Origin
Woodbridge, VA
Morning in Woodbridge on Tuesday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Woodbridge, 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
26m
Distance
18.6 mi
30 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Woodbridge, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Alexandria, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a short hop from Woodbridge to Alexandria, you are looking at a quick 18.6-mile commute. This straightforward trip typically takes about 26 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via I-95 and the Capital Beltway before transitioning onto South Washington Street. With a modest estimated fuel cost of just $3, this route is highly efficient for those moving between these two Southeast Virginia locations. Because the drive is so brief, it functions perfectly as a simple point-to-point transit rather than a multi-day excursion. You can easily complete the entire journey in under half an hour, allowing you to focus your time on your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 13.9 mi | 17m |
| Capital Beltway (Local) | 2 mi | 2m |
| South Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Richmond Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Gordon Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Patrick Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Franklin Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 13.9 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodbridge, VA and Alexandria, VA.
1
Start on this road
22 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto US 1
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Richmond Highway
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto VA 123
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Gordon Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
Toward I 95 North
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 95
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 95
Use the straight lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I 95
Toward I 95 North, I 495 East: Baltimore
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
7
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.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 177A-B
Toward US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 177B
Toward US 1 North: Alexandria
10
Merge onto US 1
440 ft
·
8 sec
·
Richmond Highway
11
Continue on US 1
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Patrick Street
12
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Franklin Street
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto VA 400
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Washington Street
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
VA 400
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 17.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 1 / Richmond Highway
Turn left onto US 1 / Richmond Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
9.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 toward I 95 North, I 495 East: Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 95 North, I 495 East: Baltimore
8
15 mi into trip
|
~19m 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
17 mi into trip
|
~22m 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
6
17.2 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 1 North: Alexandria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 177B
Toward US 1 North: Alexandria
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.91 one way
$5.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $3.18 | $6.36 |
| premium | $4.70 | $3.44 | $6.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.11 | $8.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.95 | $0.89 |
| Efficient EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.63 | $0.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.60 | $1.19 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Morning in Alexandria on Tuesday
Local time
6:37 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
15 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
26m 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 highway-focused experience, as 74% of this route is comprised of major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on the interstate, including a significant 13.9-mile uninterrupted stretch along I-95. The personality of the drive is utilitarian, prioritizing speed and connectivity over scenic winding roads. As you transition from the high-speed flow of the Capital Beltway toward the local lanes of South Washington Street, the pace naturally slows. This shift requires you to adjust from steady highway cruising to more attentive navigating as you arrive at your final destination.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.9 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Capital Beltway (Local). This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 1 / Richmond Highway.
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 11 decision points packed into just 18.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 26m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 1 / Richmond Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway (Local)): 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.
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 Woodbridge, VA to Alexandria, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Belvoir along the way.
Fort Belvoir
17 mi in
|
~22m
About the Cities
Starting in Woodbridge, VA
Full guide →Woodbridge is a town in Prince William County and suburb of Washington, D.C., best known for the Potomac Mills shopping mall.
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 26m. Total distance: 18.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.9 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 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: near the start (US 1 / Richmond Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway (Local)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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