The drive from Harrisonburg, VA to Springfield, VA covers 128.9 miles and takes about 2h 29m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 66, I 81, Capital Beltway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.1 miles on I 66.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.16 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
64.5 miles from Harrisonburg, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 128.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 29m highway drive covering 128.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 66 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 64.1 miles on I 66.
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 64.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 66 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 119.2 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 128.9 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 119.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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; at 126.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
8
119.2 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 64A
Toward I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria
7
126.5 mi into trip|~2h 24m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Richmond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 57A
Toward I 95 South: Richmond
8
126.9 mi into trip|~2h 25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 644 West: Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 169B
Toward SR 644 West: Springfield
7
127.9 mi into trip|~2h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward VA 644 West: Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 169B
Toward VA 644 West: Old Keene Mill Road, Spring...
9
128.1 mi into trip|~2h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 644 West: Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 169B
Toward SR 644 West: Springfield
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Harrisonburg, VA and Springfield, VA, road signs point toward Washington and Alexandria.
Washington
54.8 mi in|~1h 1m
Alexandria
119.2 mi in|~2h 14m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 66
64.1 mi
1h 11m
I 81
52.8 mi
56m
Capital Beltway
6.8 mi
8m
East Market Street
1.5 mi
3m
Backlick Road
0.7 mi
1m
East Elizabeth Street
0.1 mi
<1m
North Mason Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
North Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 66
— 64.1 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harrisonburg, VA and Springfield, 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
21 mi·25 min·I 66
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 64AToward I 495 South: Richmond, AlexandriaUse the right lane.
11
Merge onto I 495
6.8 mi·8 min·Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 57AToward I 95 South: RichmondUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 169BToward SR 644 West: SpringfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 169BToward VA 644 West: Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·12 sec
Exit 169BToward SR 644 West: SpringfieldUse the straight lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
162 ft·3 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on SR 617
0.7 mi·1 min·Backlick Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto Floyd Avenue
213 ft·9 sec·Floyd Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Arrive at destination
Floyd Avenue
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 64.5 miles from Harrisonburg, VA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.1 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 28 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.5 miles or 1h 12m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Springfield, 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 128.9 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Harrisonburg, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 66 for about 64.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.5 mi from Harrisonburg, VA
· 1h 12m 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 17.8
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 111.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.16 one way
$40.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$22.04
$44.08
premium
$4.70
$23.86
$47.71
diesel
$5.61
$28.46
$56.92
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: 45.1 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
38.7
0
$13.53
$6.19
Efficient EV
32.2
0
$11.28
$5.16
EV Truck/SUV
51.6
0
$18.05
$8.25
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 15, 2026
Origin
Harrisonburg, VA
Late night
in Harrisonburg on Friday
Local time
5:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, VA
Late night
in Springfield on Friday
Local time
5:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Petersburg, VA
64 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
7 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 29m 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 Springfield, VA covers 128.9 miles and takes about 2h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 66, I 81, Capital Beltway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.5 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 $20.16 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 is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 128.9 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 119.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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; at 126.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Harrisonburg, VA and Springfield, VA, road signs point toward Washington and Alexandria.
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 and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
