Trip from Bellwood, VA to Arlington, VA

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

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

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 57.8 miles from Bellwood, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.08 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

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

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

2h 19m

Distance

115.6 mi

186 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min

4 AM

2h 10m ★

6 AM

2h 20m

8 AM

2h 39m

10 AM

2h 27m

12 PM

2h 25m

3 PM

2h 28m

5 PM

2h 38m

8 PM

2h 14m

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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Bellwood, VA

Francesco Ungaro

Arlington, VA

Dominik Gryzbon

Trip Overview

The drive from Bellwood, VA to Arlington, VA covers 115.6 miles and takes about 2h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, I 95, Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 63.3 miles on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.08 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

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

57.8 miles from Bellwood, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 2h 19m highway drive covering 115.6 miles, with most of the trip on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 63.3 miles on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike.

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

There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 63.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 115.6 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 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.8 miles (I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

1.7 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the exit toward I 95: Richmond, Petersburg

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 95: Richmond, Petersburg

2.1 mi into trip | ~3m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Richmond

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 95 North: Richmond

103.8 mi into trip | ~2h 1m in | I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway toward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Tysons Corner

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

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Exit 170A; 170B Toward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Ty...

112.5 mi into trip | ~2h 12m in

Take the exit toward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 8A Toward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pi...

112.9 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in

Keep slight left at fork toward VA 27 West: Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike

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

Use the slight left lane. Toward VA 27 West: Joint Base Myer-Henderson Ha...

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 Bellwood, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Tysons Corner along the way.

Tysons Corner

103.8 mi in | ~2h 1m | via I 395

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike	63.3 mi	1h 12m
I 95	36.6 mi	43m
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway	8.7 mi	10m
Washington Boulevard	1.8 mi	3m
Route 1	1.4 mi	2m
Wilson Boulevard	0.4 mi	1m
10th Street North	0.3 mi	1m
Pocahontas Parkway	0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike — 63.3 mi, about 1h 12m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on US 1; US 301

1.4 mi · 2 min · Route 1

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec

Toward VA 150 South

Merge onto VA 150

0.1 mi · 8 sec · Pocahontas Parkway

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 39 sec

Toward I 95: Richmond, Petersburg Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min

Toward I 95 North: Richmond Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 95

11 mi · 13 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95

53 mi · 58 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; US 17

1.6 mi · 1 min · I 95; US 17

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min

Merge onto I 95

35 mi · 41 min · I 95

Use the slight left lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 395

0.6 mi · 52 sec · Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

Exit 170A; 170B Toward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Tysons Corner Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Continue on I 395

8.1 mi · 9 min · Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

Exit 170A Toward I 395 North: Washington Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Exit 8A Toward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 45 sec

Toward VA 27 West: Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto VA 27

1.8 mi · 3 min · Washington Boulevard

Toward Columbia Pike Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto VA 237

0.3 mi · 1 min · 10th Street North

Turn slight left

137 ft · 8 sec

Turn left onto Wilson Boulevard

0.4 mi · 1 min · Wilson Boulevard

Arrive at destination

Wilson Boulevard

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 57.8 miles from Bellwood, VA, or about 1h 8m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.3 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 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 57.8 miles or 1h 8m 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 51m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Bellwood, 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 Bellwood, VA

This is one driving day of about 115.6 miles and 2h 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bellwood, VA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike for about 63.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 57.8 mi from Bellwood, VA · 1h 8m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

La Plata, MD

58 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

La Plata, 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 57.8 miles from Bellwood, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.3 miles.

Arriving in Arlington, VA

The final approach into Arlington, 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 Arlington, 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

$18.08 one way

$36.15 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$19.77	$39.53
premium	$4.70	$21.40	$42.79
diesel	$5.61	$25.52	$51.05

Estimated Tolls: $4.43

Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike (63.3 mi) $4.43

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

$18

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	34.7	$12.14	$5.55
Efficient EV	28.9	$10.11	$4.62
EV Truck/SUV	46.2	$16.18	$7.40

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

14 kg (65% 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 2 days ago

Origin

Bellwood, VA

Morning in Bellwood on Wednesday

Local time

7:31 AM

EDT

Current temp

87°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arlington, VA

Morning in Arlington on Wednesday

Local time

7:31 AM

EDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

62°F

La Plata, MD

58 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

9 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 19m 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 Bellwood, VA to Arlington, VA covers 115.6 miles and takes about 2h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

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

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 57.8 miles from Bellwood, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.08 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.