Tazewell, VA to Arlington, VA is 353.5 miles and takes about 6h 38m via I 81 and I 66, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route focuses heavily on highway travel, making it a straightforward journey through Virginia. Given its duration and highway-focused profile, it's well-suited for a single-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, so pack for a drive that prioritizes efficiency over leisurely sightseeing. Consider this a solid option when you need to get from Southwest Virginia to Northern Virginia without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
176.7 miles from Tazewell, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
218.6 mi
4h
I 66
70.5 mi
1h 20m
US 52
19.7 mi
22m
I 77
16 mi
17m
Governor G C Peery Highway
13.3 mi
16m
Trail of the Lonesome Pine
9.8 mi
11m
US 52 Truck
2.3 mi
2m
Tazewell Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 218.6 mi, about 4h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tazewell, VA and Arlington, VA.
1
Start on Mill Road
397 ft·19 sec·Mill Road
2
Turn right onto US 19 BUS; US 460 BUS; VA 16
436 ft·7 sec·Main Street
3
Continue on US 19 BUS; US 460 BUS; VA 16
0.4 mi·44 sec·Fincastle Turnpike
4
Turn left onto VA 16
0.8 mi·1 min·Tazewell Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward Bluefield
6
Merge onto US 19; US 460
13 mi·16 min·Governor G C Peery Highway
7
Continue on US 19; US 460
9.8 mi·11 min·Trail of the Lonesome Pine
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit onto US 52 Truck
2.3 mi·2 min·US 52 Truck
9
Take the exit onto US 52
20 mi·22 min·US 52
10
Continue on I 77
16 mi·17 min·I 77
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 11
140 mi·2 hr 33 min·I 81; US 11
Toward I 81 North, US 11 North: RoanokeUse the straight lane.
12
Continue on I 64; I 81
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 64; I 81
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
79 mi·1 hr 26 min·I 81
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 66 East: Front Royal, Washington
15
Continue on I 66
43 mi·46 min·I 66
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 66
28 mi·34 min·I 66
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 71Toward VA 120, VA 237Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on Fairfax Drive
0.1 mi·24 sec·Fairfax Drive
19
Turn right onto VA 120
0.2 mi·32 sec·North Glebe Road
Use the right lane.
20
Turn slight left onto Wilson Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Wilson Boulevard
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
Wilson Boulevard
Trip Plan
With a drive time of under 7 hours, this trip is comfortably manageable in a single day, allowing for a flexible departure time. Leaving Tazewell in the morning should get you into Arlington with ample daylight. The longest stretch on I 81 means you can cover significant ground before needing a break, but plan for at least one fuel and rest stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the I 66 corridor, as services can sometimes be more spread out on interstates compared to local roads.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 176.7 miles from Tazewell, VA, or about 3h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 218.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 78 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.7 miles or 3h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tazewell, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tazewell, VA
This is one driving day of about 353.5 miles and 6h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Tazewell, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 218.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 352.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 19 BUS; US 460 BUS; VA 16 / Main Street
Turn right onto US 19 BUS; US 460 BUS; VA 16 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
8
62.6 mi into trip|~1h 13m in|I 81; US 11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 11 toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
6
324.6 mi into trip|~6h in|I 66
Keep slight right at fork onto I 66
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
352.3 mi into trip|~6h 35m in
Take the exit toward VA 120, VA 237
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 71
Toward VA 120, VA 237
6
352.7 mi into trip|~6h 35m in|VA 120 / North Glebe Road
Turn right onto VA 120 / North Glebe Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.28 one way
$110.56 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg124 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$60.44
$120.89
premium
$4.70
$65.43
$130.85
diesel
$5.61
$78.05
$156.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
106.1
1
$37.12
$16.97
Efficient EV
88.4
1
$30.93
$14.14
EV Truck/SUV
141.4
1
$49.49
$22.62
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Tazewell, VA
Late night
in Tazewell on Tuesday
Local time
4:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, VA
Late night
in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
4:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
16 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
6h 38m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley has a long and rich heritage that still inspires today. Native Americans first shaped the land, followed by colonists and settlers. The fertile valley became an important...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 280.3
Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over...
15 mi from route
~39 min detour
$30
near mile 243.8
Booker T. Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 121.9
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
23 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 341.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the route on major roadways like I 81 and I 66. You'll experience long, uninterrupted stretches, including a significant 218.6-mile segment on I 81. The profile suggests a driving experience that prioritizes speed and directness, moving you efficiently across the state. While the majority is interstate, be aware that the initial and final portions might involve transitions on US 52, offering a brief change of pace before reaching the broader highway network.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 218.6 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 66. 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 US 19 BUS; US 460 BUS; VA 16 / Main Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 353.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 19 BUS; US 460 BUS; VA 16 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 62.6 miles (I 81; US 11): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 324.6 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Tazewell, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 38m. Total distance: 353.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 38m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 218.6 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 19 BUS; US 460 BUS; VA 16 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 62.6 miles (I 81; US 11): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 324.6 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park, Shenandoah National Park and Booker T Washington National Monument (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Arlington, VA before the return drive.
