Traveling from Timberlake to Arlington covers 185.8 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 21 minutes. Because this journey relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it is best suited for a single-day trip rather than an overnight split. You should budget approximately $30 for fuel to complete the trek. Since you are staying within Virginia, you will notice a consistent regional character as you transition from the Southeast toward the northern part of the state. It is a straightforward drive that prioritizes local navigation over high-speed transit, making it a manageable excursion if you prefer to avoid heavy highway traffic.
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
92.1 miles from Timberlake, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 29
64.2 mi
1h 19m
Seminole Trail
33.9 mi
48m
I 66
27.2 mi
33m
James Madison Highway
23.3 mi
30m
US 15
11.7 mi
17m
James Monroe Highway
7.7 mi
9m
US 460
7.3 mi
8m
Eastern Bypass
2.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 29
— 64.2 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Timberlake, VA and Arlington, VA.
1
Start on US 460 BUS
0.8 mi·1 min·Timberlake Road
2
Turn right onto SR 622
0.9 mi·1 min·Waterlick Road
3
Turn left onto SR 682
1.3 mi·2 min·Leesville Road
4
Turn right onto SR 678
0.4 mi·1 min·Airport Road
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 460 East
6
Merge onto US 460
7.3 mi·8 min·US 460
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 29
64 mi·1 hr 19 min·US 29
Toward US 29 North: Amherst, CharlottesvilleUse the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
9
Turn slight right onto US 29 BUS
144 ft·10 sec·Emmet Street North
10
Continue on US 29 BUS
0.5 mi·1 min·Emmet Street North
11
Continue on US 29
34 mi·48 min·Seminole Trail
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on US 29
7.7 mi·9 min·James Monroe Highway
13
Continue on US 15; US 29
23 mi·30 min·James Madison Highway
14
Continue on US 15; US 17; US 29
2.4 mi·3 min·Eastern Bypass
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29
12 mi·17 min·US 15; US 29
Toward US 15 North, US 29 NorthUse the left / straight lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 66 East: WashingtonUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 66
27 mi·33 min·I 66
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 71Toward VA 120, VA 237Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on Fairfax Drive
0.1 mi·24 sec·Fairfax Drive
20
Turn right onto VA 120
0.2 mi·32 sec·North Glebe Road
Use the right lane.
21
Turn slight left onto Wilson Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Wilson Boulevard
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
Wilson Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the local nature of these roads, plan for a steady pace rather than rushing to your destination. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to stretch your legs whenever it suits your schedule. Since the route involves multiple local turns, double-check your navigation settings before you pull out of Timberlake to ensure you stay on the correct path. Aim to start your trip during daylight hours to better manage the frequent turns and local intersections you will encounter. Setting aside your $30 fuel budget in advance ensures you can focus on the road without worrying about mid-trip logistics.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 92.1 miles from Timberlake, VA, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.2 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 41 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.1 miles or 2h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 20m
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 Timberlake, 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 Timberlake, VA
This is one driving day of about 184.2 miles and 4h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Timberlake, 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 US 29 for about 64.2 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 3 and 183 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3 mi into trip|~5m in|SR 678 / Airport Road
Turn right onto SR 678 / Airport Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
11 mi into trip|~16m in|US 29
Take the exit onto US 29 toward US 29 North: Amherst, Charlottesville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 29 North: Amherst, Charlottesville
8
143.3 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|US 15; US 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29 toward US 15 North, US 29 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward US 15 North, US 29 North
6
154.9 mi into trip|~3h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 66 East: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 66 East: Washington
8
183 mi into trip|~4h 1m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.80 one way
$57.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$31.50
$62.99
premium
$4.70
$34.09
$68.18
diesel
$5.61
$40.67
$81.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.3
0
$19.34
$8.84
Efficient EV
46.1
0
$16.12
$7.37
EV Truck/SUV
73.7
0
$25.79
$11.79
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026
Origin
Timberlake, VA
Late night
in Timberlake on Tuesday
Local time
5:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, VA
Late night
in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
5:08 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
5 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
4h 4m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this 0% highway route keeps you engaged with frequent turns and navigation through local corridors. You will navigate via Waterlick Road, Leesville Road, and Airport Road, which define the personality of this trip. The road is technical and requires a steady pace, lacking the long, uninterrupted stretches found on major freeways. Navigating these local roads provides a different experience than a standard highway route, offering a more hands-on driving environment for the duration of your journey.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.2 mi on US 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 3 miles in near SR 678 / Airport Road.
Driving Effort7/10
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 184.2 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 3 miles (SR 678 / Airport Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles (US 29): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143.3 miles (US 15; US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Timberlake, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Charlottesville 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 4h 4m. Total distance: 184.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.2 miles on US 29. 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 3 miles (SR 678 / Airport Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles (US 29): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143.3 miles (US 15; US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Arlington, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
