The drive from Alexandria, VA to Appomattox, VA covers 190 miles and takes about 3h 50m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, Anderson Highway, Maidens Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 86.5 miles on I 95.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.71 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
95 miles from Alexandria, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 50m. Total distance: 190 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Alexandria, VA to Appomattox, VA covers 190 miles and takes about 3h 50m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 86.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 190 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 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
0.9 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South, I 495 West, I 95 North, I 495 East: Richmond, Baltimore
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.
Toward I 95 South, I 495 West, I 95 North, I 49...
8
1 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, I 495 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95 South, I 495 West
6
6.6 mi into trip|~11m in|I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
7
93.1 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Charlottesville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 84B
Toward I 295 North: Charlottesville
8
112.8 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward SR 617: Oilville, Goochland
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 167
Toward SR 617: Oilville, Goochland
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 Alexandria, VA to Appomattox, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Goochland along the way.
Goochland
112.8 mi in|~2h 12m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
86.5 mi
1h 37m
Anderson Highway
24.7 mi
31m
Maidens Road
11.6 mi
16m
Old Courthouse Road
10.3 mi
11m
I 64
9.9 mi
10m
Mount Rush Highway
8.6 mi
9m
East James Anderson Highway
8.1 mi
9m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
8.1 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 86.5 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, VA and Appomattox, VA.
1
Start on VA 400
75 ft·6 sec·South Washington Street
2
Turn right onto King Street
314 ft·14 sec·King Street
3
Turn right onto South Saint Asaph Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·South Saint Asaph Street
4
Turn right onto Duke Street
334 ft·18 sec·Duke Street
5
Turn left onto VA 400
0.2 mi·50 sec·South Washington Street
6
Turn right onto Gibbon Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·Gibbon Street
7
Turn left onto US 1
0.2 mi·34 sec·South Patrick Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
438 ft·10 sec
Toward I 95 South, I 495 West, I 95 North, I 495 East: Richmond, BaltimoreUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 South, I 495 WestUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 95; I 495
5.0 mi·6 min·Capital Beltway (Local)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
37 mi·43 min·I 95
Use the slight left lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
49 mi·53 min·I 95
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Exit 84BToward I 295 North: CharlottesvilleUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 1 South: Richmond
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
16
Merge onto I 295
8.1 mi·8 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·55 sec
Exit 53AToward I 64 West: Charlottesville
18
Merge onto I 64
9.9 mi·10 min·I 64
Toward I 64 West: Charlottesville
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 167Toward SR 617: Oilville, GoochlandUse the slight right lane.
20
At end of road, turn left onto SR 617
0.6 mi·1 min·Oilville Road
21
At end of road, turn right onto US 250
0.8 mi·1 min·Broad Street Road
22
Turn left onto SR 632
3.5 mi·4 min·Fairground Road
23
Turn left onto SR 634
12 mi·16 min·Maidens Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Turn right onto US 60
25 mi·31 min·Anderson Highway
25
Continue on US 60
8.1 mi·9 min·East James Anderson Highway
26
Continue on US 60
7.8 mi·9 min·West James Anderson Highway
27
Turn slight left onto VA 24
8.6 mi·9 min·Mount Rush Highway
28
Continue on VA 24
10 mi·11 min·Old Courthouse Road
29
Continue on VA 131
0.4 mi·40 sec·VA 131
30
Turn left onto US 460 BUS; VA 131
0.6 mi·1 min·Confederate Boulevard
31
Arrive at destination
US 460 BUS
Trip Plan
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 95 miles from Alexandria, VA, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.5 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 42 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95 miles or 1h 52m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Appomattox, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alexandria, 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 Alexandria, VA
This is one driving day of about 190 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Alexandria, 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 95 for about 86.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 95 mi from Alexandria, VA
· 1h 52m into the drive
The midpoint is around 95 miles from Alexandria, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.5 miles.
Arriving in Appomattox, VA
The final approach into Appomattox, VA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Appomattox, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the effective end of the nation's largest war. Question...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.71 one way
$59.42 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$32.49
$64.97
premium
$4.70
$35.16
$70.33
diesel
$5.61
$41.95
$83.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57
0
$19.95
$9.12
Efficient EV
47.5
0
$16.63
$7.60
EV Truck/SUV
76
0
$26.60
$12.16
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Alexandria, VA
Morning
in Alexandria on Friday
Local time
8:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Isolated Rain Showers
SW 16 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 5:52AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 4:18AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Destination
Appomattox, VA
Morning
in Appomattox on Friday
Local time
8:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Ashland, VA
95 mi in
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
2 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
3h 50m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alexandria, VA to Appomattox, VA covers 190 miles and takes about 3h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Anderson Highway, Maidens Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 95 miles from Alexandria, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.71 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 190 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Alexandria, VA to Appomattox, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Goochland along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Appomattox Court House National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
