Origin
Leesburg, VA
Afternoon in Leesburg on Tuesday
Local time
12:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Leesburg, VA to Lorton, VA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
41.6 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Leesburg, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Lorton, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 41.6 miles, the drive from Leesburg to Lorton is a straightforward transition through Northern Virginia. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 1 minute on the road, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budget approximately $7 for fuel to complete the journey. Since the route utilizes local roads rather than long-haul interstates, you will stay entirely within the Southeast region. It is a practical commute that serves as a direct link between these two Northern Virginia hubs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Leesburg Pike | 18.3 mi | 27m |
| Capital Beltway | 10.1 mi | 12m |
| Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway | 6.1 mi | 7m |
| East Market Street | 3 mi | 6m |
| Dulles Toll Road | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Lorton Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Sanger Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Leesburg Pike
— 18.3 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leesburg, VA and Lorton, VA.
1
Start on VA 7 BUS
240 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Market Street
2
Continue on VA 7 BUS
3.0 mi
·
6 min
·
East Market Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on VA 7
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Leesburg Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto VA 7
13 mi
·
19 min
·
Leesburg Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward VA 267 Toll East: Washington
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto VA 267
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Dulles Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 267
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Dulles Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 18A
Toward I 495 South: Richmond
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 18A
Toward I 495 South: Richmond
10
Merge onto I 495
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 57A
Toward I 95 South: Richmond
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 95 South, SR 644 East: Richmond, Franconia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 95 South: Richmond
14
Merge onto I 395
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 163
Toward SR 642: Lorton, Gunston Hall, Pohick Bay Park
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto SR 642
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Lorton Road
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto SR 747
199 ft
·
16 sec
·
Sanger Street
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
SR 747
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.8 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 8.5 and 41.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
8.5 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
VA 7 / Leesburg Pike
Keep slight left at fork onto VA 7 / Leesburg Pike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
23 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward I 495 South: Richmond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18A
Toward I 495 South: Richmond
7
33.9 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Richmond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 57A
Toward I 95 South: Richmond
8
34.4 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, SR 644 East: Richmond, Franconia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, SR 644 East: Richmond, Franc...
8
41.1 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward SR 642: Lorton, Gunston Hall, Pohick Bay Park
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 163
Toward SR 642: Lorton, Gunston Hall, Pohick Bay...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.51 one way
$13.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.11 | $14.23 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.70 | $15.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.18 | $18.37 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.28
Dulles Toll Road
(1.4 mi)
$0.28
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$0
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 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 | 12.5 | 0 | $4.37 | $2.00 |
| Efficient EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.64 | $1.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.82 | $2.66 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Lorton, VA
Afternoon in Lorton on Tuesday
Local time
12:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
3 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 1m 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 monotonous interstate cruise. You will navigate via East Market Street, Leesburg Pike, and VA 267, as the route maintains a 0% highway share. Because the path relies on local infrastructure, the experience behind the wheel is more technical and requires constant attention to turns. The absence of long, uninterrupted stretches means you will experience a steady pace of traffic changes as you transition toward Lorton.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.3 mi on Leesburg Pike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.5 miles in near VA 7 / Leesburg Pike.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 41.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 8.5 miles (VA 7 / Leesburg Pike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Leesburg, VA to Lorton, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Franconia along the way.
Franconia
34.4 mi in
|
~52m
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 1h 1m. Total distance: 41.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.3 miles on Leesburg Pike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.28 in tolls one way, starting with Dulles Toll Road. 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 Lorton, 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 8.5 miles (VA 7 / Leesburg Pike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Lorton, 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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