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Trip from Harrisonburg, VA to Bedford, VA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 7m

Distance

102.4 mi

165 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 58m ★
6 AM
2h 7m
8 AM
2h 25m
10 AM
2h 14m
12 PM
2h 12m
3 PM
2h 14m
5 PM
2h 24m
8 PM
2h 2m

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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independent city in Virginia, United States

Harrisonburg, VA

Wikimedia Commons

town in Bedford County, Virginia, United States

Bedford, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Harrisonburg, VA to Bedford, VA covers 102.4 miles and takes about 2h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 81, Big Island Highway, Glasgow Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57.2 miles on I 81. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.01 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.

Midpoint

51.2 miles from Harrisonburg, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 7m. Total distance: 102.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Harrisonburg, VA to Bedford, VA covers 102.4 miles and takes about 2h 7m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 57.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 33 / Court Square.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 102.4 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (US 33 / Court Square): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 33 / West Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Maryland Avenue): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 33 / Court Square

Turn left onto US 33 / Court Square

Navigation decision point

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 33 / West Market Street

Turn right onto US 33 / West Market Street

Navigation decision point

4
1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in | Maryland Avenue

Turn left onto Maryland Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
79.7 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in | US 501 / Lee Jackson Highway

Turn right onto US 501 / Lee Jackson Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
102.4 mi into trip | ~2h 7m in | US 460 BUS; VA 43; VA 122 BUS / East Main Street

Turn left onto US 460 BUS; VA 43; VA 122 BUS / East Main Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 81 57.2 mi 1h 2m
Big Island Highway 16.8 mi 24m
Glasgow Highway 7.8 mi 9m
Elon Road 5.3 mi 6m
Lee Jackson Highway 3.9 mi 5m
East Midland Trail 3 mi 3m
Sycamore Avenue 2.7 mi 3m
Longwood Avenue 1.8 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 81 — 57.2 mi, about 1h 2m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Harrisonburg, VA and Bedford, VA.

1

Start on US 11; US 33

114 ft · 9 sec · North Main Street
2

Turn left onto US 33

260 ft · 7 sec · Court Square
3

Continue on US 33

169 ft · 5 sec · Court Square
4

Turn right onto US 33

0.2 mi · 18 sec · West Market Street
5

Turn left onto VA 42

0.9 mi · 2 min · South High Street
6

Turn left onto Maryland Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · Maryland Avenue
7

Continue on VA 253

0.5 mi · 1 min · Port Republic Road
8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec
9

Merge onto I 81

54 mi · 59 min · I 81
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

2.9 mi · 3 min · I 81
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Toward US 60 East: Buena Vista
12

Continue on US 60

3.0 mi · 3 min · East Midland Trail
13

Continue on US 60

0.6 mi · 39 sec · 29th Street
14

Take the exit

302 ft · 8 sec
15

Merge onto US 501

0.4 mi · 30 sec · Beech Avenue
16

Continue on US 501

2.7 mi · 3 min · Sycamore Avenue
17

Continue on US 501

7.8 mi · 9 min · Glasgow Highway
18

Continue on US 501; VA 130

5.3 mi · 6 min · Elon Road
19

Turn right onto US 501

3.9 mi · 5 min · Lee Jackson Highway
Use the right lane.
20

Turn right onto VA 122

17 mi · 24 min · Big Island Highway
21

Continue on VA 122

0.6 mi · 55 sec · Longwood Avenue
22

Turn right onto US 221

177 ft · 4 sec · Forest Road
23

Continue on US 221

1.2 mi · 2 min · Longwood Avenue
24

Continue on US 221; VA 43

0.3 mi · 1 min · North Bridge Street
25

Turn left onto US 460 BUS; VA 43; VA 122 BUS

138 ft · 4 sec · East Main Street
26

Arrive at destination

US 460 BUS; VA 43; VA 122 BUS

Trip Plan

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51.2 miles from Harrisonburg, VA, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.2 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 23 miles or 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 51.2 miles or 59m 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 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bedford, VA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Harrisonburg, 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 Harrisonburg, VA

This is one driving day of about 102.4 miles and 2h 7m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Harrisonburg, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 57.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 51.2 mi from Harrisonburg, VA · 59m into the drive

independent city in Virginia, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Buena Vista, VA

51 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

Stuarts Draft, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Buena Vista, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 51.2 miles from Harrisonburg, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bedford, VA

The final approach into Bedford, 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 Bedford, VA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Booker T Washington National Monument

Booker T Washington National Monument

National Monument

Booker T. Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later...

19 mi from route ~48 min detour Free near mile 102.4
View on nps.gov
Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park

National Park

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...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour $30
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.01 one way

$32.03 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $17.51 $35.02
premium $4.70 $18.95 $37.90
diesel $5.61 $22.61 $45.22

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: 35.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.7 0 $10.75 $4.92
Efficient EV 25.6 0 $8.96 $4.10
EV Truck/SUV 41 0 $14.34 $6.55

Gas CO2

36 kg

EV CO2

12 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 15, 2026

Origin

Harrisonburg, VA

Late night in Harrisonburg on Saturday

Local time

3:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bedford, VA

Late night in Bedford on Saturday

Local time

3:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

46°F

Buena Vista, VA

51 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

22 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 7m 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 Harrisonburg, VA to Bedford, VA covers 102.4 miles and takes about 2h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 81, Big Island Highway, Glasgow Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 51.2 miles from Harrisonburg, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.01 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.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 102.4 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (US 33 / Court Square): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 33 / West Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Maryland Avenue): Navigation decision point.

The route from Harrisonburg, VA to Bedford, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Bedford, VA to Harrisonburg, VA

Plan the drive back the other way.

101.5 mi 2h 6m

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