Origin
Charlottesville, VA
Evening in Charlottesville on Thursday
Local time
6:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charlottesville, VA to Lowes Island, VA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 40m
Distance
109.2 mi
176 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 30m
★
6 AM
2h 40m
8 AM
3h 1m
10 AM
2h 47m
12 PM
2h 45m
3 PM
2h 49m
5 PM
3h 0m
8 PM
2h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlottesville, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Lowes Island, VA
Thomas Dudek
Trip Overview
The drive from Charlottesville, VA to Lowes Island, VA covers 109.2 miles and takes about 2h 40m 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, US 15 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 $17.08 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
54.6 miles from Charlottesville, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 40m. Total distance: 109.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The drive from Charlottesville, VA to Lowes Island, VA covers 109.2 miles and takes about 2h 40m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Seminole Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 33.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 0.1 miles in near 7th Street Northeast.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 109.2 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 0.1 miles (7th Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; 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 81.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
7th Street Northeast
Turn right onto 7th Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
70.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
US 15; US 29
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
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward US 15 North, US 29 North
6
81.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
Take the exit toward I 66 East: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 66 East: Washington
7
91.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m in
Take the exit toward VA 28 North: Dulles Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 53
Toward VA 28 North: Dulles Airport
8
92.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 620, SR 657: Braddock Road, Walney Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 620, SR 657: Braddock Road, Walney Ro...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Seminole Trail | 33.9 mi | 48m |
| James Madison Highway | 23.3 mi | 30m |
| US 15 | 11.7 mi | 17m |
| I 66 | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| Fairfax County Parkway | 8.8 mi | 14m |
| James Monroe Highway | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| Eastern Bypass | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Algonkian Parkway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Seminole Trail
— 33.9 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlottesville, VA and Lowes Island, VA.
1
Start on this road
233 ft
·
22 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto US 250 BUS
180 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Market Street
3
Turn right onto 7th Street Northeast
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
7th Street Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto US 250 BUS
315 ft
·
14 sec
·
East High Street
5
Turn right onto Park Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Street
6
Turn left
252 ft
·
7 sec
7
Take the ramp
141 ft
·
3 sec
Toward US 250 West
8
Merge onto US 250
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
U.S. 250 Bypass
9
Turn right onto SR 743
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Hydraulic Road
10
Enter roundabout onto SR 743
94 ft
·
2 sec
·
Hydraulic Road
11
Continue on SR 743
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Hydraulic Road
12
Turn right onto US 29
34 mi
·
48 min
·
Seminole Trail
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on US 29
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
James Monroe Highway
14
Continue on US 15; US 29
23 mi
·
30 min
·
James Madison Highway
15
Continue on US 15; US 17; US 29
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Eastern Bypass
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29
12 mi
·
17 min
·
US 15; US 29
Toward US 15 North, US 29 North
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 66 East: Washington
Use the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto I 66
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
I 66
19
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 53
Toward VA 28 North: Dulles Airport
Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Toward SR 620, SR 657: Braddock Road, Walney Road
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
At end of road, turn right onto SR 620
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Walney Road
Use the left / right lanes.
22
Turn right onto SR 4831
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Poplar Tree Road
23
Turn left onto SR 645
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Stringfellow Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Turn left onto VA 286
8.8 mi
·
14 min
·
Fairfax County Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
25
Continue on SR 6220
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Algonkian Parkway
26
Turn right onto SR 1652
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Lowes Island Boulevard
27
Turn left onto Dunkirk Square
471 ft
·
16 sec
·
Dunkirk Square
28
Continue on Potomac Landing Terrace
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Potomac Landing Terrace
29
At end of road, turn right onto Center Brook Square
478 ft
·
17 sec
·
Center Brook Square
30
Continue on Center Brook Square
111 ft
·
4 sec
·
Center Brook Square
31
Arrive at destination
Center Brook Square
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 54.6 miles from Charlottesville, VA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.9 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 24 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.6 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 Lowes Island, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 109.2 miles and 2h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Charlottesville, 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 Seminole Trail for about 33.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 54.6 mi from Charlottesville, VA · 1h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 54.6 miles from Charlottesville, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lowes Island, VA
The final approach into Lowes Island, 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 Lowes Island, 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
$17.08 one way
$34.15 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $18.67 | $37.34 |
| premium | $4.70 | $20.21 | $40.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.11 | $48.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.2 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 | 32.8 | 0 | $11.47 | $5.24 |
| Efficient EV | 27.3 | 0 | $9.56 | $4.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.7 | 0 | $15.29 | $6.99 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Lowes Island, VA
Evening in Lowes Island on Thursday
Local time
6:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°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
2h 40m 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 Charlottesville, VA to Lowes Island, VA covers 109.2 miles and takes about 2h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Seminole Trail, James Madison Highway, US 15. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 54.6 miles from Charlottesville, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.08 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.
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 20 significant decision points across 109.2 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 0.1 miles (7th Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; 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 81.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Charlottesville, VA to Lowes Island, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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