The drive from Harrisonburg, VA to Sudley, VA covers 104 miles and takes about 1h 58m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 81, I 66, East Market Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 52.8 miles on I 81.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.94 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52 miles from Harrisonburg, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
52.8 mi
56m
I 66
46.8 mi
50m
East Market Street
1.5 mi
3m
Sudley Road
0.8 mi
1m
Sudley Manor Drive
0.7 mi
1m
Brandon Way
0.3 mi
1m
VA 234
0.1 mi
<1m
East Elizabeth Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 52.8 mi, about 56m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 64 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,591 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,168
Quietest
2 AM
~240 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harrisonburg, VA and Sudley, VA.
1
Start on US 11; US 33
335 ft·15 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn right onto East Elizabeth Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·East Elizabeth Street
3
Turn right onto North Mason Street
382 ft·15 sec·North Mason Street
4
Turn left onto US 33
1.5 mi·3 min·East Market Street
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 81 North: Elkton
6
Merge onto I 81
53 mi·56 min·I 81
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 66 East: Front Royal, Washington
8
Continue on I 66
43 mi·46 min·I 66
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 66
4.0 mi·4 min·I 66
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto VA 234
0.1 mi·18 sec·VA 234
Exit 47Toward VA 234 North, VA 234 Business: ManassasUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward VA 234 Business: Manassas, Manassas Museum, Splashdown Waterpark, ECPIUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto VA 234 BUS
0.8 mi·1 min·Sudley Road
13
Turn left onto SR 1566
0.7 mi·1 min·Sudley Manor Drive
14
Turn left onto Brandon Way
0.3 mi·1 min·Brandon Way
15
Arrive at destination
Brandon Way
Trip Plan
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 52 miles from Harrisonburg, VA, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.8 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 23 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52 miles or 58m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sudley, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Harrisonburg, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Harrisonburg, VA
This is one driving day of about 104 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Harrisonburg, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 52.8 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 0.1 and 102 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Elizabeth Street
Turn right onto East Elizabeth Street
Navigation decision point
5
54.8 mi into trip|~1h 1m 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
97.9 mi into trip|~1h 48m 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
101.9 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|VA 234
Take the exit onto VA 234 toward VA 234 North, VA 234 Business: Manassas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 47
Toward VA 234 North, VA 234 Business: Manassas
9
102 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward VA 234 Business: Manassas, Manassas Museum, Splashdown Waterpark, ECPI
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward VA 234 Business: Manassas, Manassas Muse...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.94 one way
$31.87 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$17.49
$34.98
premium
$4.64
$18.99
$37.97
diesel
$5.60
$22.93
$45.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.2
0
$10.92
$4.99
Efficient EV
26
0
$9.10
$4.16
EV Truck/SUV
41.6
0
$14.56
$6.66
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 Sep 4, 2026
Origin
Harrisonburg, VA
Afternoon
in Harrisonburg on Friday
Local time
2:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
W 2 to 9 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 4 at 3:10AM EDT until September 4 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Sudley, VA
Afternoon
in Sudley on Friday
Local time
2:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 1 to 8 mph54% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 4 at 3:10AM EDT until September 4 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 58m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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
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...
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...
15 mi from route
~39 min detour
$30
near mile 17.9
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!
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 93.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
104 mi in 1h 58m, mostly highway — 52.8 mi of that is on I 81.
96% 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: 52.8 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 66. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Elizabeth Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 104 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 0.1 miles (East Elizabeth Street): Navigation decision point; at 54.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 97.9 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,324 ft204 ft
Total Climb
65 ft
Total Descent
1,186 ft
Highest Point
1,324 ft
Elevation Range
1,120 ft
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 Harrisonburg, VA to Sudley, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.
Harrisonburg is a city of 52,000 people (2020) in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. The city is a major financial and retail center for eight counties in Virginia, and even draws people from parts of neighboring West Virginia. There is a traditionally strong agricultural base, but there has been tremendous growth in retail and industry sectors.
Top landmarks
•Rockingham County Courthouse — courthouse in Virginia, United States
•Newtown Cemetery — cemetery in Harrisonburg, Virginia
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 104 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.8 miles on I 81. 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 Sudley, 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: at 0.1 miles (East Elizabeth Street): Navigation decision point; at 54.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 97.9 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park, Shenandoah National Park and 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 Sudley, VA before heading back.
