This 112-mile drive from Charlottesville to Alexandria, Virginia, is a manageable 2-hour and 16-minute journey that's perfect for a single day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, it's an economical option for exploring the Southeast region. You'll be navigating local roads for the entirety of this route, so expect a more connected feel to the communities you pass through. This trip is straightforward, making it ideal for a relaxed excursion without the need for 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
55.8 miles from Charlottesville, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
41.9 mi
50m
Constitution Highway
21.6 mi
30m
Plank Road
12.7 mi
19m
US 15
8.3 mi
12m
Gordonsville Road
8.2 mi
12m
Louisa Road
5.3 mi
9m
Richmond Road
4 mi
7m
Capital Beltway (Local)
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 41.9 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlottesville, VA and Alexandria, VA.
1
Start on this road
233 ft·18 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto US 250 BUS
246 ft·10 sec·East Market Street
3
Turn left onto US 250 BUS; VA 20
0.1 mi·31 sec·9th Street Northeast
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on US 250 BUS; VA 20
0.9 mi·2 min·East High Street
5
Turn right onto US 250; VA 20
315 ft·7 sec·Long Street
6
Continue on US 250; VA 20
4.0 mi·7 min·Richmond Road
7
Turn left onto VA 22
5.3 mi·9 min·Louisa Road
8
Continue on VA 231
8.2 mi·12 min·Gordonsville Road
9
Continue on VA 231
1.4 mi·2 min·Gordon Avenue
10
Enter roundabout onto US 15
46 ft·0 sec·US 15
11
Continue on US 15
8.3 mi·12 min·US 15
12
Turn right onto VA 20
0.7 mi·1 min·Berry Hill Road
13
Continue on VA 20
22 mi·30 min·Constitution Highway
14
Turn right onto VA 3
0.1 mi·10 sec·Germanna Highway
15
Continue on VA 3
13 mi·19 min·Plank Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Take the exit
1.6 mi·3 min
Toward I 95 North: WashingtonUse the left / straight lanes.
17
Merge onto I 95; US 17
1.4 mi·1 min·I 95; US 17
18
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
19
Merge onto I 95
35 mi·41 min·I 95
Use the slight left lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
5.5 mi·7 min·I 95
Toward I 95 North, I 495 East: BaltimoreUse the slight left / straight lanes.
21
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.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 177A-BToward US 1: Alexandria, Fort BelvoirUse the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 177BToward US 1 North: Alexandria
24
Merge onto US 1
440 ft·8 sec·Richmond Highway
25
Continue on US 1
0.3 mi·45 sec·South Patrick Street
26
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·Franklin Street
Use the right lane.
27
Turn left onto VA 400
0.5 mi·1 min·South Washington Street
Use the left lane.
28
Arrive at destination
VA 400
Trip Plan
For this 112-mile trip, departing in the morning will allow you ample time to reach Alexandria without feeling rushed. Since there are no designated stops and the duration is just over two hours, you can easily complete this drive in one day. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $18, and while there are no particularly long stretches to worry about, it's always wise to fuel up before you leave Charlottesville. The turn-heavy nature of this route means staying attentive to your GPS or navigation system is key to a smooth journey.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 55.8 miles from Charlottesville, VA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.9 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 25 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.8 miles or 1h 28m 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 14m
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 Charlottesville, 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 Charlottesville, VA
This is one driving day of about 111.7 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Charlottesville, 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 41.9 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 63.5 and 110.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
63.5 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward I 95 North: Washington
8
102.5 mi into trip|~2h 27m in|I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 toward I 95 North, I 495 East: Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 95 North, I 495 East: Baltimore
8
108 mi into trip|~2h 34m 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
110 mi into trip|~2h 37m 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
6
110.2 mi into trip|~2h 37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 1 North: Alexandria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 177B
Toward US 1 North: Alexandria
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.47 one way
$34.93 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$19.10
$38.20
premium
$4.70
$20.67
$41.35
diesel
$5.61
$24.66
$49.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.5
0
$11.73
$5.36
Efficient EV
27.9
0
$9.77
$4.47
EV Truck/SUV
44.7
0
$15.64
$7.15
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Charlottesville, VA
Late night
in Charlottesville on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Partly Cloudy
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Alexandria, VA
Late night
in Alexandria on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
7 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
2h 41m on the road
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.
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...
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' with a 0% highway share. You'll be spending the entire 2 hours and 16 minutes on local roads, including stretches on East Market Street, 9th Street Northeast, and East High Street. Given the lack of long highway stretches, anticipate frequent turns and a more intimate connection with the passing scenery and towns. The driving experience will be more about navigating through communities than covering long distances quickly.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.9 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 63.5 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 111.7 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 63.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 102.5 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway (Local)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Charlottesville, in central Virginia, is a lovely university town of about 40,000 with lots to offer. Charlottesville is a town steeped in history and culture. Charlottesville is a major cultural center for central Virginia, and features more fine dining, shopping, and entertainment than one might expect for a town of its size. Ensconced in beautiful Albemarle County, Charlottesville is also surrounded by vineyards and horse country.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 111.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). 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 41.9 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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.
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. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 63.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 102.5 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway (Local)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Shenandoah National 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.
