Drive Time
29m
Distance
15.2 mi
24 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
Photo: Никита Кригер
The drive from Alexandria, VA to McLean, VA covers 15.2 miles and takes about 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on George Washington Memorial Parkway, Dolley Madison Boulevard, South Washington Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 11.3 miles on George Washington Memorial Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.43 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
7.6 miles from Alexandria, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
This is a 29m highway drive covering 15.2 miles, with most of the trip on George Washington Memorial Parkway and Dolley Madison Boulevard. The longest continuous stretch is about 11.3 miles on George Washington Memorial Parkway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on George Washington Memorial Parkway and Dolley Madison Boulevard. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 8 miles in near GWMP / George Washington Memorial Parkway.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 15.2 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles (GWMP / George Washington Memorial Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.2 miles (VA 123 / Dolley Madison Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight right at fork onto GWMP / George Washington Memorial Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward VA 123: Chain Bridge, McLean
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto VA 123 / Dolley Madison Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto SR 3547 / Chain Bridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Turn sharp right onto Elm Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| George Washington Memorial Parkway | 11.3 mi | 20m |
| Dolley Madison Boulevard | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| South Washington Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Chain Bridge Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Elm Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, VA and McLean, VA.
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 15.2 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 7.6 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near McLean, 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 15.2 miles and 29m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 7.6 mi from Alexandria, VA · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 15.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 7.6 miles from Alexandria, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into McLean, 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 McLean, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$2.43 one way
$4.87 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $2.65 | $5.30 |
| premium | $4.78 | $2.86 | $5.72 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.38 | $6.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.60 | $0.73 |
| Efficient EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.33 | $0.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.13 | $0.97 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Afternoon in Alexandria on Saturday
Local time
4:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in McLean on Saturday
Local time
4:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
68°F
Washington, DC
8 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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