The drive from Highland Springs, VA to Harrisonburg, VA covers 135.9 miles and takes about 2h 38m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, I 81, West Nine Mile Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105.7 miles on I 64.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.25 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
68 miles from Highland Springs, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 135.9 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 (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 38m highway drive covering 135.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 105.7 miles on I 64.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 105.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 81. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near VA 33 / West Nine Mile Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 135.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 (VA 33 / West Nine Mile Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|VA 33 / West Nine Mile Road
Turn left onto VA 33 / West Nine Mile Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
4.1 mi into trip|~6m in|I 64
Merge onto I 64
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
9
10.2 mi into trip|~15m in|I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 79
Toward I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville
5
109.8 mi into trip|~2h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 81 North: Staunton, Winchester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 81 North: Staunton, Winchester
4
134 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Take the exit toward VA 253: Harrisonburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward VA 253: Harrisonburg
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 Highland Springs, VA to Harrisonburg, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Winchester along the way.
Winchester
109.8 mi in|~2h 5m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
105.7 mi
1h 58m
I 81
23.7 mi
26m
West Nine Mile Road
3.9 mi
6m
South Main Street
1.1 mi
3m
Port Republic Road
0.6 mi
1m
South Holly Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
North Main Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 105.7 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highland Springs, VA and Harrisonburg, VA.
1
Start on South Holly Avenue
30 ft·8 sec·South Holly Avenue
2
Turn left onto VA 33
3.9 mi·6 min·West Nine Mile Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 64 West: Downtown
4
Merge onto I 64
6.0 mi·8 min·I 64
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
100 mi·1 hr 50 min·I 64
Exit 79Toward I 64 West, I 195 South: CharlottesvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·47 sec
Toward I 81 North: Staunton, Winchester
7
Merge onto I 81
24 mi·26 min·I 81
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward VA 253: Harrisonburg
9
Turn left onto VA 253
0.6 mi·1 min·Port Republic Road
10
Turn right onto US 11
1.1 mi·3 min·South Main Street
11
Arrive at destination
US 11; US 33
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 68 miles from Highland Springs, VA, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.7 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 30 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68 miles or 1h 19m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harrisonburg, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Highland Springs, 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 Highland Springs, VA
This is one driving day of about 135.9 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Highland Springs, 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 64 for about 105.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 68 mi from Highland Springs, VA
· 1h 19m into the drive
The midpoint is around 68 miles from Highland Springs, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105.7 miles.
Arriving in Harrisonburg, VA
The final approach into Harrisonburg, 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 Harrisonburg, VA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
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.
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
near mile 135.9
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 4.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.25 one way
$42.50 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$23.24
$46.47
premium
$4.70
$25.15
$50.30
diesel
$5.61
$30.01
$60.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.5 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
40.8
0
$14.27
$6.52
Efficient EV
34
0
$11.89
$5.44
EV Truck/SUV
54.4
0
$19.03
$8.70
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Highland Springs, VA
Evening
in Highland Springs on Friday
Local time
5:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Harrisonburg, VA
Evening
in Harrisonburg on Friday
Local time
5:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
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 Highland Springs, VA to Harrisonburg, VA covers 135.9 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 I 64, I 81, West Nine Mile Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68 miles from Highland Springs, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.25 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 135.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 (VA 33 / West Nine Mile Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Highland Springs, VA to Harrisonburg, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Winchester along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Shenandoah National Park and Petersburg National Battlefield.
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.
