster travel. The initial part of the journey will involve some local roads like Big Island Highway and Glasgow Highway, which will be more winding and potentially slower. As you transition onto I 81, expect a more typical interstate experience with higher speeds and fewer turns. The drive gradually shifts from more localized routes to a more direct, high-speed corridor for the majority of the distance.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 221; VA 43 / North Bridge Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 6m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 221; VA 43 / North Bridge Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.9 miles (US 501 / Lee Jackson Highway): Navigation decision point; at 22.8 miles (US 501; VA 130 / Elon Road): Navigation decision point.
Bedford is a town and former independent city in the county of the same name in Central Virginia of the Southern United States of America. With an estimated population of 6,585 as of 2018, the town – which is the county seat of Bedford County – is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town, despite its seemingly unremarkable size, is home to a plethora of historical sites, notably those devoted to the World War II history of the citizens in the town. Bedford is known as "the place that sells itself," boasting multiple cultural and natural sites in the immediate vicinity, including the Blue Ridge Mountains to the north, with the Peaks of Otter overlooking the town. Smith Mountain Lake, a reservoir and the largest lake fully in Virginia, is roughly 14 miles (25 km) to the south, and boasts a variety of fishing activities and water sports.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 101.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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