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 McLean, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
35m
Distance
21.9 mi
35 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Riding, VA
Wikimedia Commons
McLean, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 21.9-mile drive from South Riding, VA to McLean, VA is a short one, clocking in at just 35 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The primary roads you'll encounter are Route 50, I-66, and the Capital Beltway, with a significant 72% of the journey focused on highway driving. Given the brief duration and minimal distance, the estimated fuel cost is a modest $3. Both locations are within the Southeast region of Virginia, so you'll be staying within the same general area for this excursion. This route is straightforward and efficient, making it a practical choice for a quick commute or an easy hop between these two Virginia locales.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Route 50 | 7.7 mi | 13m |
| I 66 | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| Capital Beltway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Little River Turnpike | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Dolley Madison Boulevard | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| Old Dominion Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Defender Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Riding Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Route 50
— 7.7 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Riding, VA and McLean, 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
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
I 66
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 64B
Toward I 495 North: Tysons Corner, Baltimore
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 495
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 46B
Toward VA 123 North: McLean
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto VA 123
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Dolley Madison Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto VA 309
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Dominion Drive
Use the right lane.
13
Turn sharp left onto Elm Street
101 ft
·
2 sec
·
Elm Street
14
Arrive at destination
Elm Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 10.4 and 21.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
10.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I 66
Merge onto I 66
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
16.6 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Tysons Corner, Baltimore
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 64B
Toward I 495 North: Tysons Corner, Baltimore
5
17.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
I 495 / Capital Beltway
Merge onto I 495 / Capital Beltway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
19.3 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward VA 123 North: McLean
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46B
Toward VA 123 North: McLean
5
21.4 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
VA 309 / Old Dominion Drive
Turn right onto VA 309 / Old Dominion Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.42 one way
$6.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $3.74 | $7.49 |
| premium | $4.70 | $4.05 | $8.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.84 | $9.67 |
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
$3
Tolls
$0
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.30 | $1.05 |
| Efficient EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
McLean, VA
Morning in McLean on Sunday
Local time
10:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°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
33 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
35m 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 highway-focused drive for this trip, with 72% of the route utilizing faster-paced roads. You'll experience stretches on Route 50, I-66, and the Capital Beltway. The longest continuous segment you'll encounter is 7.7 miles on Route 50, offering a good taste of that particular roadway. While much of this drive is on the highway, it's not an overwhelmingly monotonous experience, offering some variation as you transition between these main arteries. The overall character is one of efficient travel, designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.7 mi on Route 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Route 50 and I 66. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.4 miles in near I 66.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 21.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.4 miles (I 66): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.1 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
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 McLean, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Baltimore along the way.
Baltimore
16.6 mi in
|
~25m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 35m. Total distance: 21.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.7 miles on Route 50. 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 McLean, 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 10.4 miles (I 66): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.1 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 McLean, 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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