Origin
Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA
Morning in Spotsylvania Courthouse on Tuesday
Local time
7:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA to Alexandria, VA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
59.5 mi
96 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA
David Guerrero
Alexandria, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 59.5-mile drive from Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA, to Alexandria, VA, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 18 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-95 and the Capital Beltway (Local), with about 71% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $9, making it an economical option. Given its relatively short duration and straightforward path, it's a convenient option for a quick transition between locations within the Southeast region. This drive is best suited for those looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without extensive detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 42.1 mi | 50m |
| Courthouse Road | 6.3 mi | 11m |
| Capital Beltway (Local) | 2 mi | 2m |
| Patriot Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Hood Drive | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South Patrick Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Franklin Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 42.1 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA and Alexandria, VA.
1
Start on this road
290 ft
·
28 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto VA 208 BUS
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Courthouse Road
3
Continue on VA 208 BUS
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Courthouse Road
4
Continue on VA 208
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Courthouse Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right onto SR 636
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Hood Drive
6
Turn right onto US 1
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Patriot Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp
5.5 mi
·
6 min
Toward I 95 North, US 17 North: Washington
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; US 17
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95; US 17
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
10
Merge onto I 95
35 mi
·
41 min
·
I 95
Use the slight left lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I 95
Toward I 95 North, I 495 East: Baltimore
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
12
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.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 177A-B
Toward US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 177B
Toward US 1 North: Alexandria
15
Merge onto US 1
440 ft
·
8 sec
·
Richmond Highway
16
Continue on US 1
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Patrick Street
17
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Franklin Street
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto VA 400
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Washington Street
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
VA 400
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.8 miles from Spotsylvania Courthouse, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 6.8 and 58.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
US 1 / Patriot Highway
Turn right onto US 1 / Patriot Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
50.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m 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
55.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m 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
57.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m 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
58.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m 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
$9.30 one way
$18.61 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.17 | $20.35 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.01 | $22.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.14 | $26.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.25 | $2.86 |
| Efficient EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.21 | $2.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.33 | $3.81 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Alexandria, VA
Morning in Alexandria on Tuesday
Local time
7:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
3 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
1h 18m 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 experience for most of this 59.5-mile trip. With 71% of the route on highways, you'll spend a significant amount of time on I-95. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 42.1 miles on I-95, offering a consistent pace. While the majority is highway driving, you'll also navigate local sections of the Capital Beltway, which can add a bit of variability to your speed and traffic patterns as you approach Alexandria. This drive prioritizes directness over scenic byways.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.1 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Courthouse Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.8 miles in near US 1 / Patriot Highway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.5 miles you will encounter 15 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 6.8 miles (US 1 / Patriot Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 50.4 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.9 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 18m. Total distance: 59.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.1 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 6.8 miles (US 1 / Patriot Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 50.4 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.9 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. 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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