Origin
Montclair, VA
Morning in Montclair on Tuesday
Local time
7:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Montclair, VA to Alexandria, 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
40m
Distance
28.7 mi
46 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Montclair, VA
RITESH SINGH
Alexandria, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 28.7-mile drive from Montclair, VA to Alexandria, VA is a quick trip, estimated to take around 40 minutes. It's a straightforward journey predominantly on highways, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $4, this route is budget-friendly for a short hop. Both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, so expect a consistent regional feel throughout. You'll be navigating primarily on I-95 and the Capital Beltway (Local), with no planned stops, so you can get there efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 21.5 mi | 26m |
| Dumfries Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Capital Beltway (Local) | 2 mi | 2m |
| Waterway Drive | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Patrick Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Franklin Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Fallstone Place | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 21.5 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Montclair, VA and Alexandria, VA.
1
Start on Fallstone Place
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Fallstone Place
2
Turn right onto SR 1451
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Waterway Drive
3
Turn left onto SR 1450
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Country Club Drive
4
At end of road, turn left onto VA 234
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Dumfries Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 95 North
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 95
16 mi
·
19 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I 95
Toward I 95 North, I 495 East: Baltimore
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; I 495
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Capital Beltway (Local)
Toward I 95, I 495: Alexandria
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 177A-B
Toward US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 177B
Toward US 1 North: Alexandria
11
Merge onto US 1
440 ft
·
8 sec
·
Richmond Highway
12
Continue on US 1
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Patrick Street
13
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Franklin Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto VA 400
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Washington Street
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
VA 400
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 27.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Turn left toward I 95 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 95 North
8
19.6 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 toward I 95 North, I 495 East: Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 95 North, I 495 East: Baltimore
8
25.1 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway (Local)
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway (Local) toward I 95, I 495: Alexandria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95, I 495: Alexandria
8
27.1 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir
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 177A-B
Toward US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir
6
27.2 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 1 North: Alexandria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 177B
Toward US 1 North: Alexandria
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.49 one way
$8.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.91 | $9.81 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.31 | $10.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.34 | $12.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.01 | $1.38 |
| Efficient EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.51 | $1.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Alexandria, VA
Morning in Alexandria on Tuesday
Local time
7:45 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
15 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
40m 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 highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with about 75% of the route utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21.5 miles on I-95, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While primarily interstate, you'll also navigate sections of Dumfries Road and the Capital Beltway (Local), which might offer a slightly different driving experience as you approach your destination. The overall feel is one of efficiency and direct travel rather than scenic meandering.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.5 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 3.1 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 12 decision points packed into just 28.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 19.6 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.1 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway (Local)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
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 Montclair, VA to Alexandria, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Belvoir along the way.
Fort Belvoir
27.1 mi in
|
~36m
About the Cities
Arriving in Alexandria, VA
Full guide →Alexandria is a city in Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C., in the United States.
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 40m. Total distance: 28.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.5 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Alexandria, 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 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 19.6 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.1 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway (Local)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Alexandria, 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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