Drive Time
4h 24m
Distance
198.4 mi
319 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
Photo: Mikkel Kvist
The drive from Arlington, VA to Altavista, VA covers 198.4 miles and takes about 4h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Glebe Road, Fairfax Drive, I 66 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.75 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
99.2 miles from Arlington, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 12m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 24m drive with frequent turns across 198.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 24m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Arlington, VA to Altavista, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Glebe Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Fairfax Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 66 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Custis Memorial Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 29 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lee Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 15 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Eastern Bypass | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, VA and Altavista, VA.
Start on Wilson Boulevard
Turn slight right onto North Glebe Road
Turn left onto Fairfax Drive
Continue on I 66 Toll West
Merge slight left onto Custis Memorial Parkway
Keep slight left to continue on Custis Memorial Parkway
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
Keep slight left to continue on US 15 South, US 29 South
Merge slight right onto Eastern Bypass
Continue on James Madison Highway
Keep slight left to continue on James Madison Highway
Continue on James Monroe Highway
Continue on North Seminole Trail
Continue on Emmet Street North
Take the exit slight right toward US 29 South, US 250 West
Keep slight right to continue on US 29 South, US 460 West: Lynchburg, Danville
Merge slight left onto Richmond Highway
Take the exit slight right toward US 29 South
Merge slight left onto Wards Road
Take the exit slight right toward US 29 Business South
Turn left onto Main Street
Turn right onto 7th Street
Turn left onto Franklin Avenue
Turn left onto Main Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.2 miles or 2h 12m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altavista, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Arlington, 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 Arlington, VA
This is one driving day of about 198.4 miles and 4h 24m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 99.2 mi from Arlington, VA · 2h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
99 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 99.2 miles from Arlington, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Altavista, 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 Altavista, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$31.75 one way
$63.50 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $34.60 | $69.19 |
| premium | $4.78 | $37.32 | $74.64 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $44.08 | $88.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.5 | 0 | $20.83 | $9.52 |
| Efficient EV | 49.6 | 0 | $17.36 | $7.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.4 | 0 | $27.78 | $12.70 |
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
2:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Altavista on Sunday
Local time
2:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
65°F
Poolesville, MD
99 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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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