Origin
Bowling Green, VA
Morning in Bowling Green on Friday
Local time
11:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bowling Green, VA to Arlington, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 38m
Distance
75.2 mi
121 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 31m
★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 53m
10 AM
1h 44m
12 PM
1h 42m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 52m
8 PM
1h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bowling Green, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, VA
Dominik Gryzbon
Trip Overview
The drive from Bowling Green, VA to Arlington, VA covers 75.2 miles and takes about 1h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, Fredericksburg Turnpike, Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.6 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.76 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
37.6 miles from Bowling Green, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 75.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 38m highway drive covering 75.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and Fredericksburg Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch is about 36.6 miles on I 95.
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.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 36.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Fredericksburg Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20.3 miles in near US 17.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 20.3 miles (US 17): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.3 miles (I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.1 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 pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
20.3 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
US 17
Take the exit onto US 17 toward I 95 North, US 17 North: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 95 North, US 17 North: Washington
9
63.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m 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...
8
72.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m 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...
8
72.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m 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...
6
72.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
VA 27 / Washington Boulevard
Merge onto VA 27 / Washington Boulevard toward Columbia Pike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Columbia Pike
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 Bowling Green, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Tysons Corner along the way.
Tysons Corner
63.3 mi in
|
~1h 20m
|
via I 395
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 36.6 mi | 43m |
| Fredericksburg Turnpike | 11.4 mi | 15m |
| Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway | 8.7 mi | 10m |
| Mills Drive | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| US 17 | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| Washington Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Sandy Lane Drive | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Patriot Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 36.6 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bowling Green, VA and Arlington, VA.
1
Start on US 301 BUS; VA 2
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
2
Continue on VA 2
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Fredericksburg Turnpike
3
Continue on VA 2
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Sandy Lane Drive
4
Turn sharp left onto US 17
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Mills Drive
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Mills Drive
6
Merge onto US 1; US 17
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Patriot Highway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 17
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
US 17
Toward I 95 North, US 17 North: Washington
Use the left lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; US 17
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95; US 17
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
10
Merge onto I 95
35 mi
·
41 min
·
I 95
Use the slight left lane.
11
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.
12
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.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 8A
Toward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike
Use the slight right lane.
14
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.
15
Merge onto VA 27
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Boulevard
Toward Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto VA 237
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
10th Street North
17
Turn slight left
137 ft
·
8 sec
18
Turn left onto Wilson Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Wilson Boulevard
19
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 37.6 miles from Bowling Green, VA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.6 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.6 miles or 49m 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 21m
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 Bowling Green, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bowling Green, VA
This is one driving day of about 75.2 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Bowling Green, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 36.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.6 mi from Bowling Green, VA · 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.6 miles from Bowling Green, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.76 one way
$23.52 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.86 | $25.72 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.92 | $27.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.60 | $33.21 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.80
Fredericksburg Turnpike
(11.4 mi)
$0.80
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
$12
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.90 | $3.61 |
| Efficient EV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.58 | $3.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.1 | 0 | $10.53 | $4.81 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Arlington, VA
Morning in Arlington on Friday
Local time
11:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
3 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
1h 38m 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 Bowling Green, VA to Arlington, VA covers 75.2 miles and takes about 1h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Fredericksburg Turnpike, 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 37.6 miles from Bowling Green, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.76 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 75.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 20.3 miles (US 17): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.3 miles (I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Bowling Green, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Tysons Corner along the way.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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