Origin
South Riding, VA
Morning in South Riding on Sunday
Local time
10:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Riding, 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
48m
Distance
32.6 mi
52 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Riding, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Alexandria, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 32.6-mile drive from South Riding, VA to Alexandria, VA is a straightforward trip, estimated to take about 48 minutes. It's easily manageable as a single-day excursion, so no overnight stays are necessary. You'll primarily navigate using the Capital Beltway, Route 50, and I-66, with a highway share of 48%. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $5, making it an economical option. Both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, so you won't be crossing state lines or encountering significant regional shifts.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 12.1 mi | 15m |
| Route 50 | 7.7 mi | 13m |
| I 66 | 6.1 mi | 7m |
| Capital Beltway (Local) | 2 mi | 2m |
| Little River Turnpike | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| South Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Patrick Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Franklin Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 12.1 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Riding, VA and Alexandria, VA.
1
Start on this road
34 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Defender Drive
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Defender Drive
3
Turn right onto SR 2201
396 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Riding Boulevard
4
Turn right onto US 50
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Little River Turnpike
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on US 50
7.7 mi
·
13 min
·
Route 50
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 66 East: Washington
7
Merge onto I 66
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
I 66
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 64A
Toward I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria
Use the right lane.
9
Merge onto I 495
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 177A-B
Toward US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 177B
Toward US 1 North: Alexandria
13
Merge onto US 1
440 ft
·
8 sec
·
Richmond Highway
14
Continue on US 1
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Patrick Street
15
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Franklin Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto VA 400
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Washington Street
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
VA 400
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.3 miles from South Riding, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 16.4 and 31.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
16.4 mi into trip
|
~25m 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
29 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
30.9 mi into trip
|
~44m 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
31.1 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 1 North: Alexandria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 177B
Toward US 1 North: Alexandria
6
31.9 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
Franklin Street
Turn right onto Franklin Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.10 one way
$10.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.57 | $11.15 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.03 | $12.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.20 | $14.40 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.13
Little River Turnpike
(1.9 mi)
$0.13
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$0
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.42 | $1.56 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.85 | $1.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.09 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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 Sunday
Local time
10:52 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
20 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
48m 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 mixed drive on this route, with a substantial 48% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12.1 miles on the Capital Beltway, offering a period of consistent travel. While the drive features some interstate segments, it also incorporates other road types, providing a varied experience. The character of the road will shift as you progress, moving between faster-paced highway sections and potentially more localized routes as you approach your destination.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.1 mi on Capital Beltway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.4 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 13 decision points packed into just 32.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway (Local)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 South Riding, VA to Alexandria, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Belvoir along the way.
Fort Belvoir
30.9 mi in
|
~44m
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 48m. Total distance: 32.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.1 miles on Capital Beltway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.13 in tolls one way, starting with Little River 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.
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 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway (Local)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Alexandria, VA
More from South Riding, VA
More trips to Alexandria, VA
Explore more options from South Riding, VA or browse trips ending in Alexandria, VA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VA road trips.