Origin
Alexandria, VA
Afternoon in Alexandria on Thursday
Local time
3:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alexandria, VA to Castlewood, VA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
7h 33m
Distance
393.3 mi
633 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
EV Charging
Fair
5 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 23m
★
6 AM
7h 33m
8 AM
7h 53m
10 AM
7h 40m
12 PM
7h 38m
3 PM
7h 41m
5 PM
7h 52m
8 PM
7h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alexandria, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Castlewood, VA
Eric Joseph
Trip Overview
The drive from Alexandria, VA to Castlewood, VA covers 393.3 miles and takes about 7h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 81, I 66, US Highway 58 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 281.6 miles on I 81. At current regular gas prices, budget about $61.50 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
196.6 miles from Alexandria, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 43m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 33m. Total distance: 393.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 33m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 7h 33m highway drive covering 393.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 81 and I 66. The longest continuous stretch is about 281.6 miles on I 81.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 281.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 25 significant decision points across 393.3 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 15.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 25 key pointsThese 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
8
15.4 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward I 66 West: Vienna, Front Royal
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 49B
Toward I 66 West: Vienna, Front Royal
8
80.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 81 South: Roanoke
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 1A
Toward I 81 South: Roanoke
7
365 mi into trip
|
~6h 49m in
|
Valley Street Northwest
At end of road, turn left onto Valley Street Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 Castlewood, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Holston Dam along the way.
Holston Dam
364.1 mi in
|
~6h 46m
|
via US 58 ALT
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 281.6 mi | 5h 7m |
| I 66 | 64.2 mi | 1h 12m |
| US Highway 58 | 12.4 mi | 17m |
| Porterfield Highway | 10.3 mi | 14m |
| Capital Beltway | 8.8 mi | 10m |
| Capital Beltway (Local) | 5 mi | 6m |
| US 19 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Memorial Drive | 1.5 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 281.6 mi, about 5h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, VA and Castlewood, 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, Baltimore
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 South, I 495 West
Use 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 right at fork onto I 495
0.7 mi
·
47 sec
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on I 495
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Capital Beltway
Exit 170A
Toward I 495 North: Tysons Corner
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 495
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 49B
Toward I 66 West: Vienna, Front Royal
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 66
64 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
I 66
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1A
Toward I 81 South: Roanoke
Use the straight lane.
17
Merge onto I 81
109 mi
·
1 hr 58 min
·
I 81
Toward I 81 South: Roanoke
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
117 mi
·
2 hr 9 min
·
I 81
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on I 77; I 81; US 52
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I 77; I 81; US 52
Use the straight lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 52
56 mi
·
59 min
·
I 81; US 52
Use the straight lane.
21
Take the exit onto US 58 ALT
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
US 58 ALT
Toward US 58 Alternate, VA 75: Abingdon, South Holston Dam
22
Turn right onto US 58 ALT; VA 75
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Cummings Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
23
At end of road, turn left onto Valley Street Northwest
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Valley Street Northwest
Use the left lane.
24
At end of road, turn right onto US 58 ALT
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Russell Road Northwest
Use the right lane.
25
Turn slight right onto US 19; US 58 ALT
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Porterfield Highway
26
Continue on US 19; US 58 ALT
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 19; US 58 ALT
27
Turn left onto US 58 ALT
12 mi
·
17 min
·
US Highway 58
Use the left lane.
28
Turn right onto SR 683
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Memorial Drive
29
Turn left onto SR 695
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Trout Farm Road
30
Continue on SR 615
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Red Oak Ridge Road
31
Turn slight right onto SR 750
201 ft
·
8 sec
·
Church Street
32
Arrive at destination
SR 750
Trip Plan
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 196.6 miles from Alexandria, VA, or about 3h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 281.6 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 87 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 196.6 miles or 3h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Castlewood, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alexandria, VA
This is one driving day of about 393.3 miles and 7h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Alexandria, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 281.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 196.6 mi from Alexandria, VA · 3h 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
197 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 87 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 196.6 miles from Alexandria, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 281.6 miles.
Arriving in Castlewood, VA
The final approach into Castlewood, 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 Castlewood, VA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.50 one way
$123.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
138 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $67.25 | $134.50 |
| premium | $4.70 | $72.79 | $145.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $86.84 | $173.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 137.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
5 DC fast chargers · Coverage: fair
Tesla Supercharger
Strasburg, Virginia
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Lexington, Virginia
Tesla
1 DCFC
Electrify America Charging Station
Fincastle, Virginia
Electrify America
1 DCFC
EvGateway Charging Station
Lexington, Virginia
Other
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Strasburg, Virginia
Blink
1 DCFC
Tesla: 2
Electrify America: 1
Other: 1
Blink: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 118 | 1 | $41.30 | $18.88 |
| Efficient EV | 98.3 | 1 | $34.41 | $15.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 157.3 | 1 | $55.06 | $25.17 |
Gas CO2
138 kg
EV CO2
46 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.
Destination
Castlewood, VA
Afternoon in Castlewood on Thursday
Local time
3:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°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
30 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
7h 33m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alexandria, VA to Castlewood, VA covers 393.3 miles and takes about 7h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, I 66, US Highway 58. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 196.6 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 $61.50 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 393.3 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 15.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Alexandria, VA to Castlewood, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Holston Dam along the way.
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