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Trip from Arlington, VA to Laurel, VA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

2h 2m

Distance

100 mi

161 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 53m ★
6 AM
2h 2m
8 AM
2h 20m
10 AM
2h 8m
12 PM
2h 7m
3 PM
2h 9m
5 PM
2h 19m
8 PM
1h 57m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Arlington, VA, VA

Arlington, VA

Dominik Gryzbon

Downtown Laurel, VA, VA

Laurel, VA

Wyxina Tresse

Trip Overview

The drive from Arlington, VA to Laurel, VA covers 100 miles and takes about 2h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 95, Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway, North Glebe Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 50.8 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.64 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

50 miles from Arlington, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 100 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

The drive from Arlington, VA to Laurel, VA covers 100 miles and takes about 2h 2m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 16 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 50.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 100 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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles (I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

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

6
3.3 mi into trip | ~8m in

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

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 395 South: Richmond, Quaker Lane
8
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
5
3.5 mi into trip | ~9m in | I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

Merge onto I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
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 straight lane.
7
96.5 mi into trip | ~1h 55m in

Take the exit toward VA 73 West: Parham Road

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 83B Toward VA 73 West: Parham Road

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 50.8 mi 55m
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway 42.2 mi 50m
North Glebe Road 2.4 mi 6m
East Parham Road 2.1 mi 3m
Hungary Road 0.8 mi 1m
North Oakland Street 0.4 mi 1m
Woodman Road 0.3 mi <1m
North Pershing Drive 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 50.8 mi, about 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Wilson Boulevard

90 ft · 8 sec · Wilson Boulevard
2

Turn right onto North Oakland Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Oakland Street
3

Turn right onto North Pershing Drive

0.1 mi · 28 sec · North Pershing Drive
4

Turn left onto VA 120

2.4 mi · 6 min · North Glebe Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 395 South: Richmond
6

Keep slight left at fork

315 ft · 7 sec
Toward I 395 South: Richmond, Quaker Lane
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Toward I 395 South: Richmond Use the slight left lane.
8

Merge onto I 395

5.8 mi · 7 min · Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

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.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95

51 mi · 55 min · I 95
Use the straight lane.
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Exit 83B Toward VA 73 West: Parham Road Use the slight right lane.
12

Turn straight onto VA 73

2.1 mi · 3 min · East Parham Road
13

Turn right onto Woodman Road

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Woodman Road
14

Turn left onto Hungary Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Hungary Road
15

Turn left onto Old Staples Mill Road

91 ft · 2 sec · Old Staples Mill Road
16

Arrive at destination

Old Staples Mill Road

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 50 miles from Arlington, VA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.8 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 22 miles or 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 50 miles or 1h 4m 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 39m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laurel, 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 100 miles and 2h 2m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Arlington, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 50.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 50 mi from Arlington, VA · 1h 4m into the drive

census designated place in Stafford County, Virginia, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Aquia Harbour, VA

50 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

Woodbridge, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fredericksburg, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 50 miles from Arlington, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Laurel, VA

The final approach into Laurel, 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 Laurel, 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

$15.64 one way

$31.28 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $17.10 $34.20
premium $4.70 $18.51 $37.02
diesel $5.61 $22.08 $44.16

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: 35 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30 0 $10.50 $4.80
Efficient EV 25 0 $8.75 $4.00
EV Truck/SUV 40 0 $14.00 $6.40

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 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 15, 2026

Origin

Arlington, VA

Night in Arlington on Thursday

Local time

9:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Laurel, VA

Night in Laurel on Thursday

Local time

9:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

28 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 2m 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 Laurel, VA covers 100 miles and takes about 2h 2m 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, North Glebe Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50 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 $15.64 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 100 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 3.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles (I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Arlington, VA to Laurel, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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