Origin
Sterling, VA
Late night in Sterling on Tuesday
Local time
4:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sterling, 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
51m
Distance
35.7 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sterling, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Alexandria, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Sterling, VA to Alexandria, VA is 35.7 miles and takes about 51m via Capital Beltway/Sully Road/Dulles Toll Road, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia, making it a straightforward local excursion. Expect a turn-heavy local drive that will require your attention as you navigate through the Southeast region. With a drive time under an hour, this is a perfect option for a quick trip without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 15.4 mi | 19m |
| Dulles Toll Road | 11.8 mi | 16m |
| Sully Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Capital Beltway (Local) | 2 mi | 2m |
| South Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Church Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Patrick Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Franklin Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 15.4 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sterling, VA and Alexandria, VA.
1
Start on SR 859
222 ft
·
11 sec
·
Ruritan Circle
2
Turn right
243 ft
·
17 sec
3
Turn sharp right onto SR 625
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
West Church Road
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on SR 625
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Waxpool Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward VA 28 south: Dulles Airport
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
7
Merge onto VA 28
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Sully Road
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward VA 267 East: Washington
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto Dulles Toll Road
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Dulles Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 267
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Dulles Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 18A
Toward I 495 South: Richmond
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 18A
Toward I 495 South: Richmond
13
Merge onto I 495
15 mi
·
19 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right 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: Alexandria
Use the slight right lane.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 177A-B
Toward US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 177B
Toward 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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.9 miles from Sterling, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 34.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SR 625 / West Church Road
Turn sharp right onto SR 625 / West Church Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
3.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward VA 267 East: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward VA 267 East: Washington
7
15.9 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward I 495 South: Richmond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18A
Toward I 495 South: Richmond
8
32.1 mi into trip
|
~44m 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
34.1 mi into trip
|
~47m 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
$5.58 one way
$11.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.10 | $12.21 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.61 | $13.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.88 | $15.76 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.35
Dulles Toll Road
(11.8 mi)
$2.35
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.71 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.12 | $1.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Late night in Alexandria on Tuesday
Local time
4:21 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
4 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
51m 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?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' indicating a departure from highway monotony. While it utilizes parts of the Capital Beltway, the overall feel is more about navigating local roads and intersections, with no highway share percentage provided. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 15.4 miles on the Capital Beltway, offering a brief period of higher-speed travel before you transition back to more localized segments. Be prepared for frequent turns and traffic signals as you make your way through various communities.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.4 mi on Capital Beltway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near SR 625 / West Church Road.
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 17 decision points packed into just 35.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (SR 625 / West Church Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Sterling, VA
Full guide →Sterling is in Loudoun County, Virginia, about 26 miles (42 km) west of Washington, D.C.. The population is approximately 41,000 people (2021).
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 51m. Total distance: 35.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.4 miles on Capital Beltway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.35 in tolls one way, starting with Dulles Toll Road. 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 0.1 miles (SR 625 / West Church Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. 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.
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