Drive Time
3h 49m
Distance
225.7 mi
363 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
The drive from Cape Charles, VA to Alexandria, VA covers 225.7 miles and takes about 3h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Strawberry Street, Mason Avenue, Randolph Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.20 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
112.9 miles from Cape Charles, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 54m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 49m drive with frequent turns across 225.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Strawberry Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Mason Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Randolph Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Stone Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lankford Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northampton Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 64 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Cape Charles, VA and Alexandria, VA.
Start on Park Row
Turn left onto Strawberry Street
At the end of the road, turn left onto Mason Avenue
Turn right onto Randolph Avenue
Continue on Stone Road
Turn right onto Lankford Highway
Merge slight left onto Lankford Highway
Continue on Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
Continue on Northampton Boulevard
Take the exit straight toward I 64 East, I 64 West: Downtown Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Richmond
Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West: Hampton, Richmond
Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway
Keep slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC
Keep slight right to continue on I 295 North: Washington
Merge slight left onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Take the exit slight left toward I 95 North: Washington
Merge slight right
Keep slight right
Keep slight left
Merge slight left
Keep slight left to continue on I 95 North, I 495 East: Baltimore
Keep slight right to continue on Capital Beltway (Local)
Take the exit slight right toward US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir
Keep slight left to continue on US 1 North: Alexandria
Merge slight left onto Richmond Highway
Continue on South Patrick Street
Turn right onto Franklin Street
Turn left onto South Washington Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.9 miles or 1h 54m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Cape Charles, 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 Cape Charles, VA
This is one driving day of about 225.7 miles and 3h 49m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 112.9 mi from Cape Charles, VA · 1h 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 112.9 miles from Cape Charles, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Alexandria, 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 Alexandria, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$35.20 one way
$70.39 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $39.36 | $78.71 |
| premium | $4.78 | $42.46 | $84.91 |
| diesel | $5.62 | $49.97 | $99.95 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.00
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
$35
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.7 | 0 | $23.70 | $10.83 |
| Efficient EV | 56.4 | 0 | $19.75 | $9.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.3 | 1 | $31.60 | $14.44 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Cape Charles on Saturday
Local time
8:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Alexandria on Saturday
Local time
8:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
88°F
Middletown, MD
113 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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