Pearisburg, VA to Arlington, VA is 278.6 miles and takes about 5h 30m via I 81 and I 66, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Virginia, moving from the Southeast region towards the Northeast. It's a straightforward, largely highway-focused trip that's well-suited for a single day of travel. Given the relatively short duration, you'll have plenty of flexibility in your departure time and how you structure your journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
139.3 miles from Pearisburg, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
158.7 mi
2h 53m
I 66
70.5 mi
1h 20m
Virginia Avenue
13.5 mi
17m
Mount Tabor Road
9.1 mi
15m
Catawba Valley Drive
9 mi
12m
Newport Road
7.7 mi
12m
Pandapas Pond Road
3.4 mi
4m
Wenonah Avenue
2.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 158.7 mi, about 2h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pearisburg, VA and Arlington, VA.
1
Start on Montgomery Street
329 ft·19 sec·Montgomery Street
2
Turn left onto Wenonah Avenue
2.4 mi·4 min·Wenonah Avenue
3
Take the ramp onto US 460 BUS
0.3 mi·41 sec·US 460 BUS
Toward US 460 East
4
Merge onto US 460
14 mi·17 min·Virginia Avenue
5
Continue on US 460
3.4 mi·4 min·Pandapas Pond Road
6
Turn left onto SR 649
392 ft·8 sec·Coal Bank Hollow Road
7
Continue on SR 649
1.4 mi·2 min·Coal Bank Hollow Road
8
At end of road, turn left onto SR 624
9.1 mi·15 min·Mount Tabor Road
9
Continue on SR 624
7.7 mi·12 min·Newport Road
10
At end of road, turn right onto VA 311
9.0 mi·12 min·Catawba Valley Drive
11
Enter roundabout onto VA 419
163 ft·2 sec·North Electric Road
12
Continue on VA 419
0.6 mi·1 min·North Electric Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left
0.3 mi·38 sec
Use the left lane.
14
Merge onto I 81
80 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
79 mi·1 hr 26 min·I 81
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 66 East: Front Royal, Washington
17
Continue on I 66
43 mi·46 min·I 66
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 66
28 mi·34 min·I 66
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 71Toward VA 120, VA 237Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on Fairfax Drive
0.1 mi·24 sec·Fairfax Drive
21
Turn right onto VA 120
0.2 mi·32 sec·North Glebe Road
Use the right lane.
22
Turn slight left onto Wilson Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Wilson Boulevard
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
Wilson Boulevard
Trip Plan
For this 5.5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Pearisburg to maximize your daylight hours and arrive in Arlington with time to spare. With only one recommended stop and a 158.7-mile stretch on I 81, plan your fuel and rest breaks strategically. The fuel cost is estimated at $44, so ensure your tank is full before you begin. The highway-focused nature of this route means you can maintain a steady speed, but be aware of potential traffic as you approach the Northern Virginia area.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 139.3 miles from Pearisburg, VA, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 158.7 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 61 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.3 miles or 2h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pearisburg, 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 Pearisburg, VA
This is one driving day of about 278.6 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Pearisburg, 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 81 for about 158.7 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 47.6 and 277.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
47.6 mi into trip|~1h 12m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
47.9 mi into trip|~1h 12m in|I 81
Merge onto I 81
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
249.7 mi into trip|~4h 53m in|I 66
Keep slight right at fork onto I 66
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
277.5 mi into trip|~5h 27m in
Take the exit toward VA 120, VA 237
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.
Exit 71
Toward VA 120, VA 237
6
277.9 mi into trip|~5h 28m in|VA 120 / North Glebe Road
Turn right onto VA 120 / North Glebe Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.57 one way
$87.13 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$47.64
$95.27
premium
$4.70
$51.56
$103.13
diesel
$5.61
$61.51
$123.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.6
1
$29.25
$13.37
Efficient EV
69.7
0
$24.38
$11.14
EV Truck/SUV
111.4
1
$39.00
$17.83
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Pearisburg, VA
Late night
in Pearisburg on Sunday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, VA
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Amherst, VA
139 mi in
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
41 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
5h 30m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley has a long and rich heritage that still inspires today. Native Americans first shaped the land, followed by colonists and settlers. The fertile valley became an important...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 209.1
Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
$30
near mile 169.3
Booker T. Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 59.8
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!
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 268.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 82% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll experience a significant stretch of 158.7 miles on I 81, offering a consistent driving pace. The journey transitions to I 66 for the latter part of the trip, maintaining the efficient, high-speed nature of the drive. Expect minimal delays and a clear path for most of the 278.6 miles, making it a predictable travel experience.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 158.7 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 66. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 47.6 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 278.6 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: at 47.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 47.9 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 249.7 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Pearisburg, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.
Washington
206.6 mi in|~4h 6m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 30m. Total distance: 278.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 158.7 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Arlington, 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: at 47.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 47.9 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 249.7 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park, Shenandoah National Park and Booker T Washington National Monument (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Arlington, VA before the return drive.
