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 Arlington, 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 22m
Distance
62.3 mi
100 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 16m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA
David Guerrero
Arlington, VA
Dominik Gryzbon
Trip Overview
This 62.3-mile drive from Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA, to Arlington, VA, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 22 minutes. You'll primarily navigate I-95 and the Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway, with a portion on Courthouse Road. With an estimated fuel cost of around $10, this is an economical journey. The route offers a mixed driving experience, suitable for a straightforward commute or a quick visit between these two Southeast Virginia locations. Given its short duration, it’s perfectly suited for a spontaneous day trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 36.6 mi | 43m |
| Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway | 8.7 mi | 10m |
| Courthouse Road | 6.3 mi | 11m |
| Washington Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Patriot Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Hood Drive | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Wilson Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 10th Street North | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 36.6 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA and Arlington, 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 right at fork onto I 395
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Exit 170A; 170B
Toward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Tysons Corner
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Continue on I 395
8.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Exit 170A
Toward I 395 North: Washington
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 8A
Toward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward VA 27 West: Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike
Use the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto VA 27
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Boulevard
Toward Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto VA 237
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
10th Street North
17
Turn slight left
137 ft
·
8 sec
18
Turn left onto Wilson Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Wilson Boulevard
19
Arrive at destination
Wilson Boulevard
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 31.1 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 6.8 and 59.8 — 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.
9
50.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway toward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Tysons Corner
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 170A; 170B
Toward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Ty...
8
59.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike
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 8A
Toward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pi...
8
59.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward VA 27 West: Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward VA 27 West: Joint Base Myer-Henderson Ha...
6
59.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
VA 27 / Washington Boulevard
Merge onto VA 27 / Washington Boulevard toward Columbia Pike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Columbia Pike
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.74 one way
$19.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.65 | $21.30 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.53 | $23.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.76 | $27.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.54 | $2.99 |
| Efficient EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.45 | $2.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.72 | $3.99 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Arlington, VA
Morning in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
7:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Woodbridge, VA
31 mi in
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
2 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 22m 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 predominantly highway experience, with 59% of the drive on major roadways like I-95 and the Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 36.6 miles on I-95, offering a period of consistent speed. This route is characterized as a mixed drive, meaning you'll transition between faster highway speeds and potentially some local road segments, particularly as you approach your destination. The highway segments will likely feel familiar, while any local road portions will require adjusting your pace.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.6 mi on I 95.
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 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 62.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.1 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 Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Tysons Corner along the way.
Tysons Corner
50.4 mi in
|
~1h 4m
|
via I 395
About the Cities
Arriving in Arlington, VA
Full guide →Arlington (along with the cities of Falls Church to the west and Alexandria to the south) forms part of the urban conglomeration around Washington, D.C. - inside the beltway. In Northern Virginia, and directly across the Potomac River from D.C. proper, Arlington is one of America's most densely populated regions. It has a land area 26 sq mi (67 km2) and a population of 230,000. Despite its density, Arlington mixes the best of both big city and suburban environments. Like the greater Washington area, Arlington has grown over the last several decades in part due to growth of the federal government.
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 22m. Total distance: 62.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). 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 36.6 miles on I 95. 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 Arlington, 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 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.1 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 Arlington, 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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