Trip from Leesburg, VA to Manassas, VA

Drive Time

48m

Distance

31.1 mi

50 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 45m ★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Leesburg, VA, VA

Leesburg, VA

Eric Joseph

Downtown Manassas, VA, VA

Manassas, VA

Francesco Ungaro

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick transition between Leesburg and Manassas, expect a straightforward 31.1-mile journey that typically takes about 48 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as the distance is short enough that you will not need an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Dulles Greenway, Sully Road, and Centreville Road to complete the transit. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $5, this is a highly economical drive for commuters or casual travelers. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region of Virginia, the trip maintains a consistent regional feel throughout the drive.

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

15.6 miles from Leesburg, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway share. You will find that the road requires your full attention as you transition between various local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is an 11.6-mile segment on the Dulles Greenway, which provides a brief moment of consistency. Outside of that stretch, the character of the drive shifts frequently, demanding active navigation through the local road network. It is a practical, functional transit that prioritizes local connectivity over high-speed highway travel.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dulles Greenway is the longest continuous segment at about 11.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 15 BUS / South King Street.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 31.1 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: near the start (US 15 BUS / South King Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 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 | US 15 BUS / South King Street

Turn left onto US 15 BUS / South King Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
7
1.1 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward VA 7 East, US 15 North: Alexandria, Leesburg Bypass

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward VA 7 East, US 15 North: Alexandria, Lees...
7
1.7 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the exit toward VA 267 East: Dulles Airport, Washington

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. Toward VA 267 East: Dulles Airport, Washington
8
13.7 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward VA 28 South: Dulles Airport, Centreville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 9A Toward VA 28 South: Dulles Airport, Centreville
7
14.1 mi into trip | ~19m in

Keep slight right at fork toward VA 28 South: Centreville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward VA 28 South: Centreville

Towns Along This Route

Between Leesburg, VA and Manassas, VA, road signs point toward Washington and Centreville.

Washington

1.7 mi in | ~4m

Centreville

13.7 mi in | ~18m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dulles Greenway 11.6 mi 13m
Sully Road 9.6 mi 13m
Centreville Road 6.3 mi 12m
South King Street 1.1 mi 3m
Church Street 0.3 mi 1m
Leesburg Bypass 0.3 mi <1m
East Market Street <0.1 mi <1m
Grant Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Dulles Greenway — 11.6 mi, about 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Leesburg, VA and Manassas, VA.

1

Start on VA 7 BUS

226 ft · 15 sec · East Market Street
2

Turn left onto US 15 BUS

1.1 mi · 3 min · South King Street
Use the none lane.
3

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward VA 7 East, US 15 North: Alexandria, Leesburg Bypass Use the left lane.
4

Merge onto US 15; VA 7

0.3 mi · 25 sec · Leesburg Bypass
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward VA 267 East: Dulles Airport, Washington Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on VA 267

12 mi · 13 min · Dulles Greenway
Use the none lane.
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Exit 9A Toward VA 28 South: Dulles Airport, Centreville Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward VA 28 South: Centreville Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto VA 28

9.6 mi · 13 min · Sully Road
Use the none lane.
10

Continue on VA 28

6.3 mi · 12 min · Centreville Road
Use the left / none lanes.
11

Continue on VA 28

0.3 mi · 1 min · Church Street
12

Turn left onto VA 234 BUS

155 ft · 2 sec · Grant Avenue
13

Arrive at destination

VA 234 BUS

Trip Plan

Because this is a short 48-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 31.1-mile distance without needing to plan for formal stops, allowing you to drive straight through to your destination. Keep in mind that since the route relies on a mix of local roads and the Dulles Greenway, you should stay alert for shifting traffic patterns as you move between Centreville Road and Sully Road. Budgeting $5 for fuel should be more than sufficient for this distance. My best tip for this drive is to keep your navigation apps open, as the turn-heavy nature of the route makes it easy to miss a junction while moving between the primary roads.

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 15.6 miles from Leesburg, VA, or about 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 11.6 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 31.1 miles or 48m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 15.6 miles or 22m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manassas, 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 31.1 miles and 48m.

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.
The longest stretch is on Dulles Greenway for about 11.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 15.6 mi from Leesburg, VA · 22m into the drive

Downtown Rockville, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockville, MD

16 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

Poolesville, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockville, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 15.6 miles from Leesburg, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Manassas, VA

The final approach into Manassas, 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 Manassas, 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

$4.98 one way

$9.95 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 11 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $5.42 $10.85
premium $4.78 $5.85 $11.70
diesel $5.64 $6.91 $13.82

Estimated Tolls: $2.91

Dulles Greenway (11.6 mi) $2.91

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

$5

Tolls

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$33–$58

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 10.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.3 0 $3.27 $1.49
Efficient EV 7.8 0 $2.72 $1.24
EV Truck/SUV 12.4 0 $4.35 $1.99

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (64% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Leesburg, VA

Evening in Leesburg on Sunday

Local time

6:35 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Manassas, VA

Evening in Manassas on Sunday

Local time

6:35 PM

EDT

Current temp

68°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

3 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

48m 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 Manassas, VA covers 31.1 miles and takes about 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dulles Greenway, Sully Road, Centreville Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.6 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 $4.98 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 8 significant decision points across 31.1 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: near the start (US 15 BUS / South King Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Leesburg, VA and Manassas, VA, road signs point toward Washington and Centreville.

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