Origin
McLean, VA
Late night in McLean on Sunday
Local time
1:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from McLean, VA to Ashburn, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
21.7 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McLean, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Ashburn, VA
Curtis Adams
Trip Overview
McLean, VA to Ashburn, VA is 21.7 miles and takes about 34 minutes via Dulles Toll Road and Sully Road, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within Virginia, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a local feel with plenty of turns, making it a straightforward, non-highway trip. It's ideal for a quick commute or a simple hop between neighboring communities, requiring minimal planning for a single day.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dulles Toll Road | 11.8 mi | 15m |
| Sully Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Waxpool Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Farmwell Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Ashburn Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Dolley Madison Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
| Old Dominion Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Elm Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dulles Toll Road
— 11.8 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McLean, VA and Ashburn, VA.
1
Start on Elm Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Elm Street
2
Turn left onto Beverly Road
365 ft
·
15 sec
·
Beverly Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto VA 309
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Old Dominion Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto VA 123
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Dolley Madison Boulevard
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward Dulles Airport
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto VA 267
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Dulles Toll Road
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
22 sec
8
Merge onto VA 267
10 mi
·
13 min
·
Dulles Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 9B
Toward VA 28 North: Sterling
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto VA 28
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Sully Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward VA 625 West: Waxpool Road, Ashburn
Use the slight left lane.
12
Turn straight onto SR 625
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Waxpool Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on SR 625
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Farmwell Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto SR 641
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Ashburn Road
Use the right lane.
15
Arrive at destination
SR 641
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 20.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Beverly Road
Turn left onto Beverly Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
VA 309 / Old Dominion Drive
Turn right onto VA 309 / Old Dominion Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
13.9 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward VA 28 North: Sterling
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 9B
Toward VA 28 North: Sterling
7
16.8 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward VA 625 West: Waxpool Road, Ashburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward VA 625 West: Waxpool Road, Ashburn
6
20.5 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
SR 641 / Ashburn Road
Turn right onto SR 641 / Ashburn Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.39 one way
$6.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $3.71 | $7.42 |
| premium | $4.70 | $4.02 | $8.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.79 | $9.58 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.36
Dulles Toll Road
(11.8 mi)
$2.36
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$2
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.90 | $0.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Ashburn, VA
Late night in Ashburn on Sunday
Local time
1:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°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
34m 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?
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' with a 0% highway share, meaning you won't encounter any interstate travel. Your longest continuous stretch is 11.8 miles on the Dulles Toll Road, offering a brief period of uninterrupted travel before you navigate local roads. Expect a dynamic driving experience with frequent turns as you transition from the toll road to Sully Road and then Waxpool Road. This local focus means you'll be more engaged with the road, passing through everyday communities rather than vast stretches of open highway.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.8 mi on Dulles Toll Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 0.1 miles in near Beverly Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 21.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Beverly Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (VA 309 / Old Dominion Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.9 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 McLean, VA to Ashburn, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Dulles Airport along the way.
Dulles Airport
1.5 mi in
|
~3m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 21.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.8 miles on Dulles Toll Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.36 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 Ashburn, 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 (Beverly Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (VA 309 / Old Dominion Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ashburn, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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