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Trip from Leesburg, VA to Manassas, 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

48m

Distance

31.1 mi

50 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 45m ★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m

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

independent city in Virginia, United States

Manassas, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick transition between Leesburg and Manassas, expect a straightforward 31.1-mile journey that typically takes about 48 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as the distance is short enough that you will not need an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Dulles Greenway, Sully Road, and Centreville Road to complete the transit. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $5, this is a highly economical drive for commuters or casual travelers. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region of Virginia, the trip maintains a consistent regional feel throughout the drive.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dulles Greenway 11.6 mi 13m
Sully Road 9.6 mi 13m
Centreville Road 6.3 mi 12m
South King Street 1.1 mi 3m
Church Street 0.3 mi 1m
Leesburg Bypass 0.3 mi <1m
East Market Street <0.1 mi <1m
Grant Avenue <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 Manassas, 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

9.6 mi · 13 min · Sully Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on VA 28

6.3 mi · 12 min · Centreville Road
Use the left lane.
11

Continue on VA 28

0.3 mi · 1 min · Church Street
12

Turn left onto VA 234 BUS

155 ft · 2 sec · Grant Avenue
13

Arrive at destination

VA 234 BUS

Where to Stop

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

City / Census Designated Place

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sterling, VA

16 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

Bull Run, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sterling, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 15.6 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 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 14.8 — 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
7
14.1 mi into trip | ~19m in

Keep slight right at fork toward VA 28 South: Centreville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward VA 28 South: Centreville
5
14.8 mi into trip | ~21m in | VA 28 / Sully Road

Merge onto VA 28 / Sully Road

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.86 one way

$9.73 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 11 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $5.32 $10.64
premium $4.70 $5.76 $11.51
diesel $5.61 $6.87 $13.73

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

$5

Tolls

$3

Total

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 10.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.3 0 $3.27 $1.49
Efficient EV 7.8 0 $2.72 $1.24
EV Truck/SUV 12.4 0 $4.35 $1.99

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (64% 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 18, 2026

Origin

Leesburg, VA

Late night in Leesburg on Tuesday

Local time

5:14 AM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Mostly Clear

N 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Manassas, VA

Late night in Manassas on Tuesday

Local time

5:14 AM

EDT

Current temp

68°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

10 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

48m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway share. You will find that the road requires your full attention as you transition between various local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is an 11.6-mile segment on the Dulles Greenway, which provides a brief moment of consistency. Outside of that stretch, the character of the drive shifts frequently, demanding active navigation through the local road network. It is a practical, functional transit that prioritizes local connectivity over high-speed highway travel.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 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?

9/10

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 1.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 8 decision points packed into just 31.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.

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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

339 ft 206 ft

Total Climb

215 ft

Total Descent

247 ft

Highest Point

339 ft

Elevation Range

134 ft

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 Manassas, VA, road signs point toward Washington and Centreville.

Washington

1.7 mi in | ~4m

Centreville

13.7 mi in | ~18m

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.

Arriving in Manassas, VA

Full guide →

Manassas is a small city in northern Virginia with a strong Civil War presence. The First and Second Battles of Bull Run were fought nearby.

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 48m. Total distance: 31.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

48m 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 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 Manassas, 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 Manassas, 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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