Crimora to Arlington is 147.4 miles and takes about 2h 56m via I 81 and I 66, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily sticks to major highways, making it a straightforward trip across Virginia. With only one recommended stop and a highway share of 84%, it's designed for efficient travel. You'll traverse the Southeast region of Virginia, moving from a more rural starting point toward the bustling Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Expect a consistent pace for most of the journey.
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
73.7 miles from Crimora, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 56m. Total distance: 147.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 84% of the 147.4 miles on major interstates like I-81 and I-66. You'll experience a good portion of uninterrupted driving, including a longest stretch of 70.5 miles on I-66. The route offers a consistent driving experience for the most part, transitioning from the open road to more developed areas as you approach your destination. While largely interstate, you'll also utilize segments of East Side Highway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 66 is the longest continuous segment at about 70.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 66 and I 81. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 340 / East Side Highway.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 147.4 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 340 / East Side Highway): Navigation decision point; at 75.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 118.5 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 340 / East Side Highway
Turn left onto US 340 / East Side Highway
Navigation decision point
5
75.3 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 66 East: Front Royal, Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 66 East: Front Royal, Washington
6
118.5 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|I 66
Keep slight right at fork onto I 66
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
146.2 mi into trip|~2h 53m in
Take the exit toward VA 120, VA 237
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 71
Toward VA 120, VA 237
6
146.7 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|VA 120 / North Glebe Road
Turn right onto VA 120 / North Glebe Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Crimora, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.
Washington
75.3 mi in|~1h 32m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 66
70.5 mi
1h 20m
I 81
52.6 mi
56m
East Side Highway
7.4 mi
10m
Port Republic Road
6.5 mi
9m
Spotswood Trail
2.3 mi
3m
Cross Keys Road
2.2 mi
3m
South East Side Highway
1.7 mi
2m
East Market Street
1.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 66
— 70.5 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Crimora, VA and Arlington, VA.
1
Start on SR 612
0.4 mi·1 min·New Hope and Crimora Road
2
Turn left onto US 340
7.4 mi·10 min·East Side Highway
3
Continue on US 340
0.1 mi·10 sec·Eastside Highway
4
Continue on US 340
0.5 mi·1 min·Augusta Avenue
5
Continue on US 340
1.7 mi·2 min·South East Side Highway
6
Turn left onto VA 253
6.5 mi·9 min·Port Republic Road
7
Turn right onto VA 276
2.2 mi·3 min·Cross Keys Road
8
Turn left onto US 33
2.3 mi·3 min·Spotswood Trail
9
Continue on US 33
1.4 mi·3 min·East Market Street
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
11
Merge onto I 81
53 mi·56 min·I 81
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 66 East: Front Royal, Washington
13
Continue on I 66
43 mi·46 min·I 66
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 66
28 mi·34 min·I 66
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 71Toward VA 120, VA 237Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on Fairfax Drive
0.1 mi·24 sec·Fairfax Drive
17
Turn right onto VA 120
0.2 mi·32 sec·North Glebe Road
Use the right lane.
18
Turn slight left onto Wilson Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Wilson Boulevard
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
Wilson Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 3 hours, this trip from Crimora to Arlington is easily completed in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic as you get closer to Arlington. With only one stop suggested, you have flexibility to decide when and where to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before entering longer stretches like the 70.5 miles on I-66. The $23 fuel cost estimate is a good baseline for budgeting your trip.
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 73.7 miles from Crimora, VA, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.5 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 32 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.7 miles or 1h 30m 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 22m
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 Crimora, 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 Crimora, VA
This is one driving day of about 147.4 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Crimora, 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 I 66 for about 70.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 73.7 mi from Crimora, VA
· 1h 30m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley has a long and rich heritage that still inspires today. Native Americans first shaped the land, followed by colonists and settlers. The fertile valley became an important...
Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over...
15 mi from route
~39 min detour
$30
near mile 35.6
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 132.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.05 one way
$46.10 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$25.20
$50.41
premium
$4.70
$27.28
$54.56
diesel
$5.61
$32.54
$65.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.2
0
$15.48
$7.08
Efficient EV
36.9
0
$12.90
$5.90
EV Truck/SUV
59
0
$20.64
$9.43
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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 as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Crimora, VA
Morning
in Crimora on Friday
Local time
10:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, VA
Morning
in Arlington on Friday
Local time
10:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Scattered Rain Showers
W 7 to 10 mph38% chanceLive 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
19 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 56m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Crimora, VA to Arlington, VA covers 147.4 miles and takes about 2h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 66, I 81, East Side 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 73.7 miles from Crimora, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.05 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 147.4 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 340 / East Side Highway): Navigation decision point; at 75.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 118.5 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Crimora, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park, Shenandoah National Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
