This 93.1-mile drive from Manassas, VA, to Richmond, VA, is a straightforward trip that can easily be accomplished in under two hours. Primarily utilizing I-95, this route is a convenient option for a day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of around $15, it's an economical journey. The drive stays within the Southeast region, offering a consistent travel experience. Given its relatively short distance and direct path, you won't need to worry about overnight stays, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.5 miles from Manassas, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
73.9 mi
1h 23m
Dumfries Road
15.2 mi
22m
Hermitage Road
1.1 mi
2m
Grant Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
VA 234 BUS
0.7 mi
1m
North Meadow Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Robin Hood Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 73.9 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manassas, VA and Richmond, VA.
1
Start on VA 234 BUS
0.4 mi·54 sec·Grant Avenue
2
Enter roundabout onto VA 234 BUS
80 ft·1 sec·Grant Avenue
3
Continue on VA 234 BUS
0.3 mi·41 sec·Grant Avenue
4
Continue on VA 234 BUS
1.7 mi·3 min·Dumfries Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto VA 294; VA 234 BUS
0.1 mi·11 sec·VA 294; VA 234 BUS
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit onto VA 234 BUS
0.7 mi·1 min·VA 234 BUS
7
Merge onto VA 234
13 mi·19 min·Dumfries Road
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
9
Merge onto I 95
18 mi·20 min·I 95
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
56 mi·1 hr 2 min·I 95
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·40 sec
Exit 78Toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto VA 161
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
13
Turn left onto Robin Hood Road
0.2 mi·30 sec·Robin Hood Road
14
Turn right onto Hermitage Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Hermitage Road
15
Continue on North Meadow Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·North Meadow Street
16
Turn left onto Monument Avenue
0.1 mi·26 sec·Monument Avenue
17
Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle
81 ft·2 sec·Marcus-David Peters Circle
18
Arrive at destination
Marcus-David Peters Circle
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 55-minute drive, consider departing early to avoid potential traffic on I-95, especially if you're traveling during peak hours. While there are no specific stops recommended in the data, the longest stretch is over 70 miles, so plan for a brief rest break if needed. The fuel cost is a manageable $15, so you shouldn't have any concerns about reaching Richmond. Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the advantage of flexibility; however, be mindful of the 73.9-mile continuous section on I-95 and ensure you're comfortable with that duration of highway driving.
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 46.5 miles from Manassas, VA, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.9 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 20 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.5 miles or 1h 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Manassas, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Manassas, VA
This is one driving day of about 93.1 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Manassas, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 73.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 93.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|VA 234 BUS / Grant Avenue
Enter roundabout onto VA 234 BUS / Grant Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
17.1 mi into trip|~27m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
35.3 mi into trip|~48m in|I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
91.1 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 78
Toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe Boulevard
5
93.1 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|Marcus-David Peters Circle
Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.56 one way
$29.12 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.92
$31.84
premium
$4.70
$17.23
$34.46
diesel
$5.61
$20.56
$41.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.9
0
$9.78
$4.47
Efficient EV
23.3
0
$8.15
$3.72
EV Truck/SUV
37.2
0
$13.03
$5.96
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 18, 2026
Origin
Manassas, VA
Late night
in Manassas on Sunday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Richmond, VA
Late night
in Richmond on Sunday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
NE 1 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
12 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 55m 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.
Petersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Two hundred ninety-two days, eight offensives, over 70,000 casualties, U. S. Colored Troops, and the decline of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. U.S. forces c...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 93.1
Park Closure: Eastern Front Tour Road south of Route 36 - Closed
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!
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for this trip, with 80% of the journey on major roadways like I-95. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 73.9 miles on I-95, indicating a significant portion of consistent driving. While Dumfries Road and Hermitage Road will offer some variation, the overall character is one of efficient travel. This profile suggests a drive where maintaining speed is key, with fewer opportunities for leisurely exploration on smaller local roads.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.9 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Dumfries Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near VA 234 BUS / Grant Avenue.
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 93.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.4 miles (VA 234 BUS / Grant Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 17.1 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.3 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 93.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.9 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Richmond, 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 0.4 miles (VA 234 BUS / Grant Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 17.1 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.3 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Petersburg National Battlefield 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 Richmond, VA before heading back.
