Connecting Dumfries to Richmond, this 76.2-mile journey is a straightforward trek through the Southeast region of Virginia. You can expect a drive time of approximately 1 hour and 31 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a total estimated fuel cost of just $12, the route is as budget-friendly as it is convenient. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-95, transitioning to local roads like Hermitage Road and Main Street as you approach the city center. Because the drive is relatively short, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, allowing you to easily complete the trip in a single afternoon or morning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.1 miles from Dumfries, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
71.5 mi
1h 20m
Hermitage Road
1.1 mi
2m
Main Street
1.1 mi
2m
Joplin Road
0.6 mi
1m
Richmond Highway
0.5 mi
1m
North Meadow Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Robin Hood Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 71.5 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dumfries, VA and Richmond, VA.
1
Start on Liberty Lane
180 ft·9 sec·Liberty Lane
2
Turn right onto US 1
1.1 mi·2 min·Main Street
3
Continue on US 1
0.5 mi·1 min·Richmond Highway
4
Turn right onto SR 619
0.6 mi·1 min·Joplin Road
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·57 sec
6
Merge onto I 95
16 mi·18 min·I 95
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
56 mi·1 hr 2 min·I 95
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·40 sec
Exit 78Toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto VA 161
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
10
Turn left onto Robin Hood Road
0.2 mi·30 sec·Robin Hood Road
11
Turn right onto Hermitage Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Hermitage Road
12
Continue on North Meadow Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·North Meadow Street
13
Turn left onto Monument Avenue
0.1 mi·26 sec·Monument Avenue
14
Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle
81 ft·2 sec·Marcus-David Peters Circle
15
Arrive at destination
Marcus-David Peters Circle
Trip Plan
Since this route relies so heavily on I-95, planning your departure around peak traffic hours is the smartest way to ensure you hit that 1-hour and 31-minute travel time. You won’t need to worry about scheduling formal stops given the short distance, which gives you the freedom to drive straight through without interruption. Keep your fuel gauge in check before you head out, though the $12 estimate makes it easy to factor into your travel budget. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to keep a close eye on navigation apps as you approach the Richmond city limits, as the transition from the interstate to Main Street can involve multiple turns that require quick lane changes.
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 38.1 miles from Dumfries, VA, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.5 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 17 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.1 miles or 45m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dumfries, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dumfries, VA
This is one driving day of about 76.2 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Dumfries, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 71.5 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 76.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|SR 619 / Joplin Road
Turn right onto SR 619 / Joplin Road
Navigation decision point
5
2.7 mi into trip|~5m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
18.4 mi into trip|~23m in|I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
74.2 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 78
Toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe Boulevard
5
76.2 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|Marcus-David Peters Circle
Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.92 one way
$23.83 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.03
$26.06
premium
$4.70
$14.10
$28.21
diesel
$5.61
$16.82
$33.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.9
0
$8.00
$3.66
Efficient EV
19.1
0
$6.67
$3.05
EV Truck/SUV
30.5
0
$10.67
$4.88
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 20, 2026
Origin
Dumfries, VA
Late night
in Dumfries on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Richmond, VA
Late night
in Richmond on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°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
21 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
1h 31m 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.
Petersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Two hundred ninety-two days, eight offensives, over 70,000 casualties, U. S. Colored Troops, and the decline of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. U.S. forces c...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 76.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 94% of your travel occurring on major interstates. You will spend the bulk of your time on a long, 71.5-mile stretch of I-95, which defines the personality of this drive as a consistent, fast-paced commute. Expect a standard interstate experience where you can maintain steady speeds for most of the duration. As you transition off the highway into Richmond, the character shifts from the high-speed flow of I-95 to the slower, more urban pace of Hermitage Road and Main Street. It is a functional, direct route designed to get you from point A to point B efficiently rather than a meandering scenic tour.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.5 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Hermitage Road. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near SR 619 / Joplin Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 76.2 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 1.6 miles (SR 619 / Joplin Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.4 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Richmond is the capital of Virginia. Richmond has a population of 227,000 (2020) and the adjacent counties of Henrico and Chesterfield combine to create a local population of more than 1.3 million people.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 76.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71.5 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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (SR 619 / Joplin Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.4 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Petersburg National Battlefield. 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 Richmond, VA before heading back.
