Traveling between Richmond and Alexandria covers 102.3 miles, making for a manageable 1-hour and 40-minute journey. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $16 on fuel for the trek, keeping your travel costs low. Both the starting point in Richmond and the destination in Alexandria are located within the Southeast region, ensuring a consistent climate and environment throughout your transit. If you prefer avoiding major interstates in favor of local road networks, this route offers a straightforward path between these two Virginia hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.9 miles from Richmond, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
53.1 mi
58m
I 95
42.1 mi
50m
Capital Beltway (Local)
2 mi
2m
Hermitage Road
1.1 mi
2m
South Washington Street
0.5 mi
1m
South Patrick Street
0.3 mi
<1m
North Meadow Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
— 53.1 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, VA and Alexandria, VA.
1
Start on Marcus-David Peters Circle
525 ft·14 sec·Marcus-David Peters Circle
2
Continue on Monument Avenue
0.1 mi·25 sec·Monument Avenue
3
Turn right onto North Meadow Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·North Meadow Street
4
Continue on Hermitage Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Hermitage Road
5
Turn left onto Robin Hood Road
0.2 mi·32 sec·Robin Hood Road
Toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe Boulevard
6
Turn right onto VA 161
0.2 mi·29 sec·North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 95 North, I 64 WestUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 64; I 95
0.3 mi·27 sec·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
53 mi·58 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; US 17
1.6 mi·1 min·I 95; US 17
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
12
Merge onto I 95
35 mi·41 min·I 95
Use the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
5.5 mi·7 min·I 95
Toward I 95 North, I 495 East: BaltimoreUse the slight left / straight lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; I 495
2.0 mi·2 min·Capital Beltway (Local)
Toward I 95, I 495: AlexandriaUse the slight right lane.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 177A-BToward US 1: Alexandria, Fort BelvoirUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 177BToward US 1 North: Alexandria
17
Merge onto US 1
440 ft·8 sec·Richmond Highway
18
Continue on US 1
0.3 mi·45 sec·South Patrick Street
19
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·Franklin Street
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto VA 400
0.5 mi·1 min·South Washington Street
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
VA 400
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. You won't need to stress over complex pacing or long-distance rest strategies, as the entire 102.3-mile drive can be completed in under two hours without scheduled stops. Before heading out, ensure you have your $16 fuel budget ready, as local roads often feature more frequent stop-and-go traffic than major highways. A smart tip for this specific journey is to pay close attention to the transitions between Monument Avenue, North Meadow Street, and Hermitage Road, as the turn-heavy nature of the route requires careful navigation. Keep your GPS handy to stay on track through these local turns, and enjoy the ease of a quick, direct commute.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.9 miles from Richmond, VA, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.1 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 22 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.9 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Richmond, 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 Richmond, VA
This is one driving day of about 101.9 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Richmond, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike for about 53.1 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 1.7 and 100.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in|VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Turn right onto VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in
Turn left toward I 95 North, I 64 West
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 95 North, I 64 West
8
92.7 mi into trip|~1h 48m 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
98.2 mi into trip|~1h 55m 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
100.2 mi into trip|~1h 58m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.93 one way
$31.87 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$17.42
$34.85
premium
$4.70
$18.86
$37.72
diesel
$5.61
$22.50
$45.00
Estimated Tolls: $3.69
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(52.8 mi)$3.69
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.6
0
$10.70
$4.89
Efficient EV
25.5
0
$8.92
$4.08
EV Truck/SUV
40.8
0
$14.27
$6.52
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Richmond, VA
Morning
in Richmond on Tuesday
Local time
7:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alexandria, VA
Morning
in Alexandria on Tuesday
Local time
7:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Stafford, VA
51 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
6 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 2m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Petersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Two hundred ninety-two days, eight offensives, over 70,000 casualties, U. S. Colored Troops, and the decline of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. U.S. forces c...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect an engaging experience behind the wheel, as this route relies entirely on local roads rather than high-speed interstates. With a highway share of 0%, you will navigate through turns and local traffic using Monument Avenue, North Meadow Street, and Hermitage Road. Because this is a technical, turn-heavy drive, your focus will remain on the road rather than cruising at highway speeds. The lack of long, uninterrupted stretches means you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that changes frequently as you transition through local corridors. This path is ideal if you prefer avoiding the monotony of long highway stretches in favor of a more active driving route.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.1 mi on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 101.9 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 1.7 miles (VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.7 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Richmond is the capital of Virginia. Richmond has a population of 227,000 (2020) and the adjacent counties of Henrico and Chesterfield combine to create a local population of more than 1.3 million people.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 101.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.1 miles on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.69 in tolls one way, starting with Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. 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.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.7 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Petersburg National Battlefield. 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.
