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Trip from Edinburg, VA to Arlington, VA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 49m

Distance

93.8 mi

151 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 41m ★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Edinburg, VA, VA

Edinburg, VA

Clément Proust

Downtown Arlington, VA, VA

Arlington, VA

Dominik Gryzbon

Trip Overview

Edinburg, VA to Arlington, VA is 93.8 miles and takes about 1h 49m via I 66 and I 81, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia, traveling from the Shenandoah Valley region to the Northern Virginia area. It's a straightforward highway drive, mostly on interstates, making it a quick option for a day trip or a commute. Given the short duration, you won't need to plan for an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

46.9 miles from Edinburg, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 66 70.5 mi 1h 20m
I 81 20.6 mi 22m
Stoney Creek Boulevard 0.7 mi 1m
Wilson Boulevard 0.5 mi 1m
North Glebe Road 0.2 mi <1m
Stoney Creek Road 0.1 mi <1m
Fairfax Drive 0.1 mi <1m
South Main Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 66 — 70.5 mi, about 1h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Edinburg, VA and Arlington, VA.

1

Start on US 11; SR 675

91 ft · 6 sec · South Main Street
2

Turn right onto VA 185; SR 675

0.7 mi · 1 min · Stoney Creek Boulevard
3

Continue on VA 185; SR 675

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Stoney Creek Road
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 45 sec
5

Merge onto I 81

21 mi · 22 min · I 81
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward I 66 East: Front Royal, Washington
7

Continue on I 66

43 mi · 46 min · I 66
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 66

28 mi · 34 min · I 66
Use the straight lane.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 31 sec
Exit 71 Toward VA 120, VA 237 Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on Fairfax Drive

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Fairfax Drive
11

Turn right onto VA 120

0.2 mi · 32 sec · North Glebe Road
Use the right lane.
12

Turn slight left onto Wilson Boulevard

0.5 mi · 1 min · Wilson Boulevard
Use the left lane.
13

Arrive at destination

Wilson Boulevard

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short 1h 49m duration, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving later in the morning could help you avoid potential early commuter traffic into Arlington. Since the drive is under 100 miles and has a low estimated fuel cost of $15, you likely won't need to stop for gas. Keep an eye on traffic conditions as you get closer to Arlington, as congestion is common in that area. This route is easy to complete in one day, so focus on smooth sailing rather than breaking it up.

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 46.9 miles from Edinburg, VA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.5 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 21 miles or 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 46.9 miles or 52m 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 26m

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 Edinburg, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Edinburg, VA

This is one driving day of about 93.8 miles and 1h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Edinburg, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 66 for about 70.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Hopewell, VA, VA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hopewell, VA

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.

Popular next leg

Hopewell, VA to Arlington, VA

38 mi · 53m

Pacing Suggestions

Middletown, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Petersburg, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 46.9 miles from Edinburg, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 66 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.5 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 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 93.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.8 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

5
21.8 mi into trip | ~24m in

Take the exit toward I 66 East: Front Royal, Washington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 66 East: Front Royal, Washington
6
64.9 mi into trip | ~1h 11m 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
92.7 mi into trip | ~1h 45m in

Take the exit toward VA 120, VA 237

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 71 Toward VA 120, VA 237
6
93.1 mi into trip | ~1h 46m in | VA 120 / North Glebe Road

Turn right onto VA 120 / North Glebe Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.67 one way

$29.34 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $16.04 $32.08
premium $4.70 $17.36 $34.72
diesel $5.61 $20.71 $41.42

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 32.8 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 28.1 0 $9.85 $4.50
Efficient EV 23.5 0 $8.21 $3.75
EV Truck/SUV 37.5 0 $13.13 $6.00

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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Edinburg, VA

Morning in Edinburg on Tuesday

Local time

6:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arlington, VA

Morning in Arlington on Tuesday

Local time

6:35 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

1 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 49m 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.

Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park

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...

1 mi from route ~3 min detour Free near mile 22.6
View on nps.gov
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

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 ~54 min detour Free near mile 74.4
View on nps.gov
Shenandoah National Park

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...

23 mi from route ~58 min detour $30
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This is a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the route on interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 70.5 miles on I 66. The majority of your travel will be on high-speed roads, so expect minimal stops until you approach the denser areas near Arlington. Surface roads will only be a small part of your travel, likely at the very beginning and end of your trip.

97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.5 mi on I 66.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 66 and I 81. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 49m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 21.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.9 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Edinburg, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.

Washington

21.8 mi in | ~24m

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 1h 49m. Total distance: 93.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 70.5 miles on I 66. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 21.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.9 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and 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 Arlington, VA before heading back.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Edinburg, VA or browse trips ending in Arlington, VA.

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