Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
70.3 mi
113 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
Photo: Dominik Gryzbon
The drive from Colonial Beach, VA to Arlington, VA covers 70.3 miles and takes about 1h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Colonial Avenue, McKinney Boulevard, Ridge Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.96 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
35.2 miles from Colonial Beach, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Expect a 1h 32m drive with frequent turns across 70.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Colonial Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| McKinney Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ridge Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tetotum Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Windsor Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| James Madison Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nice Middleton Bridge | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Branch Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Colonial Beach, VA and Arlington, VA.
Start on Washington Avenue
Turn left onto Colonial Avenue
Turn right onto McKinney Boulevard
Continue on Ridge Road
Turn right onto Tetotum Road
Turn left onto Windsor Drive
Turn right onto James Madison Parkway
Continue on Nice Middleton Bridge
Keep slight left to continue on Branch Avenue
Keep slight right to continue on Branch Avenue
Take the exit left
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Naylor Road
Exit the roundabout onto Naylor Road
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Naylor Road
Exit the roundabout onto Naylor Road
Turn straight
Turn slight right onto Naylor Road Southeast
Turn left onto Marion Barry Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast
Continue on 11th Street Southeast
Take the ramp left toward I 695 West
Merge slight left onto Southeast Freeway
Continue on Southwest Freeway
Continue on Francis Case Memorial Bridge
Continue on Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Take the exit slight right toward VA 27: Pentagon South Parking, Washington Boulevard, South Arlington Ridge Road
Keep slight right to continue on VA 27 West: South Arlington Ridge Road
Merge slight left onto Washington Boulevard
Keep slight left to continue on Washington Boulevard
Turn left onto 10th Street North
Turn slight left
Turn left onto Wilson Boulevard
Arrive at your 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 70.3 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.2 miles or 46m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Colonial Beach, 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 Colonial Beach, VA
This is one driving day of about 70.3 miles and 1h 32m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.2 mi from Colonial Beach, VA · 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 70.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 35.2 miles from Colonial Beach, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$10.96 one way
$21.93 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $12.26 | $24.52 |
| premium | $4.78 | $13.22 | $26.45 |
| diesel | $5.62 | $15.57 | $31.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.6 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.38 | $3.37 |
| Efficient EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.15 | $2.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.1 | 0 | $9.84 | $4.50 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Colonial Beach on Saturday
Local time
11:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Arlington on Saturday
Local time
11:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
59°F
Staten Island, NY
35 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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