Origin
Franklin, VA
Morning in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Franklin, VA to Harrisonburg, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
65.6 mi
106 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Franklin, VA
Gaby Lopez
Harrisonburg, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Franklin to Harrisonburg covers 65.6 miles and takes approximately 1 hour and 19 minutes of driving time. Since this is a straightforward, highway-focused route, it is easily manageable as a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget about $11 for fuel to complete the journey. The drive transitions you through the Southeast region of Virginia, moving from the Franklin area toward the Harrisonburg destination. It is a practical, efficient trek if you are looking to get between these two points quickly. Because the trip is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 36.5 mi | 40m |
| I 81 | 23.7 mi | 26m |
| Richmond Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| South Main Street | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| Stony Point Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Port Republic Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Cason Farm Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 36.5 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, VA and Harrisonburg, VA.
1
Start on Cason Farm Road
0.2 mi
·
59 sec
·
Cason Farm Road
2
Turn left onto VA 20
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Stony Point Road
3
Turn left onto US 250
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Richmond Road
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
5
Merge onto I 64
37 mi
·
40 min
·
I 64
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 81 North: Staunton, Winchester
7
Merge onto I 81
24 mi
·
26 min
·
I 81
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward VA 253: Harrisonburg
9
Turn left onto VA 253
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Port Republic Road
10
Turn right onto US 11
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
11
Arrive at destination
US 11; US 33
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.8 miles from Franklin, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 63.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
VA 20 / Stony Point Road
Turn left onto VA 20 / Stony Point Road
Navigation decision point
3
2.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 64
Merge onto I 64
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
39.5 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Staunton, Winchester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 81 North: Staunton, Winchester
4
63.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward VA 253: Harrisonburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward VA 253: Harrisonburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.26 one way
$20.52 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $11.22 | $22.43 |
| premium | $4.70 | $12.14 | $24.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.48 | $28.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.89 | $3.15 |
| Efficient EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.74 | $2.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.18 | $4.20 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Harrisonburg, VA
Morning in Harrisonburg on Sunday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°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
11 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 19m 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?
Expect a highly efficient experience, as 92% of this route consists of highway driving. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating via I-64, I-81, and Richmond Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 36.5-mile segment on I-64, which allows for consistent speeds and steady cruising. While the road is designed for utility rather than scenery, the transition between interstate systems keeps the driving experience focused and direct. You won't face many technical complexities, making this a straightforward journey for those who prefer staying on major thoroughfares.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.5 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 81. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near VA 20 / Stony Point Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 65.6 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.2 miles (VA 20 / Stony Point Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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 Franklin, VA to Harrisonburg, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Winchester along the way.
Winchester
39.5 mi in
|
~46m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 65.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.5 miles on I 64. 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 0.2 miles (VA 20 / Stony Point Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes — 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 Harrisonburg, 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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