Drive Time
53m
Distance
39.6 mi
64 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
Photo: Eric Joseph
The drive from Alexandria, VA to Gainesville, VA covers 39.6 miles and takes about 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on King Street, South Saint Asaph Street, Duke Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.18 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
19.8 miles from Alexandria, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26m into the drive .
Expect a 53m drive with frequent turns across 39.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| King Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Saint Asaph Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Duke Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Washington Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Gibbon Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Patrick Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 95 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Capital Beltway (Local) | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, VA and Gainesville, VA.
Start on South Washington Street
Turn right onto King Street
Turn right onto South Saint Asaph Street
Turn right onto Duke Street
Turn left onto South Washington Street
Turn right onto Gibbon Street
Turn left onto South Patrick Street
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South, I 495 West, I 95 North, I 495 East: Richmond, Baltimore
Keep slight right to continue on I 95 South, I 495 West
Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway (Local)
Keep slight right to continue on Capital Beltway
Continue on Capital Beltway
Keep slight right to continue on Capital Beltway
Take the exit slight right toward I 66 West: Vienna, Front Royal
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
Keep slight left to continue on US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
Merge slight left onto Lee Highway
Turn right onto McGraws Corner Drive
Continue on McGraws Corner Drive
Turn left onto Lee Highway
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 39.6 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 19.8 miles or 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gainesville, VA than in the middle of the route.
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 39.6 miles and 53m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.8 mi from Alexandria, VA · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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.
A short stop after about 39.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 19.8 miles from Alexandria, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Gainesville, 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 Gainesville, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$6.18 one way
$12.35 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.91 | $13.81 |
| premium | $4.78 | $7.45 | $14.90 |
| diesel | $5.62 | $8.77 | $17.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.16 | $1.90 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.47 | $1.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.54 | $2.53 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Alexandria on Saturday
Local time
8:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Gainesville on Saturday
Local time
8:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
68°F
Washington, DC
20 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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