Ettrick, VA to Arlington, VA is 129.6 miles and takes about 2h 38m via Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I-95, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily keeps you on major highways as you travel north through Virginia's Southeast region. Expect a fairly direct and efficient journey, largely following the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and then I-95. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is a straightforward option for getting between these two points.
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
64.8 miles from Ettrick, 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 38m. Total distance: 129.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 88% of the journey taking place on major interstates. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 76.9 miles on the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike before merging onto I-95. The Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway is the final segment of this predominantly high-speed travel. Expect a consistent driving experience geared towards covering distance efficiently, rather than winding scenic roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 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 76.9 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 27.4 miles in near I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike.
Driving Effort9/10
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 15 significant decision points across 129.6 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 27.4 miles (I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 117.7 miles (I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 126.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
27.4 mi into trip|~37m 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.
9
117.7 mi into trip|~2h 20m 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...
8
126.5 mi into trip|~2h 30m 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...
8
126.8 mi into trip|~2h 31m 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...
6
127.1 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|VA 27 / Washington Boulevard
Merge onto VA 27 / Washington Boulevard toward Columbia Pike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Columbia Pike
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 Ettrick, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Tysons Corner along the way.
Tysons Corner
117.7 mi in|~2h 20m|via I 395
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
76.9 mi
1h 29m
I 95
36.6 mi
43m
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
8.7 mi
10m
Washington Boulevard
1.8 mi
3m
East River Road
0.8 mi
1m
East Westover Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Conduit Road
0.5 mi
1m
Dupuy Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
— 76.9 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ettrick, VA and Arlington, VA.
1
Start on East River Road
0.1 mi·31 sec·East River Road
2
Turn left onto SR 1107
0.6 mi·1 min·East River Road
3
Continue on SR 1107
0.4 mi·43 sec·Dupuy Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 1; US 301
0.4 mi·1 min·Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Turn right onto East Westover Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·East Westover Avenue
6
At end of road, turn left onto Conduit Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Conduit Road
7
Turn left onto VA 144
225 ft·10 sec·Temple Avenue
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 95 North: Richmond
9
Merge onto I 95
24 mi·30 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
53 mi·58 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; US 17
1.6 mi·1 min·I 95; US 17
12
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
13
Merge onto I 95
35 mi·41 min·I 95
Use the slight left lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 395
0.6 mi·52 sec·Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Exit 170A; 170BToward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Tysons CornerUse the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Continue on I 395
8.1 mi·9 min·Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Exit 170AToward I 395 North: WashingtonUse the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 8AToward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia PikeUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward VA 27 West: Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Washington Boulevard, Columbia PikeUse the slight left lane.
18
Merge onto VA 27
1.8 mi·3 min·Washington Boulevard
Toward Columbia PikeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn left onto VA 237
0.3 mi·1 min·10th Street North
20
Turn slight left
137 ft·8 sec
21
Turn left onto Wilson Boulevard
0.4 mi·1 min·Wilson Boulevard
22
Arrive at destination
Wilson Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 38m duration, this is a perfect single-day trip. To make the most of your time, consider departing Ettrick early in the morning to avoid potential traffic as you approach the Northern Virginia area. Plan for one brief stop to refuel or stretch your legs; the $20 fuel budget is a good estimate for this distance. Keep an eye on your GPS as you transition from the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike to I-95, as this is a key point in the route.
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 64.8 miles from Ettrick, VA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.9 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 29 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.8 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 6m
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 Ettrick, 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 Ettrick, VA
This is one driving day of about 129.6 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Ettrick, 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 76.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.8 mi from Ettrick, VA
· 1h 18m 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.
Petersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Two hundred ninety-two days, eight offensives, over 70,000 casualties, U. S. Colored Troops, and the decline of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. U.S. forces c...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
Park Closure: Eastern Front Tour Road south of Route 36 - Closed
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!
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
Free
near mile 129.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.27 one way
$40.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$22.16
$44.32
premium
$4.70
$23.99
$47.97
diesel
$5.61
$28.61
$57.23
Estimated Tolls: $5.38
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(76.9 mi)$5.38
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
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.9
0
$13.61
$6.22
Efficient EV
32.4
0
$11.34
$5.18
EV Truck/SUV
51.8
0
$18.14
$8.29
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Ettrick, VA
Morning
in Ettrick on Saturday
Local time
11:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, VA
Morning
in Arlington on Saturday
Local time
11:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
79°F
Fredericksburg, VA
65 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
5 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 38m 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 Ettrick, VA to Arlington, VA covers 129.6 miles and takes about 2h 38m 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 64.8 miles from Ettrick, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.27 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 15 significant decision points across 129.6 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 27.4 miles (I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 117.7 miles (I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 126.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Ettrick, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Tysons Corner along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Petersburg National Battlefield 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.
