Trip from Colonial Heights, VA to Arlington, VA

Drive Time

2h 34m

Distance

126.8 mi

204 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min

4 AM

2h 24m ★

6 AM

2h 35m

8 AM

2h 55m

10 AM

2h 42m

12 PM

2h 40m

3 PM

2h 43m

5 PM

2h 54m

8 PM

2h 29m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Colonial Heights, VA

Pavan Sai .D

Arlington, VA

Dominik Gryzbon

Trip Overview

Spanning 126.8 miles, this trip from Colonial Heights to Arlington is a straightforward journey through Virginia that typically takes 2 hours and 34 minutes. Since it is designed as a single-day trip, you can easily complete it without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $20 on fuel for the trek. You will travel entirely within the Southeast region, moving from the area around Colonial Heights toward the urban center of Arlington. Because this is a highway-focused drive, it is best suited for those looking for an efficient connection between these two points rather than a leisurely backroads tour.

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

63.4 miles from Colonial Heights, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a high-speed experience, as 88% of this trip takes place on major highways. You will rely heavily on the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, I-95, and the Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway to cover the distance. The route features a significant 73.1-mile stretch on the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of your drive. While the road personality is defined by an interstate grind, the transitions between these major arteries keep the pace consistent. You should be prepared for a focused, high-traffic environment that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, scenic detours.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 73.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near SR 620 / Woods Edge Road.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 126.8 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 2.7 miles (SR 620 / Woods Edge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles (I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 114.9 miles (I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

2.7 mi into trip | ~5m in | SR 620 / Woods Edge Road

Turn right onto SR 620 / Woods Edge Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

24.5 mi into trip | ~33m in | I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

114.9 mi into trip | ~2h 16m 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...

123.6 mi into trip | ~2h 27m 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...

124 mi into trip | ~2h 28m 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...

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Colonial Heights, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Tysons Corner along the way.

Tysons Corner

114.9 mi in | ~2h 16m | via I 395

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike	73.1 mi	1h 24m
I 95	36.6 mi	43m
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway	8.7 mi	10m
Washington Boulevard	1.8 mi	3m
Route 1	1.6 mi	2m
Woods Edge Road	0.9 mi	1m
Boulevard	0.8 mi	1m
Wilson Boulevard	0.4 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike — 73.1 mi, about 1h 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Colonial Heights, VA and Arlington, VA.

Start on this road

257 ft · 24 sec · this road

At end of road, turn left onto East Ellerslie Avenue

0.3 mi · 37 sec · East Ellerslie Avenue

Turn right onto US 1; US 301; VA 144

0.8 mi · 1 min · Boulevard

Use the right lane.

Continue on US 1; US 301; VA 144

1.6 mi · 2 min · Route 1

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto SR 620

0.9 mi · 1 min · Woods Edge Road

Use the right lane.

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min

Merge onto I 95

20 mi · 25 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95

53 mi · 58 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; US 17

1.6 mi · 1 min · I 95; US 17

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min

Merge onto I 95

35 mi · 41 min · I 95

Use the none lane.

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.

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.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Exit 8A Toward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike Use the slight right lane.

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.

Merge onto VA 27

1.8 mi · 3 min · Washington Boulevard

Toward Columbia Pike Use the none lane.

Turn left onto VA 237

0.3 mi · 1 min · 10th Street North

Turn slight left

137 ft · 8 sec

Turn left onto Wilson Boulevard

0.4 mi · 1 min · Wilson Boulevard

Arrive at destination

Wilson Boulevard

Trip Plan

Given the heavy reliance on I-95, plan your departure carefully to avoid peak congestion times, as traffic can significantly impact your 2-hour and 34-minute travel time. Since the route only requires one stop, aim to stretch your legs roughly halfway through to stay alert during the long highway segments. Flexibility is a major advantage here, allowing you to easily adjust your schedule based on real-time traffic reports. Keep in mind that the intensity of the Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway increases as you approach Arlington, so stay focused during the final leg of your journey. Budgeting around $20 for fuel should be sufficient, but always keep a little extra set aside for potential detours caused by road work or delays.

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 63.4 miles from Colonial Heights, VA, or about 1h 16m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.1 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 63.4 miles or 1h 16m 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 3m

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 Colonial Heights, 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 Heights, VA

This is one driving day of about 126.8 miles and 2h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Colonial Heights, 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 Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike for about 73.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 63.4 mi from Colonial Heights, VA · 1h 16m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Middletown, MD

63 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

La Plata, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Middletown, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 63.4 miles from Colonial Heights, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.1 miles.

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.

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.29 one way

$40.59 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 44 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$22.11	$44.22
premium	$4.78	$23.85	$47.70
diesel	$5.64	$28.17	$56.34

Estimated Tolls: $5.11

Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike (73.1 mi) $5.11

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

$20

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 44.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	38	$13.31	$6.09
Efficient EV	31.7	$11.09	$5.07
EV Truck/SUV	50.7	$17.75	$8.12

Gas CO2

44 kg

EV CO2

15 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Colonial Heights, VA

Afternoon in Colonial Heights on Sunday

Local time

3:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arlington, VA

Afternoon in Arlington on Sunday

Local time

3:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

86°F

Middletown, MD

63 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

1 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 34m 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 Colonial Heights, VA to Arlington, VA covers 126.8 miles and takes about 2h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, I 95, 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 63.4 miles from Colonial Heights, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.29 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.

On the drive from Colonial Heights, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Tysons Corner along the way.

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Return Trip

Arlington, VA to Colonial Heights, VA

Plan the drive back the other way.

125.3 mi 2h 34m

Explore more options from Colonial Heights, VA or browse trips ending in Arlington, VA.

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Trip from Colonial Heights, VA to Arlington, VA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Arlington, VA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Colonial Heights, VA

Arlington, VA

Same local time

1 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 34m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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