Bull Run, VA to Charlottesville, VA is 82.9 miles and takes about 2h 4m via North Seminole Trail, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a local drive with numerous turns, so don't plan on setting any speed records. The relatively short distance and manageable duration make this a convenient option for a single-day excursion. Given the 2h 4m estimated drive time, you should have plenty of daylight to complete this journey comfortably.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.4 miles from Bull Run, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Seminole Trail
33.8 mi
47m
James Madison Highway
14.6 mi
18m
Catlett Road
13.9 mi
23m
James Monroe Highway
7.8 mi
9m
Nokesville Road
5.9 mi
9m
Hornbaker Road
2.1 mi
3m
U.S. 250 Bypass
1.5 mi
2m
Sudley Manor Drive
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
North Seminole Trail
— 33.8 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bull Run, VA and Charlottesville, VA.
1
Start on this road
140 ft·14 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn left
360 ft·29 sec
3
At end of road, turn right onto SR 1566
1.3 mi·2 min·Sudley Manor Drive
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto VA 234
0.3 mi·31 sec·Prince William Parkway
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto SR 674
0.1 mi·20 sec·Wellington Road
6
Turn left onto Hornbaker Road
2.1 mi·3 min·Hornbaker Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto VA 28
5.9 mi·9 min·Nokesville Road
8
Continue on VA 28
14 mi·23 min·Catlett Road
9
Merge onto US 15; US 29
15 mi·18 min·James Madison Highway
10
Continue on US 29
7.8 mi·9 min·James Monroe Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 29
34 mi·47 min·North Seminole Trail
12
Turn left onto SR 743
0.2 mi·31 sec·Hydraulic Road
Use the left lane.
13
Enter roundabout onto SR 743
96 ft·2 sec·Hydraulic Road
14
Continue on SR 743
0.2 mi·32 sec·Hydraulic Road
15
Turn left onto US 250
1.5 mi·2 min·U.S. 250 Bypass
16
Take the exit
482 ft·20 sec
Toward Park Street
17
Turn right onto Park Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Park Street
18
Turn left onto US 250 BUS
315 ft·12 sec·East High Street
19
Turn right onto 7th Street Northeast
0.2 mi·43 sec·7th Street Northeast
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 4m drive time and 82.9 miles, this is a perfect route for a single-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time. You likely won't need extensive stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $13 estimated cost suggests it's not a particularly fuel-intensive drive. The 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile means paying close attention to your GPS or maps is key; consider setting your navigation before you depart to minimize fumbling with your phone mid-drive. Ensure you have enough gas before leaving Bull Run, as finding stations on these local stretches might require more planning.
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 41.4 miles from Bull Run, VA, or about 1h 3m 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 18 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.4 miles or 1h 3m 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 Charlottesville, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bull Run, 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 Bull Run, VA
This is one driving day of about 82.9 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Bull Run, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 80.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
At end of road, turn left
Navigation decision point
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 1566 / Sudley Manor Drive
At end of road, turn right onto SR 1566 / Sudley Manor Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in|VA 234 / Prince William Parkway
Turn left onto VA 234 / Prince William Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.8 mi into trip|~4m in|Hornbaker Road
Turn left onto Hornbaker Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
80.2 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|SR 743 / Hydraulic Road
Enter roundabout onto SR 743 / Hydraulic Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.96 one way
$25.93 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.17
$28.35
premium
$4.70
$15.34
$30.69
diesel
$5.61
$18.30
$36.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.9
0
$8.70
$3.98
Efficient EV
20.7
0
$7.25
$3.32
EV Truck/SUV
33.2
0
$11.61
$5.31
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Bull Run, VA
Late night
in Bull Run on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Charlottesville, VA
Late night
in Charlottesville on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
10 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
2h 4m 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 54.3
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!
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be navigating quite a few intersections and changes in direction. With a highway share of only 2, the majority of your journey will be on local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 33.8 miles along North Seminole Trail. Be prepared for a driving experience that requires consistent attention to navigation rather than simply cruising on a highway.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 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?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 13 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: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SR 1566 / Sudley Manor Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (VA 234 / Prince William Parkway): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 82.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Mostly surface roads 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SR 1566 / Sudley Manor Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (VA 234 / Prince William Parkway): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Shenandoah National Park and 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 Charlottesville, VA before heading back.
