Clifton Forge, VA to Alexandria, VA is 220.9 miles and takes about 4h 10m via I-81, I-64, and I-66, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Virginia, starting in the Southeast region and heading toward the Northeast. It's a straightforward trip, largely on major interstates, making it a convenient option for a single-day transit. You'll encounter a mostly highway profile, so expect consistent cruising speeds for most of your time on the road.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
110.4 miles from Clifton Forge, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
78.9 mi
1h 26m
I 66
64.1 mi
1h 11m
I 64
59.1 mi
1h 3m
Capital Beltway
12.1 mi
15m
Capital Beltway (Local)
2 mi
2m
Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
Grafton Street
0.8 mi
1m
South Washington Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 78.9 mi, about 1h 26m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 62 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,761 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,297
Quietest
2 AM
~253 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton Forge, VA and Alexandria, VA.
1
Start on this road
67 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto US 60 BUS; US 220 BUS
1.2 mi·2 min·Main Street
3
Continue on US 60 BUS
0.8 mi·1 min·Grafton Street
4
Take the exit onto US 60 BUS
0.2 mi·27 sec·US 60 BUS
5
Merge onto I 64; US 60
59 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 64; US 60
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on I 64; I 81
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 64; I 81
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
79 mi·1 hr 26 min·I 81
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 66 East: Front Royal, Washington
9
Continue on I 66
43 mi·46 min·I 66
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 66
21 mi·25 min·I 66
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 64AToward I 495 South: Richmond, AlexandriaUse the right lane.
12
Merge onto I 495
12 mi·15 min·Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
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.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 177A-BToward US 1: Alexandria, Fort BelvoirUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 177BToward US 1 North: Alexandria
16
Merge onto US 1
440 ft·8 sec·Richmond Highway
17
Continue on US 1
0.3 mi·45 sec·South Patrick Street
18
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·Franklin Street
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto VA 400
0.5 mi·1 min·South Washington Street
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
VA 400
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 4h 10m drive, starting your trip in Clifton Forge, VA, anytime in the morning should allow you to reach Alexandria, VA before dark. With a fuel cost estimate around $34, it's wise to fill up your tank before departing or at a stop along I-81, as services can be more spread out in the earlier parts of the route. Since it's a manageable distance, you can decide on your stop based on convenience; there's no need to split this into an overnight trip. Keep an eye on traffic, especially as you get closer to I-66 and the D.C. suburbs.
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 110.4 miles from Clifton Forge, VA, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.9 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 49 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.4 miles or 2h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 18m
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 Clifton Forge, 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 Clifton Forge, VA
This is one driving day of about 220.9 miles and 4h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Clifton Forge, 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 81 for about 78.9 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 183.4 and 219.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
183.4 mi into trip|~3h 21m in|I 66
Keep slight right at fork onto I 66
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
204.7 mi into trip|~3h 47m in
Take the exit toward I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 64A
Toward I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria
8
217.3 mi into trip|~4h 3m 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
219.2 mi into trip|~4h 5m 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
219.4 mi into trip|~4h 6m 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
$32.61 one way
$65.23 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$35.84
$71.68
premium
$4.49
$39.07
$78.13
diesel
$4.80
$41.71
$83.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.3
0
$23.19
$10.60
Efficient EV
55.2
0
$19.33
$8.84
EV Truck/SUV
88.4
1
$30.93
$14.14
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Clifton Forge, VA
Afternoon
in Clifton Forge on Sunday
Local time
3:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
W 7 mph35% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 4:47PM EDT until July 18 at 5:15PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 4:46PM EDT until July 18 at 5:30PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Alexandria, VA
Afternoon
in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
3:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
96°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 13 mph67% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 4:47PM EDT until July 18 at 5:15PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 4:46PM EDT until July 18 at 5:30PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
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
6 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
4h 10m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 137.1
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...
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!
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 198
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 92% highway, meaning you'll spend almost all of your time on high-speed interstates. The longest continuous stretch without a major change in road type is 78.9 miles on I-81. Expect a very consistent driving experience with frequent exits, particularly as you approach the Washington D.C. metropolitan area on I-66. The transition from primarily rural interstate to more developed areas will be noticeable.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.9 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 66. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 183.4 miles in near I 66.
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 14 significant decision points across 220.9 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 183.4 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 204.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 217.3 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway (Local)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,325 ft37 ft
Total Climb
2,302 ft
Total Descent
3,345 ft
Highest Point
2,325 ft
~15.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,288 ft
Notable High Points
2,325 ft at ~15.8 miles+1,245 ft prominence
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 Clifton Forge, VA to Alexandria, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 10m. Total distance: 220.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.9 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 rest areas or service plazas 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 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 183.4 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 204.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 217.3 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 — Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park, Shenandoah National Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Alexandria, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
