Origin
Buckhall, VA
Late night in Buckhall on Tuesday
Local time
5:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buckhall, VA to McLean, 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
42m
Distance
26.1 mi
42 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 49m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buckhall, VA
Eric Joseph
McLean, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 26.1-mile drive from Buckhall, VA, to McLean, VA, is a short trip that can easily be completed in about 42 minutes. It's a straightforward journey, primarily utilizing I-66 and the Capital Beltway, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip with no need for an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $4, reflecting its manageable distance. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region of Virginia for the entire duration. This drive offers a practical way to navigate between these two locations without significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 66 | 11.2 mi | 13m |
| Centreville Road | 5.5 mi | 10m |
| Capital Beltway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Dolley Madison Boulevard | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| Liberia Avenue | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| Prince William Parkway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Sully Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Old Dominion Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 66
— 11.2 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buckhall, VA and McLean, VA.
1
Start on SR 662
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Moore Drive
2
Turn left onto VA 294
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Prince William Parkway
3
Turn right onto Liberia Avenue
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Liberia Avenue
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right onto VA 28
5.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Centreville Road
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on VA 28
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Sully Road
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 66 East: Washington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 66
11 mi
·
13 min
·
I 66
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 64B
Toward I 495 North: Tysons Corner, Baltimore
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 495
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 46B
Toward VA 123 North: McLean
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto VA 123
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Dolley Madison Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto VA 309
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Dominion Drive
Use the right lane.
13
Turn sharp left onto Elm Street
101 ft
·
2 sec
·
Elm Street
14
Arrive at destination
Elm Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 23.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Liberia Avenue
Turn right onto Liberia Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
9.1 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward I 66 East: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 66 East: Washington
5
9.5 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 66
Merge onto I 66
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
20.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Tysons Corner, Baltimore
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 64B
Toward I 495 North: Tysons Corner, Baltimore
7
23.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward VA 123 North: McLean
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46B
Toward VA 123 North: McLean
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.08 one way
$8.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.46 | $8.93 |
| premium | $4.70 | $4.83 | $9.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.76 | $11.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.74 | $1.25 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
McLean, VA
Late night in McLean on Tuesday
Local time
5:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
14 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
42m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with 47% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches of I-66, which will provide the longest uninterrupted driving segment at 11.2 miles. The drive transitions between interstate travel and local roads like Centreville Road, offering a blend of faster-paced driving and more controlled sections. This variety means you won't be stuck in a monotonous highway grind for the entire trip, as the road character shifts throughout the 42-minute travel time.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.2 mi on I 66.
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 1.4 miles in near Liberia Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 26.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 42m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (Liberia Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles (I 66): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
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 Buckhall, VA to McLean, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Baltimore along the way.
Baltimore
20.7 mi in
|
~32m
About the Cities
Arriving in McLean, VA
Full guide →McLean is a Northern Virginia suburb of Washington, D.C. located in Fairfax County, Virginia, in the southern United States of America.
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 42m. Total distance: 26.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.2 miles on I 66. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 McLean, 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 1.4 miles (Liberia Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles (I 66): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — 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 McLean, VA before heading back.
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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