Berryville, VA to Alexandria, VA is 71.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 38 minutes via Leesburg Pike and Capital Beltway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive, entirely within Virginia, moves you from the Southeast region toward its more urbanized areas. Expect a journey characterized by frequent turns and a local feel, rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. It's a straightforward trip that’s easy to manage in a single day, making it ideal for a quick transition between a more rural setting and the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.9 miles from Berryville, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Leesburg Pike
17.5 mi
23m
Capital Beltway
15.4 mi
19m
Dulles Greenway
13.8 mi
16m
Dulles Toll Road
11 mi
14m
Harry Byrd Highway
8 mi
10m
Capital Beltway (Local)
2 mi
2m
North Buckmarsh Street
0.6 mi
1m
Leesburg Bypass
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Leesburg Pike
— 17.5 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Berryville, VA and Alexandria, VA.
1
Start on this road
21 ft·3 sec·this road
2
Turn right
172 ft·16 sec
3
Turn right onto US 340
0.6 mi·1 min·North Buckmarsh Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward VA 7 East: Alexandria
5
Merge onto VA 7
8.0 mi·10 min·Harry Byrd Highway
6
Continue on VA 7
17 mi·23 min·Leesburg Pike
7
Continue on VA 7
0.5 mi·38 sec·Leesburg Bypass
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward VA 267 East: Dulles Airport, WashingtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on VA 267
14 mi·16 min·Dulles Greenway
10
Merge onto VA 267
9.8 mi·13 min·Dulles Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 267
1.2 mi·1 min·Dulles Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 18AToward I 495 South: RichmondUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 18AToward I 495 South: Richmond
14
Merge onto I 495
15 mi·19 min·Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; I 495
2.0 mi·2 min·Capital Beltway (Local)
Toward I 95, I 495: AlexandriaUse the slight right lane.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 177A-BToward US 1: Alexandria, Fort BelvoirUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 177BToward US 1 North: Alexandria
18
Merge onto US 1
440 ft·8 sec·Richmond Highway
19
Continue on US 1
0.3 mi·45 sec·South Patrick Street
20
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·Franklin Street
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto VA 400
0.5 mi·1 min·South Washington Street
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
VA 400
Trip Plan
Given its relatively short duration of under two hours, this trip offers significant flexibility. Aim to depart Berryville in the morning to avoid the heaviest commuter traffic, especially as you approach the Capital Beltway. While there are no designated stops in the data, plan for a brief pause if needed; the longest stretch is 17.5 miles, so a quick break before or after that segment could be beneficial. Keep your fuel tank topped up, as the estimated cost is only $11, and it's wise to have ample range on local roads. Be particularly mindful of the numerous turns and potential traffic congestion as you enter the Alexandria area.
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 35.9 miles from Berryville, VA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.5 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 16 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.9 miles or 49m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Berryville, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Berryville, VA
This is one driving day of about 71.7 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Berryville, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Leesburg Pike for about 17.5 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 26.8 and 70.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
26.8 mi into trip|~37m in
Take the exit toward VA 267 East: Dulles Airport, Washington
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.
Toward VA 267 East: Dulles Airport, Washington
6
50.7 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|VA 267 / Dulles Toll Road
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 267 / Dulles Toll Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
51.9 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 495 South: Richmond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18A
Toward I 495 South: Richmond
8
68.1 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway (Local)
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway (Local) toward I 95, I 495: Alexandria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95, I 495: Alexandria
8
70.1 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 177A-B
Toward US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.21 one way
$22.42 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$12.26
$24.52
premium
$4.70
$13.27
$26.54
diesel
$5.61
$15.83
$31.66
Estimated Tolls: $5.64
Dulles Greenway
(13.8 mi)$3.44
Dulles Toll Road
(11 mi)$2.20
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
$11
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.5
0
$7.53
$3.44
Efficient EV
17.9
0
$6.27
$2.87
EV Truck/SUV
28.7
0
$10.04
$4.59
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Berryville, VA
Late night
in Berryville on Sunday
Local time
12:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alexandria, VA
Late night
in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
12:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
20 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
1h 38m 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.
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!
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 24.7
Caution: Great Allegheny Passage Erosion Near Confluence, Pennsylvania (Mile Marker 56)
Park Closure: Trail Closure at Veterans Park at Balls Bluff (Leesburg, Virginia)
At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people, lies Harpers Ferry. Here you can explore John Brown's Raid against slavery. Find your...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
$20
near mile 14.8
Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley has a long and rich heritage that still inspires today. Native Americans first shaped the land, followed by colonists and settlers. The fertile valley became an important...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a turn-heavy local drive, with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be navigating city streets and local roads for the entire 71.7 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17.5 miles along Leesburg Pike. As you progress, the character of the drive will shift from smaller towns and local thoroughfares to the busier arteries surrounding the Capital Beltway. Be prepared for varying speed limits and frequent intersections as you make your way toward Alexandria.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.5 mi on Leesburg Pike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 26.8 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.7 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 26.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.7 miles (VA 267 / Dulles Toll Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Berryville, VA to Alexandria, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 71.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.5 miles on Leesburg Pike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.64 in tolls one way, starting with Dulles Greenway. 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.
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 Alexandria, 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 26.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.7 miles (VA 267 / Dulles Toll Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park. 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 Alexandria, VA before heading back.
