Origin
Leesburg, VA
Afternoon in Leesburg on Sunday
Local time
3:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Leesburg, VA to Charlottesville, VA
Drive Time
2h 9m
Distance
104.2 mi
168 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 0m
★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 27m
10 AM
2h 16m
12 PM
2h 14m
3 PM
2h 16m
5 PM
2h 26m
8 PM
2h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Leesburg, VA
Eric Joseph
Charlottesville, VA
Eric Joseph
Trip Overview
The drive from Leesburg, VA to Charlottesville, VA covers 104.2 miles and takes about 2h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South King Street, James Monroe Highway, James Madison Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.68 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
52.1 miles from Leesburg, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 9m drive with frequent turns across 104.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South King Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Leesburg, VA to Charlottesville, VA is easy. At 2h 9m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Leesburg, VA to Charlottesville, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South King Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| James Monroe Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| James Madison Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lee Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 15 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Eastern Bypass | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Seminole Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hydraulic Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South King Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leesburg, VA and Charlottesville, VA.
1
Start on East Market Street
226 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Market Street
2
Turn left onto South King Street
2.4 mi
·
6 min
·
South King Street
3
Continue on James Monroe Highway
9.1 mi
·
13 min
·
James Monroe Highway
4
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward James Monroe Highway
167 ft
·
2 sec
·
James Monroe Highway
5
Exit the roundabout onto James Monroe Highway
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
James Monroe Highway
6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward James Monroe Highway
82 ft
·
1 sec
·
James Monroe Highway
7
Exit the roundabout onto James Monroe Highway
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
James Monroe Highway
8
Continue on James Madison Highway
11 mi
·
16 min
·
James Madison Highway
9
Turn right onto Lee Highway
7.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Lee Highway
10
Keep slight left to continue on US 15 South, US 29 South
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
US 15 South, US 29 South
11
Merge slight right onto Eastern Bypass
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Eastern Bypass
12
Continue on James Madison Highway
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
James Madison Highway
13
Keep slight left to continue on James Madison Highway
18 mi
·
23 min
·
James Madison Highway
14
Continue on James Monroe Highway
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
James Monroe Highway
15
Continue on North Seminole Trail
34 mi
·
47 min
·
North Seminole Trail
16
Turn left onto Hydraulic Road
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Hydraulic Road
17
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Hydraulic Road
95 ft
·
3 sec
·
Hydraulic Road
18
Exit the roundabout onto Hydraulic Road
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Hydraulic Road
19
Turn left onto U.S. 250 Bypass
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
U.S. 250 Bypass
20
Take the exit slight right toward Park Street
482 ft
·
20 sec
·
Park Street
21
Turn right onto Park Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Street
22
Turn left onto East High Street
315 ft
·
13 sec
·
East High Street
23
Turn right onto 7th Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
7th Street Northeast
24
Arrive at your destination
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 52.1 miles from Leesburg, VA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.1 miles or 1h 4m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charlottesville, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Leesburg, 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 Leesburg, VA
This is one driving day of about 104.2 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Leesburg, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.1 mi from Leesburg, VA · 1h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.1 miles from Leesburg, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Charlottesville, VA
The final approach into Charlottesville, 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 Charlottesville, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.68 one way
$33.35 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $18.17 | $36.34 |
| premium | $4.78 | $19.60 | $39.20 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $23.15 | $46.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.3 | 0 | $10.94 | $5.00 |
| Efficient EV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.12 | $4.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.7 | 0 | $14.59 | $6.67 |
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.
Destination
Charlottesville, VA
Afternoon in Charlottesville on Sunday
Local time
3:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°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 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 9m 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 Leesburg, VA to Charlottesville, VA covers 104.2 miles and takes about 2h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South King Street, James Monroe Highway, James Madison Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.1 miles from Leesburg, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.68 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.
The drive from Leesburg, VA to Charlottesville, VA is easy. At 2h 9m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Leesburg, VA to Charlottesville, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Leesburg, VA to Charlottesville, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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