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Trip from Leesburg, VA to Burke, 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

54m

Distance

35.3 mi

57 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 50m ★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m

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

historic town within and the county seat of Loudoun County, Virginia, United States

Leesburg, VA

Wikimedia Commons

census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States

Burke, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Leesburg to Burke covers 35.3 miles across Northern Virginia, a journey that typically takes about 54 minutes depending on local traffic. Because this trip is short and straightforward, you can easily complete it as a quick day trip without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via South King Street, US 15 North, and the Leesburg Bypass. Budget roughly $6 for fuel to cover the distance, making this an economical excursion within the Southeast region. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a local visit, the route offers a direct connection between these two Northern Virginia communities.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dulles Greenway 11.6 mi 13m
Fairfax County Parkway 9.6 mi 14m
Sully Road 4.6 mi 6m
Route 50 3.2 mi 5m
Burke Lake Road 2 mi 3m
South King Street 1.1 mi 3m
Leesburg Bypass 0.3 mi <1m
Burke Road 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Dulles Greenway — 11.6 mi, about 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Leesburg, VA and Burke, VA.

1

Start on VA 7 BUS

226 ft · 15 sec · East Market Street
2

Turn left onto US 15 BUS

1.1 mi · 3 min · South King Street
3

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward VA 7 East, US 15 North: Alexandria, Leesburg Bypass Use the left lane.
4

Merge onto US 15; VA 7

0.3 mi · 25 sec · Leesburg Bypass
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward VA 267 East: Dulles Airport, Washington Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on VA 267

12 mi · 13 min · Dulles Greenway
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Exit 9A Toward VA 28 South: Dulles Airport, Centreville Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward VA 28 South: Centreville Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto VA 28

4.6 mi · 6 min · Sully Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward US 50: Winchester, Fairfax Use the slight right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward US 50 East: Fairfax Use the straight lane.
12

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward US 50 East: Fairfax Use the right lane.
13

Merge onto US 50

3.2 mi · 5 min · Route 50
Use the left lane.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward VA 286 South: Fairfax County Parkway Use the slight right lane.
15

Turn right onto VA 286

9.6 mi · 14 min · Fairfax County Parkway
Use the right lane.
16

Turn left onto SR 645

2.0 mi · 3 min · Burke Lake Road
Use the left lane.
17

Turn right onto SR 652

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Burke Road
Use the right lane.
18

Arrive at destination

SR 652

Where to Stop

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

City / Census Designated Place

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sterling, VA

18 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

Fairfax, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sterling, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 17.6 miles from Leesburg, 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 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 19.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
1.1 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward VA 7 East, US 15 North: Alexandria, Leesburg Bypass

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

Use the left lane. Toward VA 7 East, US 15 North: Alexandria, Lees...
7
1.7 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the exit toward VA 267 East: Dulles Airport, Washington

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. Toward VA 267 East: Dulles Airport, Washington
8
13.7 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward VA 28 South: Dulles Airport, Centreville

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 9A Toward VA 28 South: Dulles Airport, Centreville
8
19.6 mi into trip | ~27m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 East: Fairfax

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Toward US 50 East: Fairfax
8
19.8 mi into trip | ~28m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 50 East: Fairfax

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward US 50 East: Fairfax

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.52 one way

$11.04 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $6.04 $12.07
premium $4.70 $6.53 $13.07
diesel $5.61 $7.79 $15.59

Estimated Tolls: $2.91

Dulles Greenway (11.6 mi) $2.91

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Tolls

$3

Total

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10.6 0 $3.71 $1.69
Efficient EV 8.8 0 $3.09 $1.41
EV Truck/SUV 14.1 0 $4.94 $2.26

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 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

Leesburg, VA

Late night in Leesburg on Tuesday

Local time

5:13 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Burke, VA

Late night in Burke on Tuesday

Local time

5:13 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

54m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will spend your time navigating surface streets and local bypasses, which requires more active attention than a typical highway trek. The character of the road is defined by its frequent transitions rather than long, uninterrupted stretches. Because you are avoiding the interstate system, the pace remains steady but deliberate throughout the 35.3-mile journey. Prepare for a drive that demands focus on maneuvering through local corridors rather than settling into a long-distance cruise.

36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.6 mi on Dulles Greenway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 around 1.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 35.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Leesburg, VA and Burke, VA, road signs point toward Centreville and Fairfax.

Centreville

13.7 mi in | ~18m

Fairfax

19.4 mi in | ~27m

About the Cities

Starting in Leesburg, VA

Full guide →

Founded 1758

Leesburg is in Loudoun County, Virginia. During the War of 1812, Leesburg was used as a temporary capital of the United States when the British occupied Washington.

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 54m. Total distance: 35.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

54m 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 11.6 miles on Dulles Greenway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.91 in tolls one way, starting with Dulles Greenway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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 Burke, 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 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Harpers Ferry National Historical 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 Burke, 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

Return Trip

Burke, VA to Leesburg, VA

Plan the drive back the other way.

35.3 mi 54m

Explore more options from Leesburg, VA or browse trips ending in Burke, VA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VA road trips.