Origin
Fairfax, VA
Late night in Fairfax on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfax, VA to McLean, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
20m
Distance
11.5 mi
19 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 24m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 24m
8 PM
0h 19m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfax, VA
Wikimedia Commons
McLean, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick commute from Fairfax to McLean, you are looking at a brief 11.5-mile journey that typically takes about 20 minutes. Since both locations are within the Southeast region of Virginia, this trip is best suited as a simple day outing rather than an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize I-66, the Capital Beltway, and Dolley Madison Boulevard to navigate between these two points. Budgeting roughly $2 for fuel should be more than sufficient for this short distance. It is a straightforward, functional drive that offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule, making it an easy trip to complete in a single day.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 66 | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Capital Beltway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Dolley Madison Boulevard | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| Chain Bridge Road | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Old Dominion Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Elm Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 66
— 4.1 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfax, VA and McLean, VA.
1
Start on VA 236
69 ft
·
6 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto VA 123
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Chain Bridge Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 66 East: Washington
Use the slight right lane.
4
Merge onto I 66
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
I 66
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 64B
Toward I 495 North: Tysons Corner, Baltimore
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 495
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 46B
Toward VA 123 North: McLean
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto VA 123
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Dolley Madison Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto VA 309
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Dominion Drive
Use the right lane.
10
Turn sharp left onto Elm Street
101 ft
·
2 sec
·
Elm Street
11
Arrive at destination
Elm Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 8.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
VA 123 / Chain Bridge Road
Turn right onto VA 123 / Chain Bridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 66 East: Washington
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 66 East: Washington
5
2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 66
Merge onto I 66
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
6.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Tysons Corner, Baltimore
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 64B
Toward I 495 North: Tysons Corner, Baltimore
7
8.9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward VA 123 North: McLean
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46B
Toward VA 123 North: McLean
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.80 one way
$3.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $1.97 | $3.93 |
| premium | $4.70 | $2.13 | $4.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.54 | $5.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.21 | $0.55 |
| Efficient EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.01 | $0.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.61 | $0.74 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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.
Destination
McLean, VA
Late night in McLean on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
20m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This 11.5-mile route features a mixed drive profile, balancing fast-paced highway travel with local road navigation. Approximately 36% of your time will be spent on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 4.1 miles on I-66. As you transition from the interstate onto the Capital Beltway and eventually Dolley Madison Boulevard, the character of the drive shifts from high-speed transit to standard local transit. Expect a functional experience that gets you to your destination efficiently without the need for extensive highway cruising. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that requires your focus as you transition between these major arterial roads.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.1 mi on I 66.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near VA 123 / Chain Bridge Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 11.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 20m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (VA 123 / Chain Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (I 66): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
448 ft
286 ft
Total Climb
102 ft
Total Descent
249 ft
Highest Point
448 ft
~7.4 mi in
Elevation Range
163 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Fairfax, VA to McLean, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Baltimore along the way.
Baltimore
6.1 mi in
|
~10m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 20m. Total distance: 11.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.1 miles on I 66. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 McLean, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: near the start (VA 123 / Chain Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (I 66): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. 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 McLean, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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