The drive from Arlington, VA to Harrisonburg, VA covers 126.6 miles and takes about 2h 26m 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, I 81, East Market Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 70.4 miles on Custis Memorial Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.80 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.
Midpoint
63.3 miles from Arlington, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 126.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 26m highway drive covering 126.6 miles, with most of the trip on Custis Memorial Parkway and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 70.4 miles on Custis Memorial Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Custis Memorial Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 70.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Custis Memorial Parkway and I 81. 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.
Driving Effort6/10
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 126.6 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 71.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|Fairfax Drive
Turn left onto Fairfax Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
4.6 mi into trip|~8m in|I 66 / Custis Memorial Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 66 / Custis Memorial Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
71.7 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 81 South: Roanoke
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 1A
Toward I 81 South: Roanoke
4
72.3 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|I 81
Merge onto I 81 toward I 81 South: Roanoke
Merge point - match speed before joining
Toward I 81 South: Roanoke
5
126.6 mi into trip|~2h 26m in|US 11; US 33 / North Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; US 33 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Custis Memorial Parkway
70.4 mi
1h 20m
I 81
52.5 mi
56m
East Market Street
1.5 mi
3m
Wilson Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
North Glebe Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Fairfax Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
North Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Custis Memorial Parkway
— 70.4 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, VA and Harrisonburg, VA.
1
Start on Wilson Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Wilson Boulevard
2
Turn slight right onto VA 120
0.2 mi·30 sec·North Glebe Road
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto Fairfax Drive
0.1 mi·27 sec·Fairfax Drive
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·1 min·this road
Toward I 66 Toll West
5
Merge onto I 66
3.3 mi·4 min·Custis Memorial Parkway
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 66
67 mi·1 hr 16 min·Custis Memorial Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 1AToward I 81 South: RoanokeUse the straight lane.
8
Merge onto I 81
53 mi·56 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: Roanoke
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 33 West: Harrisonburg
10
Turn straight onto US 33
1.5 mi·3 min·East Market Street
11
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; US 33
49 ft·1 sec·North Main Street
12
Arrive at destination
US 11; US 33
Trip Plan
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 63.3 miles from Arlington, VA, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.4 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 28 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.3 miles or 1h 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 2h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harrisonburg, 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 126.6 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Arlington, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Custis Memorial Parkway for about 70.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 63.3 mi from Arlington, VA
· 1h 15m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley has a long and rich heritage that still inspires today. Native Americans first shaped the land, followed by colonists and settlers. The fertile valley became an important...
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...
15 mi from route
~39 min detour
$30
near mile 109.1
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 17.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.80 one way
$39.59 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$21.65
$43.29
premium
$4.70
$23.43
$46.86
diesel
$5.61
$27.95
$55.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38
0
$13.29
$6.08
Efficient EV
31.7
0
$11.08
$5.06
EV Truck/SUV
50.6
0
$17.72
$8.10
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 as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Arlington, VA
Late night
in Arlington on Saturday
Local time
5:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Harrisonburg, VA
Late night
in Harrisonburg on Saturday
Local time
5:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Petersburg, VA
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
13 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
2h 26m 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 Harrisonburg, VA covers 126.6 miles and takes about 2h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Custis Memorial Parkway, I 81, East Market Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 63.3 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 $19.80 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 126.6 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.
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 71.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Arlington, VA to Harrisonburg, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park, Shenandoah National Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.
How this page is built
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.
