The drive from Arlington, VA to Wattsville, VA covers 162.7 miles and takes about 3h 45m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ocean Highway, John Hanson Highway, Blue Star Memorial Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 26.5 miles on Ocean Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.44 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
81.3 miles from Arlington, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 45m drive with frequent turns across 162.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 48 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ocean Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 26.5 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 1.1 miles in.
Route Complexity10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 162.7 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 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 66): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 26 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in
At end of road, turn left toward US 50 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 50 East
6
3 mi into trip|~6m in|I 66
Take the exit onto I 66 toward I 66 East: E Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 66 East: E Street
8
3.2 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward E Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward E Street
6
4 mi into trip|~8m in|17th Street Northwest
At end of road, turn left onto 17th Street Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
10.5 mi into trip|~21m in|US 50 / John Hanson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50 / John Hanson Highway toward US 50 East: Annapolis, Richmond, Alexandria, Blandensburg
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 50 East: Annapolis, Richmond, Alexand...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Arlington, VA and Wattsville, VA, road signs point toward Richmond, Alexandria, Blandensburg, Rehoboth and Ocean City.
Richmond
10.5 mi in|~21m|via US 50
Alexandria
10.5 mi in|~21m|via US 50
Blandensburg
10.5 mi in|~21m|via US 50
Rehoboth
56.3 mi in|~1h 19m|via US 50
Ocean City
117.7 mi in|~2h 45m|via US 13
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ocean Highway
26.5 mi
36m
John Hanson Highway
24.3 mi
28m
Blue Star Memorial Highway
21.6 mi
30m
Sussex Highway
18.9 mi
25m
Shore Highway
13.5 mi
18m
Salisbury Bypass
10.6 mi
12m
Seashore Highway
7.5 mi
9m
US 50
6.9 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Ocean Highway
— 26.5 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, VA and Wattsville, VA.
1
Start on Wilson Boulevard
0.4 mi·1 min·Wilson Boulevard
2
Turn straight
207 ft·9 sec
3
Turn straight onto VA 237
0.7 mi·2 min·10th Street North
4
At end of road, turn left
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 50 EastUse the left lane.
5
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·13 sec·this road
Toward US 50 East: WashingtonUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto US 50
1.1 mi·1 min·Arlington Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 50
0.5 mi·50 sec·Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge
8
Take the exit onto I 66
0.1 mi·18 sec·I 66
Toward I 66 East: E StreetUse the slight left lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward E StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on E Street Expressway
0.3 mi·23 sec·E Street Expressway
11
Continue on E Street Northwest
0.3 mi·37 sec·E Street Northwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
At end of road, turn left onto 17th Street Northwest
0.3 mi·41 sec·17th Street Northwest
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto H Street Northwest
0.4 mi·58 sec·H Street Northwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto H Street Northwest
277 ft·7 sec·H Street Northwest
15
Turn left onto New York Avenue Northwest
0.4 mi·46 sec·New York Avenue Northwest
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on K Street Northwest
0.1 mi·17 sec·K Street Northwest
17
Turn left onto 7th Street Northwest
155 ft·6 sec·7th Street Northwest
18
Turn right onto K Street Northwest
0.7 mi·1 min·K Street Northwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on K Street Northeast
0.6 mi·1 min·K Street Northeast
20
Turn left onto 6th Street Northeast
0.5 mi·1 min·6th Street Northeast
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on Brentwood Parkway Northeast
0.3 mi·28 sec·Brentwood Parkway Northeast
22
Turn right onto Mount Olivet Road Northeast
363 ft·8 sec·Mount Olivet Road Northeast
Use the right lane.
23
Turn left
500 ft·16 sec
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto US 50; US 1 Alternate
2.8 mi·4 min·New York Avenue Northeast
Use the right lane.
25
Continue on US 50
0.2 mi·10 sec·John Hanson Highway
26
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50
24 mi·28 min·John Hanson Highway
Toward US 50 East: Annapolis, Richmond, Alexandria, BlandensburgUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on US 50; US 301; MD 2
22 mi·30 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50
6.9 mi·9 min·US 50
Toward US 50 East: Ocean City, Rehoboth
29
Turn left onto MD 404
6.2 mi·8 min·Queen Anne Highway
Use the left lane.
30
Continue on Shore Highway
5.3 mi·7 min·Shore Highway
Use the left lane.
31
Take the exit onto MD 404 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·MD 404 Business
32
Turn slight right onto MD 404 Business
0.4 mi·50 sec·Franklin Street
33
Turn right onto South 5th Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·South 5th Avenue
34
Turn left onto Legion Road
282 ft·7 sec·Legion Road
35
Turn right onto MD 313; MD 404
8.1 mi·11 min·Shore Highway
36
Continue on DE 404
7.5 mi·9 min·Seashore Highway
37
At end of road, turn left onto DE 404 Business
0.4 mi·46 sec·Market Street
38
At end of road, turn right onto US 13 Business; DE 404 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·South Main Street
39
Turn right onto US 13
19 mi·25 min·Sussex Highway
40
Continue on US 13
3.8 mi·5 min·North Salisbury Boulevard
41
Take the exit onto US 13
270 ft·6 sec·US 13
Toward US 13, US 50
42
Keep slight left at fork onto US 13
0.8 mi·1 min·US 13
Toward US 13, US 50 East: Norfolk, Ocean City
43
Merge onto US 13; US 50
11 mi·12 min·Salisbury Bypass
44
Continue on US 13
0.6 mi·40 sec·South Fruitland Boulevard
45
Continue on US 13
26 mi·36 min·Ocean Highway
46
Continue on US 13
4.1 mi·6 min·Lankford Highway
47
Turn left onto VA 175
2.4 mi·3 min·Chincoteague Road
48
Arrive at destination
VA 175
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 81.3 miles from Arlington, VA, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.5 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 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.3 miles or 1h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wattsville, 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 162.7 miles and 3h 45m.
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 Ocean Highway for about 26.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 81.3 mi from Arlington, VA
· 1h 56m into the drive
The midpoint is around 81.3 miles from Arlington, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Wattsville, VA
The final approach into Wattsville, 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 Wattsville, 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.
Assateague Island National Seashore
National Seashore
Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime for...
16 mi from route
~41 min detour
$25
near mile 162.7
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
$25.44 one way
$50.89 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$27.82
$55.64
premium
$4.70
$30.11
$60.22
diesel
$5.61
$35.92
$71.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.8
0
$17.08
$7.81
Efficient EV
40.7
0
$14.24
$6.51
EV Truck/SUV
65.1
0
$22.78
$10.41
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 data refreshed 1 day ago
Origin
Arlington, VA
Night
in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
10:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wattsville, VA
Night
in Wattsville on Tuesday
Local time
10:07 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
2 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
3h 45m 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 Wattsville, VA covers 162.7 miles and takes about 3h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ocean Highway, John Hanson Highway, Blue Star Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 81.3 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 $25.44 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 162.7 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 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 66): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Arlington, VA and Wattsville, VA, road signs point toward Richmond, Alexandria, Blandensburg, Rehoboth and Ocean City.
