The drive from Highland Springs, VA to Leesburg, VA covers 135.6 miles and takes about 2h 46m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, Leesburg Pike, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 82.3 miles on I 95.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.20 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
67.8 miles from Highland Springs, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 135.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 46m highway drive covering 135.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and Leesburg Pike. The longest continuous stretch is about 82.3 miles on I 95.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 82.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Leesburg Pike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.1 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 19 significant decision points across 135.6 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 14.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 99.8 miles (I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 112.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
14.1 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 43A
Toward I 95 North: Washington
9
99.8 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway toward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Tysons Corner
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 170A; 170B
Toward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Ty...
8
112.3 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Take the exit toward VA 267 Toll West: Reston, Herndon, Dulles Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 45
Toward VA 267 Toll West: Reston, Herndon, Dulle...
9
114.1 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward VA 7: Tysons Corner, Leesburg, Leesburg Pike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16
Toward VA 7: Tysons Corner, Leesburg, Leesburg...
9
114.4 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward VA 7 West: Leesburg Pike, Leesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward VA 7 West: Leesburg Pike, Leesburg
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Highland Springs, VA and Leesburg, VA, road signs point toward Tysons Corner, Herndon and Dulles Airport.
Tysons Corner
99.8 mi in|~1h 54m|via I 395
Herndon
112.3 mi in|~2h 9m
Dulles Airport
112.3 mi in|~2h 9m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
82.3 mi
1h 33m
Leesburg Pike
18.1 mi
26m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
10.9 mi
11m
Capital Beltway
10.5 mi
12m
East Market Street
3 mi
6m
North Airport Drive
2.1 mi
3m
Dulles Toll Road
1.1 mi
1m
East Nine Mile Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 82.3 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highland Springs, VA and Leesburg, VA.
1
Start on South Holly Avenue
30 ft·4 sec·South Holly Avenue
2
Turn right onto VA 33
0.7 mi·1 min·East Nine Mile Road
3
Turn left onto VA 156
2.1 mi·3 min·North Airport Drive
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 295: Charlottesville, Washington
5
Merge onto I 295
11 mi·11 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit
2.4 mi·2 min
Exit 43AToward I 95 North: WashingtonUse the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto I 95
46 mi·49 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; US 17
1.6 mi·1 min·I 95; US 17
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
10
Merge onto I 95
35 mi·41 min·I 95
Use the slight left lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 395
0.6 mi·52 sec·Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Exit 170A; 170BToward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Tysons CornerUse the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Take the exit
1.4 mi·1 min
Exit 170BToward I 495 North: Tysons CornerUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 495
1.0 mi·1 min·Capital Beltway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 495
9.5 mi·11 min·Capital Beltway
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 45Toward VA 267 Toll West: Reston, Herndon, Dulles AirportUse the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto VA 267
1.1 mi·1 min·Dulles Toll Road
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·22 sec
18
Merge onto VA 267
263 ft·4 sec·Dulles Toll Road
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 16Toward VA 7: Tysons Corner, Leesburg, Leesburg PikeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward VA 7 West: Leesburg Pike, LeesburgUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto VA 7
18 mi·26 min·Leesburg Pike
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on VA 7
3.0 mi·6 min·East Market Street
23
Arrive at destination
VA 7 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.8 miles from Highland Springs, VA, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.3 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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.8 miles or 1h 16m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leesburg, 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 135.6 miles and 2h 46m.
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 95 for about 82.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 67.8 mi from Highland Springs, VA
· 1h 16m 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.
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
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!
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 135.6
Caution: Great Allegheny Passage Erosion Near Confluence, Pennsylvania (Mile Marker 56)
Park Closure: Trail Closure at Veterans Park at Balls Bluff (Leesburg, Virginia)
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
$20
near mile 135.6
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.20 one way
$42.41 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$23.19
$46.37
premium
$4.70
$25.10
$50.19
diesel
$5.61
$29.94
$59.88
Estimated Tolls: $0.23
Dulles Toll Road
(1.1 mi)$0.23
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.7
0
$14.24
$6.51
Efficient EV
33.9
0
$11.86
$5.42
EV Truck/SUV
54.2
0
$18.98
$8.68
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Highland Springs, VA
Night
in Highland Springs on Friday
Local time
11:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Leesburg, VA
Night
in Leesburg on Friday
Local time
11:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Woodbridge, VA
68 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
23 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 46m 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 Leesburg, VA covers 135.6 miles and takes about 2h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Leesburg Pike, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 67.8 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 $21.20 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 19 significant decision points across 135.6 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 14.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 99.8 miles (I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 112.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Highland Springs, VA and Leesburg, VA, road signs point toward Tysons Corner, Herndon and Dulles Airport.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, Harpers Ferry National Historical 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.
