This 104.1-mile drive from Arlington, VA, to Hollymead, VA, will take you about 2 hours and 21 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, it's an economical day trip. The route primarily utilizes North Seminole Trail, Custis Memorial Parkway, and James Madison Highway, offering a blend of road types. Given its manageable distance and duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region for the entirety of this journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.1 miles from Arlington, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 21m. Total distance: 104.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 104.1-mile journey. Only 27% of the route is on highways, meaning you'll encounter more traffic lights and local intersections than open-road cruising. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 29.1 miles along North Seminole Trail. As you progress, the road character will shift between faster highway sections and more deliberate local road segments, requiring your attention throughout the 2 hours and 21 minutes of travel time.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Seminole Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 29.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Fairfax Drive.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 104.1 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 0.7 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 28.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 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
28.8 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
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.
Exit 43A
Toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
8
29.6 mi into trip|~39m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
6
40.3 mi into trip|~55m in|US 15; US 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29 toward US 15 South, US 29 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 15 South, US 29 South
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 Arlington, VA to Hollymead, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Warrenton along the way.
Warrenton
28.8 mi in|~38m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Seminole Trail
29.1 mi
39m
Custis Memorial Parkway
27.5 mi
34m
James Madison Highway
23.3 mi
30m
Lee Highway
10.6 mi
15m
James Monroe Highway
7.8 mi
9m
Eastern Bypass
2.6 mi
3m
Wilson Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
US 15
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
North Seminole Trail
— 29.1 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, VA and Hollymead, 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
24 mi·29 min·Custis Memorial Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 43AToward US 29 South: Gainesville, WarrentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 29 South: Gainesville, WarrentonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 29
11 mi·15 min·Lee Highway
Use the left lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29
0.5 mi·44 sec·US 15; US 29
Toward US 15 South, US 29 South
11
Merge onto US 15; US 17; US 29
2.6 mi·3 min·Eastern Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 15; US 17; US 29
5.1 mi·7 min·James Madison Highway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29
18 mi·23 min·James Madison Highway
14
Continue on US 29
7.8 mi·9 min·James Monroe Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 29
29 mi·39 min·North Seminole Trail
16
Turn left onto SR 1520
0.4 mi·1 min·Hollymead Drive
17
Turn left onto SR 1523
128 ft·5 sec·Goldentree Place
18
Arrive at destination
SR 1523
Trip Plan
For this 104.1-mile trip, consider an early morning departure to minimize traffic, especially as you begin on Custis Memorial Parkway. Since it's a single-day drive, you have flexibility with stops, but with a duration of 2 hours and 21 minutes, you won't need to plan for extensive breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $16, and plan your last fill-up before heading out or at a convenient point along the route. A specific tip for this drive is to be prepared for the frequent turns, as indicated by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile.
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 52.1 miles from Arlington, VA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.1 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 23 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.1 miles or 1h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hollymead, 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 104.1 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Arlington, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on North Seminole Trail for about 29.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.1 mi from Arlington, VA
· 1h 11m into the drive
The midpoint is around 52.1 miles from Arlington, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hollymead, VA
The final approach into Hollymead, 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 Hollymead, 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.
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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
$30
near mile 82.6
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!
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.28 one way
$32.56 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$17.80
$35.60
premium
$4.70
$19.27
$38.53
diesel
$5.61
$22.98
$45.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.2
0
$10.93
$5.00
Efficient EV
26
0
$9.11
$4.16
EV Truck/SUV
41.6
0
$14.57
$6.66
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Arlington, VA
Afternoon
in Arlington on Friday
Local time
2:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
94°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 3 to 14 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 9:43AM EDT until April 16 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 5:34AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Hollymead, VA
Afternoon
in Hollymead on Friday
Local time
2:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 7 to 14 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 9:43AM EDT until April 16 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 5:34AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
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 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 21m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Arlington, VA to Hollymead, VA covers 104.1 miles and takes about 2h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Seminole Trail, Custis Memorial Parkway, James Madison Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.1 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 $16.28 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 is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 104.1 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 0.7 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 28.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Arlington, VA to Hollymead, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Warrenton along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include 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.
