Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
59.6 mi
96 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, VA
Dominik Gryzbon
Apple Mountain Lake, VA
Tom Fisk
The drive from Arlington, VA to Apple Mountain Lake, VA covers 59.6 miles and takes about 1h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Custis Memorial Parkway, Wilson Boulevard, McIntosh Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57.3 miles on Custis Memorial Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.32 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 59.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 1h 14m highway drive covering 59.6 miles, with most of the trip on Custis Memorial Parkway and Wilson Boulevard. The longest continuous stretch is about 57.3 miles on Custis Memorial Parkway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Custis Memorial Parkway and Wilson Boulevard. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Fairfax Drive.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.6 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.7 miles (Fairfax Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (I 66 / Custis Memorial Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto Fairfax Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 66 / Custis Memorial Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward VA 79: Linden, Front Royal
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto Apple Mountain Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Northern Spy Drive
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Custis Memorial Parkway | 57.3 mi | 1h 6m |
| Wilson Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| McIntosh Drive | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Northern Spy Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Glebe Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Fairfax Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Apple Mountain Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Granny Smith Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, VA and Apple Mountain Lake, VA.
Start on Wilson Boulevard
Turn slight right onto VA 120
Turn left onto Fairfax Drive
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 66
Keep slight left at fork onto I 66
Take the exit
Turn right onto Apple Mountain Road
Continue on McIntosh Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Granny Smith Road
Turn right onto Northern Spy Drive
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29.8 mi from Arlington, VA · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 29.8 miles from Arlington, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Apple Mountain Lake, VA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$9.32 one way
$18.64 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.19 | $20.38 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.03 | $22.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.16 | $26.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.26 | $2.86 |
| Efficient EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.22 | $2.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.34 | $3.81 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Arlington on Friday
Local time
1:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Apple Mountain Lake on Friday
Local time
1:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
78°F
Gainesville, VA
30 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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