The drive from Harrisonburg, VA to Lowes Island, VA covers 124.8 miles and takes about 2h 31m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 81, I 66, Fairfax County Parkway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 52.8 miles on I 81.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.52 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62.4 miles from Harrisonburg, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 31m. Total distance: 124.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 31m highway drive covering 124.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 81 and I 66. The longest continuous stretch is about 52.8 miles on I 81.
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.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 52.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 66. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Elizabeth Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 124.8 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 0.1 miles (East Elizabeth Street): Navigation decision point; at 97.9 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 107.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Elizabeth Street
Turn right onto East Elizabeth Street
Navigation decision point
6
97.9 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|I 66
Keep slight right at fork onto I 66
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
107.5 mi into trip|~2h in
Take the exit toward VA 28 North: Dulles Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 53
Toward VA 28 North: Dulles Airport
8
108.1 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 620, SR 657: Braddock Road, Walney Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 620, SR 657: Braddock Road, Walney Ro...
6
108.4 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|SR 620 / Walney Road
At end of road, turn right onto SR 620 / Walney Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
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 Harrisonburg, VA to Lowes Island, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.
Washington
54.8 mi in|~1h 1m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
52.8 mi
56m
I 66
52.4 mi
57m
Fairfax County Parkway
8.8 mi
14m
Algonkian Parkway
2.1 mi
3m
Stringfellow Road
1.6 mi
3m
East Market Street
1.5 mi
3m
Walney Road
1.4 mi
2m
Poplar Tree Road
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 52.8 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harrisonburg, VA and Lowes Island, VA.
1
Start on US 11; US 33
335 ft·15 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn right onto East Elizabeth Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·East Elizabeth Street
3
Turn right onto North Mason Street
382 ft·15 sec·North Mason Street
4
Turn left onto US 33
1.5 mi·3 min·East Market Street
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 81 North: Elkton
6
Merge onto I 81
53 mi·56 min·I 81
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 66 East: Front Royal, Washington
8
Continue on I 66
43 mi·46 min·I 66
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 66
9.6 mi·11 min·I 66
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 53Toward VA 28 North: Dulles AirportUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward SR 620, SR 657: Braddock Road, Walney RoadUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
At end of road, turn right onto SR 620
1.4 mi·2 min·Walney Road
Use the left / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto SR 4831
1.2 mi·2 min·Poplar Tree Road
14
Turn left onto SR 645
1.6 mi·3 min·Stringfellow Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn left onto VA 286
8.8 mi·14 min·Fairfax County Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Continue on SR 6220
2.1 mi·3 min·Algonkian Parkway
17
Turn right onto SR 1652
0.9 mi·2 min·Lowes Island Boulevard
18
Turn left onto Dunkirk Square
471 ft·16 sec·Dunkirk Square
19
Continue on Potomac Landing Terrace
0.1 mi·28 sec·Potomac Landing Terrace
20
At end of road, turn right onto Center Brook Square
478 ft·17 sec·Center Brook Square
21
Continue on Center Brook Square
111 ft·4 sec·Center Brook Square
22
Arrive at destination
Center Brook Square
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.4 miles from Harrisonburg, VA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.8 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 27 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.4 miles or 1h 10m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lowes Island, 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 124.8 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Harrisonburg, 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 81 for about 52.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.4 mi from Harrisonburg, VA
· 1h 10m into the drive
The midpoint is around 62.4 miles from Harrisonburg, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lowes Island, VA
The final approach into Lowes Island, 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 Lowes Island, 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.
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...
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!
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 124.8
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 17.2
At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people, lies Harpers Ferry. Here you can explore John Brown's Raid against slavery. Find your...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
$20
near mile 124.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.52 one way
$39.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$21.34
$42.68
premium
$4.70
$23.10
$46.20
diesel
$5.61
$27.55
$55.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.4
0
$13.10
$5.99
Efficient EV
31.2
0
$10.92
$4.99
EV Truck/SUV
49.9
0
$17.47
$7.99
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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Harrisonburg, VA
Afternoon
in Harrisonburg on Friday
Local time
3:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lowes Island, VA
Afternoon
in Lowes Island on Friday
Local time
3:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Petersburg, VA
62 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
6 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 31m 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 Lowes Island, VA covers 124.8 miles and takes about 2h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, I 66, Fairfax County Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.4 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 $19.52 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 124.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Elizabeth Street): Navigation decision point; at 97.9 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 107.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Harrisonburg, VA to Lowes Island, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Shenandoah National Park. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
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.
