Origin
Carrollton, VA
Late night in Carrollton on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carrollton, VA to Arlington, 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
3h 38m
Distance
182.6 mi
294 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 26m
★
6 AM
3h 39m
8 AM
4h 4m
10 AM
3h 47m
12 PM
3h 45m
3 PM
3h 49m
5 PM
4h 2m
8 PM
3h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carrollton, VA
Kelly
Arlington, VA
Dominik Gryzbon
Trip Overview
Carrollton, VA to Arlington, VA is 182.6 miles and takes about 3h 38m via I 95 and James River Drive, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia, making it a straightforward drive through the Southeast region. With a moderate highway share, you'll experience a mix of faster driving and more local roads. Given the relatively short duration, it's an ideal route for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
91.3 miles from Carrollton, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 82.3 mi | 1h 33m |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 26.3 mi | 28m |
| James River Drive | 14.6 mi | 19m |
| Colonial Trail West | 13.3 mi | 15m |
| Benns Church Boulevard | 12.1 mi | 15m |
| Colonial Trail East | 9.9 mi | 11m |
| Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway | 8.7 mi | 10m |
| East Randolph Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 82.3 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carrollton, VA and Arlington, VA.
1
Start on SR 670
178 ft
·
4 sec
·
Norsworthy Drive
2
Turn left onto SR 665
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Reynolds Drive
3
Turn right onto US 258; VA 32
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Brewers Neck Boulevard
4
Merge onto US 258; VA 10
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Benns Church Boulevard
5
Continue on VA 10
9.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Colonial Trail East
6
Turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Rolfe Highway
7
Turn right onto VA 10
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Colonial Trail West
8
Continue on VA 10
15 mi
·
19 min
·
James River Drive
9
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
East Randolph Road
10
Continue on VA 10
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East Hundred Road
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 295 North: Washington
12
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
this road
Toward I 295 North: Washington
13
Merge onto I 295
26 mi
·
28 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
14
Take the exit
2.4 mi
·
2 min
Exit 43A
Toward I 95 North: Washington
Use the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto I 95
46 mi
·
49 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; US 17
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95; US 17
17
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
18
Merge onto I 95
35 mi
·
41 min
·
I 95
Use the slight left lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 395
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Exit 170A; 170B
Toward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Tysons Corner
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Continue on I 395
8.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Exit 170A
Toward I 395 North: Washington
Use the straight lane.
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 8A
Toward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike
Use the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward VA 27 West: Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike
Use the slight left lane.
23
Merge onto VA 27
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Boulevard
Toward Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn left onto VA 237
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
10th Street North
25
Turn slight left
137 ft
·
8 sec
26
Turn left onto Wilson Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Wilson Boulevard
27
Arrive at destination
Wilson Boulevard
Trip Plan
For this 182.6-mile drive, leaving in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and avoid potential rush hour congestion closer to Arlington. You'll have about 3 hours and 38 minutes of driving time, with one planned stop being sufficient. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $29, and it's always wise to fill up before embarking on the longest stretch of 82.3 miles on I 95. Given the manageable distance, you have flexibility to depart at your convenience, but factoring in that longest highway segment can help you plan your breaks effectively.
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 91.3 miles from Carrollton, VA, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.3 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 40 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.3 miles or 1h 50m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carrollton, 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 Carrollton, VA
This is one driving day of about 182.6 miles and 3h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Carrollton, 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 82.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
91 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 91.3 miles from Carrollton, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 82.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 85 and 180.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
85 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 43A
Toward I 95 North: Washington
9
170.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 20m in
|
I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway toward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Tysons Corner
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 170A; 170B
Toward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Ty...
8
179.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 30m in
Take the exit toward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike
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 8A
Toward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pi...
8
179.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward VA 27 West: Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward VA 27 West: Joint Base Myer-Henderson Ha...
6
180.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 32m in
|
VA 27 / Washington Boulevard
Merge onto VA 27 / Washington Boulevard toward Columbia Pike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Columbia Pike
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.55 one way
$57.11 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
64 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $31.22 | $62.44 |
| premium | $4.70 | $33.80 | $67.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.32 | $80.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.8 | 0 | $19.17 | $8.76 |
| Efficient EV | 45.7 | 0 | $15.98 | $7.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73 | 0 | $25.56 | $11.69 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Arlington, VA
Late night in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°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
16 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
3h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 45% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads like I 95. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 82.3 miles on I 95. Expect to transition from highway speeds to surface roads as you approach your destination. The mix of highway and surface roads means you'll encounter varying traffic patterns and exit densities.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.3 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 85 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 182.6 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 85 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 170.7 miles (I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 179.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Carrollton, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Tysons Corner along the way.
Tysons Corner
170.7 mi in
|
~3h 20m
|
via I 395
About the Cities
Arriving in Arlington, VA
Full guide →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.
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 38m. Total distance: 182.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.3 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Arlington, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 85 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 170.7 miles (I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 179.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Arlington, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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