Drive Time
2h 20m
Distance
99.8 mi
161 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
Photo: Eric Joseph
The drive from Fairfax, VA to Charlottesville, VA covers 99.8 miles and takes about 2h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Seminole Trail, James Madison Highway, I 66 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33.8 miles on North Seminole Trail. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.97 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
49.9 miles from Fairfax, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 20m drive with frequent turns across 99.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 99.8 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 2.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29 toward US 15 South, US 29 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29 / James Madison Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Fairfax, VA to Charlottesville, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Warrenton along the way.
Warrenton
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Seminole Trail | 33.8 mi | 47m |
| James Madison Highway | 23.3 mi | 30m |
| I 66 | 14.2 mi | 16m |
| Lee Highway | 10.6 mi | 15m |
| James Monroe Highway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| Eastern Bypass | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| U.S. 250 Bypass | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 1 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfax, VA and Charlottesville, VA.
Start on VA 236
Continue on US 50
Continue on US 50
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 66
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29
Merge onto US 15; US 17; US 29
Continue on US 15; US 17; US 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29
Continue on US 29
Continue on US 29
Turn left onto SR 743
Enter roundabout onto SR 743
Continue on SR 743
Turn left onto US 250
Take the exit
Turn right onto Park Street
Turn left onto US 250 BUS
Turn right onto 7th Street Northeast
Arrive at 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 80 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.9 miles or 1h 8m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charlottesville, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Fairfax, 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 Fairfax, VA
This is one driving day of about 99.8 miles and 2h 20m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 49.9 mi from Fairfax, VA · 1h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 49.9 miles from Fairfax, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Charlottesville, 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 Charlottesville, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$15.97 one way
$31.94 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $17.40 | $34.80 |
| premium | $4.78 | $18.77 | $37.55 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $22.17 | $44.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.9 | 0 | $10.48 | $4.79 |
| Efficient EV | 25 | 0 | $8.73 | $3.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.97 | $6.39 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Night in Fairfax on Saturday
Local time
10:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Night in Charlottesville on Saturday
Local time
10:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
65°F
Poolesville, MD
50 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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