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Trip from Alexandria, VA to North Shore, VA

Data updated 4 hours ago

Drive Time

5h 6m

Distance

226.6 mi

365 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 53m ★
6 AM
5h 6m
8 AM
5h 33m
10 AM
5h 16m
12 PM
5h 13m
3 PM
5h 17m
5 PM
5h 32m
8 PM
4h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Alexandria, VA, VA

Alexandria, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown North Shore, VA, VA

North Shore, VA

Cyrill

Trip Overview

The drive from Alexandria, VA to North Shore, VA covers 226.6 miles and takes about 5h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 29, I 95, Constitution Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 59.9 miles on US 29. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.44 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

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

113.3 miles from Alexandria, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 38m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

The drive from Alexandria, VA to North Shore, VA covers 226.6 miles and takes about 5h 6m, 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 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 29 is the longest continuous segment at about 59.9 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.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 226.6 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 28 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.
6
43.8 mi into trip | ~55m in | I 95

Keep slight right at fork onto I 95

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
47.6 mi into trip | ~59m in

Take the exit toward VA 3 West: Culpeper

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 130B Toward VA 3 West: Culpeper

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 North Shore, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Danville along the way.

Danville

174 mi in | ~3h 52m | via US 29

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 29 59.9 mi 1h 13m
I 95 41 mi 48m
Constitution Highway 21.6 mi 30m
Moneta Road 15.9 mi 23m
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike 13.9 mi 18m
Richmond Highway 12.7 mi 15m
Plank Road 12.5 mi 18m
Gordonsville Road 8.2 mi 12m
Longest stretch: US 29 — 59.9 mi, about 1h 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, VA and North Shore, 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 left at fork onto I 95

37 mi · 43 min · I 95
Use the slight left lane.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 95

3.8 mi · 4 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Exit 130B Toward VA 3 West: Culpeper Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 15 sec
15

Merge onto VA 3

12 mi · 18 min · Plank Road
Use the left lane.
16

Take the exit

498 ft · 15 sec
17

Merge onto VA 20

22 mi · 30 min · Constitution Highway
18

Continue on VA 20

0.7 mi · 1 min · Berry Hill Road
19

Turn left onto US 15

0.3 mi · 47 sec · Caroline Street
20

Continue on US 15

7.9 mi · 11 min · James Madison Highway
21

Continue on US 15

0.2 mi · 20 sec · East Gordon Avenue
22

Enter roundabout onto VA 231

121 ft · 1 sec · West Gordon Avenue
23

Continue on VA 231

1.4 mi · 2 min · West Gordon Avenue
24

Continue on VA 231

8.2 mi · 12 min · Gordonsville Road
25

Continue on VA 22

5.3 mi · 9 min · Louisa Road
26

Turn straight onto US 250

2.1 mi · 3 min · Richmond Road
27

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 64 West
28

Merge onto I 64

6.0 mi · 6 min · I 64
29

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward US 29 South
30

Merge onto US 29

59 mi · 1 hr 12 min · US 29
31

Keep slight right at fork onto US 29

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 29
Toward US 29 South, US 460 West: Lynchburg, Danville
32

Merge onto US 29; US 460

13 mi · 15 min · Richmond Highway
33

Continue on US 460

14 mi · 18 min · East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
34

Take the exit onto VA 122

0.2 mi · 31 sec · VA 122
Toward VA 122 South, VA 122 Business North
35

Turn left onto VA 122

0.7 mi · 1 min · Burks Hill Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
36

Continue on VA 122

16 mi · 23 min · Moneta Road
37

Continue on VA 122

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Halesford Bridge
38

Continue on VA 122

3.4 mi · 5 min · Booker T Washington Highway
39

Turn left onto SR 616

4.8 mi · 6 min · Scruggs Road
40

Turn left onto SR 942

0.2 mi · 54 sec · Bluewater Drive
41

Arrive at destination

SR 942

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 113.3 miles from Alexandria, VA, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.9 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 80 miles or 1h 47m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 113.3 miles or 2h 38m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 7m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Shore, 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 226.6 miles and 5h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 US 29 for about 59.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 113.3 mi from Alexandria, VA · 2h 38m into the drive

Downtown Poolesville, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Poolesville, MD

113 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

Poolesville, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Poolesville, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 113.3 miles from Alexandria, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in North Shore, VA

The final approach into North Shore, 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 North Shore, 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.

Booker T Washington National Monument

Booker T Washington National Monument

National Monument

Booker T. Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later...

3 mi from route ~9 min detour Free near mile 218.8
View on nps.gov
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

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...

16 mi from route ~39 min detour Free near mile 171.9
View on nps.gov
Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park

National Park

Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over...

27 mi from route ~67 min detour $30 near mile 85.9
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$35.44 one way

$70.87 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 79 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $38.75 $77.49
premium $4.70 $41.94 $83.88
diesel $5.61 $50.03 $100.06

Estimated Tolls: $0.97

East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike (13.9 mi) $0.97

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$61–$86

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 79.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 68 0 $23.79 $10.88
Efficient EV 56.7 0 $19.83 $9.06
EV Truck/SUV 90.6 1 $31.72 $14.50

Gas CO2

79 kg

EV CO2

27 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Alexandria, VA

Late night in Alexandria on Wednesday

Local time

12:30 AM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

North Shore, VA

Late night in North Shore on Wednesday

Local time

12:30 AM

EDT

Current temp

46°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

22 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

5h 6m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 North Shore, VA covers 226.6 miles and takes about 5h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 29, I 95, Constitution Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 113.3 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 $35.44 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 226.6 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 North Shore, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Danville along the way.

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