Origin
Newington, VA
Late night in Newington on Tuesday
Local time
5:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Newington, VA to Harrisonburg, 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
2h 30m
Distance
127.3 mi
205 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 20m
★
6 AM
2h 31m
8 AM
2h 51m
10 AM
2h 38m
12 PM
2h 36m
3 PM
2h 39m
5 PM
2h 50m
8 PM
2h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Newington, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Harrisonburg, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 127.3-mile drive from Newington, VA to Harrisonburg, VA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 30 minutes. Given its manageable duration and the fact that it's entirely within Virginia, this route is ideal for a single-day trip, with a fuel cost estimated around $20. You'll primarily be on I-66 and I-81, making for a predominantly high-speed experience. The drive offers a consistent feel, making it a practical choice for those looking for an efficient connection between these two points in the Southeast region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
63.6 miles from Newington, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 66 | 54.6 mi | 59m |
| I 81 | 52.5 mi | 56m |
| VA 286 | 14.1 mi | 21m |
| Fairfax County Parkway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| East Market Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Newington Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Loisdale Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 66
— 54.6 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newington, VA and Harrisonburg, VA.
1
Start on this road
139 ft
·
17 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
89 ft
·
12 sec
3
Turn left onto SR 877
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Newington Road
4
Turn left onto SR 877
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Loisdale Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Turn right onto VA 286
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Fairfax County Parkway
6
Take the exit onto VA 286
14 mi
·
21 min
·
VA 286
Toward VA 286 North: Fairfax County Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 66 West: Front Royal
Use the right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 66 West: Front Royal
9
Merge onto I 66
55 mi
·
59 min
·
I 66
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1A
Toward I 81 South: Roanoke
Use the straight lane.
11
Merge onto I 81
53 mi
·
56 min
·
I 81
Toward I 81 South: Roanoke
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 33 West: Harrisonburg
13
Turn straight onto US 33
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East Market Street
14
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; US 33
49 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
US 11; US 33
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive of just over 2 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning can help you avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you merge onto I-81. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to power through or take a brief break as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the longest stretch without a major exit area might be the 54.6 miles on I-66, so ensure you're fueled up before heading into that segment.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.6 miles from Newington, VA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 28 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.6 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harrisonburg, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Newington, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Newington, VA
This is one driving day of about 127.3 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Newington, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 66 for about 54.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 63.6 miles from Newington, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 72.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SR 877 / Newington Road
Turn left onto SR 877 / Newington Road
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
SR 877 / Loisdale Road
Turn left onto SR 877 / Loisdale Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
VA 286
Take the exit onto VA 286 toward VA 286 North: Fairfax County Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward VA 286 North: Fairfax County Parkway
6
16.9 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward I 66 West: Front Royal
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 66 West: Front Royal
8
72.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 81 South: Roanoke
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 1A
Toward I 81 South: Roanoke
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.91 one way
$39.81 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $21.77 | $43.53 |
| premium | $4.70 | $23.56 | $47.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.11 | $56.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.2 | 0 | $13.37 | $6.11 |
| Efficient EV | 31.8 | 0 | $11.14 | $5.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.9 | 0 | $17.82 | $8.15 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Harrisonburg, VA
Late night in Harrisonburg on Tuesday
Local time
5:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live 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
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
2h 30m 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 high-speed, highway-focused drive for this trip, with 97% of the route taking place on major interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 54.6 miles on I-66, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving speeds. While the main roads are I-66, I-81, and VA-286, the overall character is that of a continuous, efficient travel corridor. This isn't a route for leisurely sightseeing but rather for making good time.
97% 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: 54.6 mi on I 66.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 66 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 877 / Newington Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 127.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SR 877 / Newington Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (SR 877 / Loisdale Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (VA 286): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 30m. Total distance: 127.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.6 miles on I 66. 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 Harrisonburg, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SR 877 / Newington Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (SR 877 / Loisdale Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (VA 286): 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 Harrisonburg, 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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