Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 26m
Distance
94 mi
151 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlottesville, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Winchester, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Charlottesville, VA to Winchester, VA is 94 miles and takes about 2h 26m via Seminole Trail, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Virginia, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a local, turn-heavy experience rather than a high-speed interstate journey. With a relatively short distance and manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47 miles from Charlottesville, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Seminole Trail | 24.7 mi | 36m |
| Zachary Taylor Highway | 10.1 mi | 14m |
| F.T. Valley Road | 8.2 mi | 11m |
| Lee Highway | 8.1 mi | 11m |
| South F T Valley Road | 7.1 mi | 10m |
| Front Royal Pike | 7.1 mi | 10m |
| Winchester Road | 6.6 mi | 9m |
| North Blue Ridge Turnpike | 5.4 mi | 7m |
Step-by-step road directions between Charlottesville, VA and Winchester, VA.
Start on this road
Turn left onto US 250 BUS
Turn right onto 7th Street Northeast
Turn left onto US 250 BUS
Turn right onto Park Street
Turn left
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 250
Turn right onto SR 743
Enter roundabout onto SR 743
Continue on SR 743
Turn right onto US 29
Turn slight left onto US 29 BUS; VA 231
Turn slight left onto VA 231
Continue on VA 231
Continue on VA 231
At end of road, turn left onto US 522
Continue on US 522
At end of road, turn right onto US 211; US 522
Turn left onto US 522
Continue on US 522
Continue on US 522
Turn left onto East 6th Street
Keep slight right at fork onto Kendrick Lane
Turn right onto North Shenandoah Avenue
Continue on US 340; US 522
Continue on US 340; US 522
Continue on US 522
Turn left onto US 17; US 50; US 522
Continue on US 17; US 50; US 522
Continue on US 17; US 50; US 522
Turn right onto South Kent Street
Turn left onto East Boscawen Street
Turn right onto US 11; US 522
Arrive at destination
Given the 2h 26m estimated drive time and 94-mile distance, this trip is easily completed in one day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave in the morning to maximize daylight and enjoy the local scenery. There are no designated stops mentioned, so plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is only $15, and filling up before you depart Charlottesville is a good idea to ensure you don't need to search for a station on less-traveled roads.
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.
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 21 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47 miles or 1h 11m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winchester, VA than in the middle of the route.
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 94 miles and 2h 26m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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.
A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 47 miles from Charlottesville, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 74.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto US 250 BUS / East Market Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto 7th Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Enter roundabout onto SR 743 / Hydraulic Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Turn right onto US 29 / Seminole Trail
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto Kendrick Lane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$14.70 one way
$29.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $16.07 | $32.15 |
| premium | $4.70 | $17.40 | $34.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.75 | $41.51 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.38
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
$15
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.2 | 0 | $9.87 | $4.51 |
| Efficient EV | 23.5 | 0 | $8.23 | $3.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.6 | 0 | $13.16 | $6.02 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Charlottesville on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Winchester on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
National Historical Park
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route offers a turn-heavy local drive with only a 7% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 24.7 miles along Seminole Trail. As you progress, the road will likely transition between Seminole Trail, Zachary Taylor Highway, and F.T. Valley Road, suggesting a varied driving experience with frequent changes in direction and speed. It's less about covering ground quickly and more about navigating the local byways.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 250 BUS / East Market Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 94 miles you will encounter 18 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: near the start (US 250 BUS / East Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (7th Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (SR 743 / Hydraulic Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 94 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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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