Origin
Charlottesville, VA
Afternoon in Charlottesville on Friday
Local time
12:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 31m
Distance
108.8 mi
175 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlottesville, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Annandale, VA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Charlottesville, VA to Annandale, VA covers 108.8 miles and takes about 2h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Seminole Trail, James Madison Highway, I 66 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33.9 miles on Seminole Trail. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.01 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
54.4 miles from Charlottesville, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 31m. Total distance: 108.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
The drive from Charlottesville, VA to Annandale, VA covers 108.8 miles and takes about 2h 31m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
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 70.3 miles in near US 15; US 29.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 108.8 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 70.3 miles (US 15; US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 103.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 106.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29 toward US 15 North, US 29 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward VA 236: Fairfax, Annandale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward VA 236 East: Little River Turnpike, Annandale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward VA 236 East: Annandale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Seminole Trail | 33.9 mi | 48m |
| James Madison Highway | 23.3 mi | 30m |
| I 66 | 20.8 mi | 25m |
| US 15 | 11.7 mi | 17m |
| James Monroe Highway | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| Capital Beltway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Eastern Bypass | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| U.S. 250 Bypass | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Charlottesville, VA and Annandale, VA.
Start on this road
Turn left onto US 250 BUS
Turn right onto 7th Street Northeast
Turn left onto US 250 BUS
Turn right onto Park Street
Turn left
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 250
Turn right onto SR 743
Enter roundabout onto SR 743
Continue on SR 743
Turn right onto US 29
Continue on US 29
Continue on US 15; US 29
Continue on US 15; US 17; US 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29
Take the exit
Merge onto I 66
Take the exit
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto VA 236
Arrive at destination
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.
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 24 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.4 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Annandale, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Charlottesville, 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 Charlottesville, VA
This is one driving day of about 108.8 miles and 2h 31m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 54.4 mi from Charlottesville, VA · 1h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 54.4 miles from Charlottesville, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Annandale, 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 Annandale, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$17.01 one way
$34.03 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $18.60 | $37.21 |
| premium | $4.70 | $20.14 | $40.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.02 | $48.04 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.09
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
$17
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.1 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 | 32.6 | 0 | $11.42 | $5.22 |
| Efficient EV | 27.2 | 0 | $9.52 | $4.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.5 | 0 | $15.23 | $6.96 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Charlottesville on Friday
Local time
12:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Annandale on Friday
Local time
12:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
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.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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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