Trip from Arlington, VA to Colonial Heights, VA

Drive Time

2h 34m

Distance

125.3 mi

202 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min

4 AM

2h 24m ★

6 AM

2h 35m

8 AM

2h 56m

10 AM

2h 42m

12 PM

2h 40m

3 PM

2h 43m

5 PM

2h 54m

8 PM

2h 29m

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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Arlington, VA

Dominik Gryzbon

Colonial Heights, VA

Pavan Sai .D

Trip Overview

Traveling from Arlington to Colonial Heights is a straightforward 125.3-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 34 minutes. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major corridors, including the Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway and the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. Because the entire trip stays within the Southeast region of Virginia, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You should budget approximately $20 for fuel to complete this highway-focused drive. Whether you are heading south for business or a weekend getaway, this route offers a practical connection between Northern Virginia and the Tri-Cities area.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

62.6 miles from Arlington, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a classic interstate experience, as this route is heavily defined by its 62% highway share. You will spend your time navigating high-speed lanes, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 58.4 miles along I-95. The road maintains a consistent, utilitarian personality, prioritizing efficiency over scenic detours. While the transition from the busy D.C. metro corridor toward the Richmond area keeps the traffic flow steady, the drive remains predictable and well-marked. Prepare for a focused, fast-paced stint behind the wheel rather than a leisurely backroads cruise.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 58.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 125.3 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 3.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.7 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3.3 mi into trip | ~8m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 395 South: Richmond, Quaker Lane

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none lane. Toward I 395 South: Richmond, Quaker Lane

3.4 mi into trip | ~9m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 395 South: Richmond

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 395 South: Richmond

45.7 mi into trip | ~59m in | I 95

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

104.1 mi into trip | ~2h 5m in | I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

121.4 mi into trip | ~2h 27m in

Take the exit toward SR 620 West: Woods Edge Road

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 58B Toward SR 620 West: Woods Edge Road

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 95	58.4 mi	1h 5m
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway	42.2 mi	50m
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike	17.3 mi	21m
North Glebe Road	2.4 mi	6m
Route 1	1.6 mi	2m
Boulevard	0.8 mi	1m
Woods Edge Road	0.8 mi	1m
North Oakland Street	0.4 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 95 — 58.4 mi, about 1h 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, VA and Colonial Heights, VA.

Start on Wilson Boulevard

90 ft · 8 sec · Wilson Boulevard

Turn right onto North Oakland Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Oakland Street

Turn right onto North Pershing Drive

0.1 mi · 28 sec · North Pershing Drive

Turn left onto VA 120

2.4 mi · 6 min · North Glebe Road

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Toward I 395 South: Richmond

Keep slight left at fork

315 ft · 7 sec

Toward I 395 South: Richmond, Quaker Lane Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Toward I 395 South: Richmond Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 395

5.8 mi · 7 min · Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 395

36 mi · 43 min · Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

Exit 1A Toward I 95 South: Richmond Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95

58 mi · 1 hr 5 min · I 95

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95

17 mi · 21 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Exit 58B Toward SR 620 West: Woods Edge Road Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto SR 620

0.8 mi · 1 min · Woods Edge Road

Turn left onto US 1; US 301

1.6 mi · 2 min · Route 1

Use the left / none lanes.

Continue on US 1; US 301; VA 144

0.8 mi · 1 min · Boulevard

Use the none / right lanes.

Turn left onto East Ellerslie Avenue

0.3 mi · 37 sec · East Ellerslie Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn right

257 ft · 18 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though planning for one well-timed stop is recommended to break up the drive. Keep in mind that the heavy reliance on I-95 means traffic patterns can fluctuate significantly, so check real-time conditions before you head out. With a $20 fuel estimate, it is wise to fill up before leaving Arlington to avoid premium interstate pricing. A helpful tip for this specific corridor is to anticipate the transition onto the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, as navigating these toll-managed sections requires staying alert for lane shifts. Staying mindful of these transit transitions will help you maintain a smooth pace from start to finish.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 62.6 miles from Arlington, VA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.4 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 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 62.6 miles or 1h 18m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 3m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colonial Heights, VA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

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 125.3 miles and 2h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Arlington, 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 I 95 for about 58.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 62.6 mi from Arlington, VA · 1h 18m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Middletown, MD

63 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

Middletown, MD

Fuel and coffee

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

Middletown, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 62.6 miles from Arlington, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Colonial Heights, VA

The final approach into Colonial Heights, 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 Colonial Heights, VA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.05 one way

$40.11 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 44 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$21.85	$43.70
premium	$4.78	$23.57	$47.14
diesel	$5.64	$27.84	$55.67

Estimated Tolls: $1.21

Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike (17.3 mi) $1.21

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

$20

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 43.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	37.6	$13.16	$6.01
Efficient EV	31.3	$10.96	$5.01
EV Truck/SUV	50.1	$17.54	$8.02

Gas CO2

44 kg

EV CO2

15 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Arlington, VA

Afternoon in Arlington on Sunday

Local time

3:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Colonial Heights, VA

Afternoon in Colonial Heights on Sunday

Local time

3:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

86°F

Middletown, MD

63 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

1 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 34m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Arlington, VA to Colonial Heights, VA covers 125.3 miles and takes about 2h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 95, Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway, Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 62.6 miles from Arlington, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.05 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The route from Arlington, VA to Colonial Heights, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Colonial Heights, VA to Arlington, VA

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126.8 mi 2h 34m

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Trip from Arlington, VA to Colonial Heights, VA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Colonial Heights, VA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Arlington, VA

Colonial Heights, VA

Same local time

1 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 34m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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