Origin
Petersburg, VA
Late night in Petersburg on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Petersburg, VA to Alexandria, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
64.9 mi
104 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Petersburg, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Alexandria, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 64.8-mile drive from Petersburg, VA to Alexandria, VA will take you about 1 hour and 8 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $10, it's an economical choice for a short excursion within the Southeast region. You'll primarily navigate local roads like Leeds Manor Road and Washington, with a brief stint on I-495 South. This route is characterized by frequent turns, so be prepared for a more engaged driving experience rather than a straightforward highway cruise. No overnight stays are recommended for this straightforward journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 66 | 45.4 mi | 51m |
| Capital Beltway | 12.1 mi | 15m |
| John Marshall Highway | 3 mi | 5m |
| Capital Beltway (Local) | 2 mi | 2m |
| South Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Patrick Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Franklin Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Richmond Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 66
— 45.4 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Petersburg, VA and Alexandria, VA.
1
Start on VA 55
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
John Marshall Highway
2
Turn left onto SR 688
240 ft
·
6 sec
·
Leeds Manor Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward Washington
4
Merge onto I 66
24 mi
·
26 min
·
I 66
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 66
21 mi
·
25 min
·
I 66
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 64A
Toward I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 495
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right 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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.4 miles from Petersburg, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 27.3 and 63.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
27.3 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
48.7 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 64A
Toward I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria
8
61.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m 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
63.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m 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
63.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m 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
$10.15 one way
$20.30 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $11.10 | $22.19 |
| premium | $4.70 | $12.01 | $24.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.33 | $28.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.81 | $3.12 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.68 | $2.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26 | 0 | $9.09 | $4.15 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Late night in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
21 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 20m 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 'turn-heavy local drive' for most of this 64.8-mile trip. With a highway share of 0%, you won't encounter any long stretches of interstate cruising. Instead, you'll be navigating a series of local roads, including Leeds Manor Road and Washington, which will require your constant attention. This driving profile means you'll likely experience a more varied landscape and potentially slower speeds as you wind through communities. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the 'turn-heavy' nature suggests frequent adjustments.
70% 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: 45.4 mi on I 66.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 66 and Capital Beltway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.3 miles in near I 66.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 27.3 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.2 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway (Local)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 1h 20m. Total distance: 64.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.4 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 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 27.3 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.2 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 — Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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