Origin
Waynesboro, VA
Morning in Waynesboro on Saturday
Local time
8:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waynesboro, VA to Harrisonburg, VA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
33.7 mi
54 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waynesboro, VA
Eric Joseph
Harrisonburg, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Waynesboro, VA to Harrisonburg, VA is 33.7 miles and takes about 46m via I 81, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Southeast region, specifically within Virginia. It's a straightforward trip primarily on the interstate, making it a convenient option for those looking to cover a small distance quickly. Given its brevity, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion or as a segment of a larger journey, offering minimal travel time between these two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 19.9 mi | 21m |
| Hermitage Road | 8.3 mi | 11m |
| Ivy Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| South Main Street | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| Woodrow Wilson Parkway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Port Republic Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Broad Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Poplar Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 19.9 mi, about 21m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 33 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,786 veh/hr typical · worst 2,298
Quietest
2 AM
~238 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waynesboro, VA and Harrisonburg, VA.
1
Start on South Wayne Avenue
523 ft
·
23 sec
·
South Wayne Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 250; US 340 TRK
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broad Street
3
Turn right onto VA 254
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
North Poplar Avenue
4
Continue on VA 254
493 ft
·
14 sec
·
King Avenue
5
Turn left onto VA 254
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Ivy Street
6
Continue on VA 254
8.3 mi
·
11 min
·
Hermitage Road
7
Continue on VA 262
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
Woodrow Wilson Parkway
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
9
Merge onto I 81
20 mi
·
21 min
·
I 81
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward VA 253: Harrisonburg
11
Turn left onto VA 253
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Port Republic Road
12
Turn right onto US 11
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
US 11; US 33
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.9 miles from Waynesboro, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 31.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 250; US 340 TRK / West Broad Street
Turn left onto US 250; US 340 TRK / West Broad Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
VA 254 / North Poplar Avenue
Turn right onto VA 254 / North Poplar Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
VA 254 / Ivy Street
Turn left onto VA 254 / Ivy Street
Navigation decision point
3
11.9 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 81
Merge onto I 81
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
31.8 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward VA 253: Harrisonburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward VA 253: Harrisonburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.16 one way
$10.33 round trip
$3.89/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $5.67 | $11.33 |
| premium | $4.64 | $6.15 | $12.30 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $7.43 | $14.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
| Efficient EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.95 | $1.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.72 | $2.16 |
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
Harrisonburg, VA
Morning in Harrisonburg on Saturday
Local time
8:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Verona, VA
17 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
26 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
46m 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 drive is mostly highway, with 61% of the 33.7 miles spent on interstates like I 81. You'll experience a longest stretch of 19.9 miles on I 81, indicating a significant portion of continuous highway cruising. The transition to surface roads like Hermitage Road and Ivy Street will occur after this main highway segment, likely involving more frequent exits and potentially slower speeds as you approach your destination.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.9 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and Hermitage Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 250; US 340 TRK / West Broad Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 46m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 250; US 340 TRK / West Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (VA 254 / North Poplar Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (VA 254 / Ivy Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,373 ft
1,162 ft
Total Climb
298 ft
Total Descent
268 ft
Highest Point
1,373 ft
~2.7 mi in
Elevation Range
211 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Waynesboro, VA
Full guide →Founded 1798
Waynesboro is a city in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia.
Top landmarks
- • Blue Ridge Tunnel — railway tunnel in Virginia - Crozet's tunnel
- • Fishburne Military School — private, military boarding school in Waynesboro, Virginia, United States
Arriving in Harrisonburg, VA
Full guide →Founded 1779
Harrisonburg is a city of 52,000 people (2020) in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. The city is a major financial and retail center for eight counties in Virginia, and even draws people from parts of neighboring West Virginia. There is a traditionally strong agricultural base, but there has been tremendous growth in retail and industry sectors.
Top landmarks
- • Rockingham County Courthouse — courthouse in Virginia, United States
- • Newtown Cemetery — cemetery in Harrisonburg, Virginia
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 46m. Total distance: 33.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.9 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (US 250; US 340 TRK / West Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (VA 254 / North Poplar Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (VA 254 / Ivy Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Harrisonburg, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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