Origin
Fairfax Station, VA
Late night in Fairfax Station on Sunday
Local time
5:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfax Station, VA to Waterford, MI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
10h 34m
Distance
552 mi
888 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$88
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
10h 25m
★
6 AM
10h 35m
8 AM
10h 54m
10 AM
10h 42m
12 PM
10h 40m
3 PM
10h 43m
5 PM
10h 53m
8 PM
10h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfax Station, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Waterford, MI
Adrien Olichon
Trip Overview
The drive from Fairfax Station, VA to Waterford, MI covers 552 miles and takes about 10h 34m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Burke Centre Parkway, Ox Road, Chain Bridge Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-haul drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $87.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
276 miles from Fairfax Station, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 17m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Burke Centre Parkway | — | — |
| Ox Road | — | — |
| Chain Bridge Road | — | — |
| I 66 East | — | — |
| I 495 North | — | — |
| Capital Beltway | — | — |
| I 270 | — | — |
| I 270 North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Burke Centre Parkway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfax Station, VA and Waterford, MI.
1
Start on Ox Road
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Ox Road
2
Turn right onto Burke Centre Parkway
148 ft
·
8 sec
·
Burke Centre Parkway
3
Continue on Burke Centre Parkway
187 ft
·
14 sec
·
Burke Centre Parkway
4
Turn left onto Ox Road
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Ox Road
5
Continue on Chain Bridge Road
2.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Chain Bridge Road
6
Take the ramp slight right toward I 66 East: Washington
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 66 East: Washington
7
Merge slight left
4.1 mi
·
5 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 495 North: Tysons Corner, Baltimore
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 495 North: Tysons Corner, Baltimore
9
Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Capital Beltway
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 270: Rockville, Frederick
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
I 270: Rockville, Frederick
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 270 North
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I 270 North
12
Take the exit slight right toward MD 117, MD 124 North: Clopper Road, West Diamond Avenue, Montgomery Village Avenue, Quince Orchard Road, Watkins Mill Road
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
MD 117, MD 124 North: Clopper Road, West Diamond Avenue, Montgomery Village Avenue, Quince Orchard Road, Watkins Mill Road
13
Merge slight right
21 mi
·
26 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward I 70: Hagerstown, Baltimore
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
I 70: Hagerstown, Baltimore
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 70 West: Hagerstown
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
I 70 West: Hagerstown
16
Merge slight right
52 mi
·
55 min
17
Keep slight right to continue on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
24 mi
·
32 min
·
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
18
Merge slight left onto Lincoln Highway
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Lincoln Highway
19
Take the exit slight right toward I 70, PATP: Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
I 70, PATP: Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
20
Keep slight right to continue on I 70 West, I 76 West: Pittsburgh
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 70 West, I 76 West: Pittsburgh
21
Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike
162 mi
·
2 hr 55 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
22
Continue on Ohio Turnpike
54 mi
·
58 min
·
Ohio Turnpike
23
Keep slight left to continue on Ohio Turnpike
116 mi
·
2 hr 3 min
·
Ohio Turnpike
24
Take the exit slight right toward I 280 North: Toledo, Detroit
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 280 North: Toledo, Detroit
25
Keep slight right to continue on I 280 North: Toledo, Detroit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 280 North: Toledo, Detroit
26
Continue straight
12 mi
·
14 min
27
Keep slight right to continue on I 75 North: Detroit
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
I 75 North: Detroit
28
Continue straight
23 mi
·
24 min
29
Take the exit slight right toward I 275 North: Flint
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 275 North: Flint
30
Continue straight
35 mi
·
37 min
31
Take the exit slight right toward I 696, M 5 East, M 5 North: Port Huron
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
I 696, M 5 East, M 5 North: Port Huron
32
Keep slight left to continue on I 696: Port Huron
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 696: Port Huron
33
Keep slight left to continue on M 5 North
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
M 5 North
34
Continue straight
5.7 mi
·
7 min
35
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Martin Parkway
194 ft
·
11 sec
·
Martin Parkway
36
Exit the roundabout onto Martin Parkway
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Martin Parkway
37
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Martin Parkway
112 ft
·
2 sec
·
Martin Parkway
38
Exit the roundabout onto Martin Parkway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Parkway
39
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Martin Parkway
131 ft
·
2 sec
·
Martin Parkway
40
Exit the roundabout onto Martin Parkway
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Martin Parkway
41
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Martin Road
171 ft
·
4 sec
·
Martin Road
42
Exit the roundabout onto Martin Road
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Martin Road
43
At the end of the road, turn right onto Richardson Road
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Richardson Road
44
Turn left onto Union Lake Road
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Union Lake Road
45
Turn right onto Cooley Lake Road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Cooley Lake Road
46
Turn left onto South Williams Lake Road
6.2 mi
·
10 min
·
South Williams Lake Road
47
Turn left onto David K Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
David K Drive
48
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 276 miles from Fairfax Station, VA, or about 5h 17m into the drive.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 121 miles or 2h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 276 miles or 5h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 276 miles or 5h 17m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 9h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waterford, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairfax Station, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fairfax Station, VA
Aim for roughly 276 miles and 5.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Waterford, MI
Aim for roughly 276 miles and 5.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 121 miles from Fairfax Station, VA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
182 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
364 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Farrell, PAOvernight Options
Night 1
276 mi · about 5.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near West Mifflin, PA after about 276 miles or 5.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 121 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 276 miles from Fairfax Station, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 276 miles or 5.3 hours on the road.
Final-third reset
Rest stopPlan one more short stretch-and-water break in the final third of the drive so the last arrival window feels easier.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$87.69 one way
$175.38 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
193 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $95.62 | $191.24 |
| premium | $4.78 | $103.88 | $207.76 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $134.28 | $268.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$88
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$218–$328
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 193.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $58 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 165.6 | 2 | $57.96 | $26.50 |
| Efficient EV | 138 | 1 | $48.30 | $22.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 220.8 | 2 | $77.28 | $35.33 |
Gas CO2
193 kg
EV CO2
65 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 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.
Destination
Waterford, MI
Late night in Waterford on Sunday
Local time
5:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
41°F
Oil City, PA
182 mi in
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
16 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
10h 34m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
552 mi / 10h 34m — a long-haul route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. Biggest road: Burke Centre Parkway.
0% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
48 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Burke Centre Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
At 10h 34m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. Navigation is simple, but the total wheel time makes endurance and break timing the real challenge.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
Navigation is easy, but the length (10h 34m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fairfax Station, VA to Waterford, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
About the Cities
Starting in Fairfax Station, VA
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 3 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
10h 34m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-haul drive route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 276 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Waterford, MI 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 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fairfax Station, VA to Waterford, MI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.6 hours each way, a round trip means 21.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Waterford, MI before the return drive.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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