Trip from Manassas, VA to Salem, VA

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 38m

Distance

72.7 mi

117 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min

4 AM

1h 31m ★

6 AM

1h 39m

8 AM

1h 53m

10 AM

1h 44m

12 PM

1h 42m

3 PM

1h 44m

5 PM

1h 53m

8 PM

1h 34m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Trip Overview

The drive from Manassas, VA to Salem, VA covers 72.7 miles and takes about 1h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 66, Stonewall Jackson Highway, US 340 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.1 miles on I 66. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.37 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

36.4 miles from Manassas, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

The drive from Manassas, VA to Salem, VA covers 72.7 miles and takes about 1h 38m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 12 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 29.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in near VA 234.

Route Complexity 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Manassas, VA to Salem, VA is easy. At 1h 38m with 54% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4.7 miles (VA 234): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.7 miles (VA 79 / Apple Mountain Road): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7

4.7 mi into trip | ~9m in | VA 234

Take the ramp onto VA 234 toward I 66 West, VA 234 South: Front Royal

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward I 66 West, VA 234 South: Front Royal

8

38.5 mi into trip | ~46m in

Take the exit toward VA 79: Linden, Front Royal

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 13 Toward VA 79: Linden, Front Royal

4

38.7 mi into trip | ~47m in | VA 79 / Apple Mountain Road

Turn left onto VA 79 / Apple Mountain Road

Navigation decision point

4

44.2 mi into trip | ~57m in | US 340 / South Royal Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto US 340 / South Royal Avenue

Navigation decision point

5

67.1 mi into trip | ~1h 30m in | US 340

Take the ramp onto US 340 toward US 211 West, US 340 South

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 211 West, US 340 South

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 Manassas, VA to Salem, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Front Royal along the way.

Front Royal

38.5 mi in | ~46m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 66	29.1 mi	31m
Stonewall Jackson Highway	22.6 mi	32m
US 340	5.7 mi	8m
John Marshall Highway	4.7 mi	7m
VA 234	4.7 mi	5m
Sudley Road	3.9 mi	7m
Grant Avenue	0.8 mi	2m
South Street	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 66 — 29.1 mi, about 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on VA 234 BUS

0.8 mi · 2 min · Grant Avenue

2

Turn slight left onto VA 234 BUS

3.9 mi · 7 min · Sudley Road

Use the left / straight lanes.

3

Take the ramp onto VA 234

4.7 mi · 5 min · VA 234

Toward I 66 West, VA 234 South: Front Royal Use the left lane.

4

Continue on I 66

29 mi · 31 min · I 66

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Exit 13 Toward VA 79: Linden, Front Royal Use the slight right lane.

6

Turn left onto VA 79

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Apple Mountain Road

7

Turn right onto VA 55

4.7 mi · 7 min · John Marshall Highway

8

Continue on VA 55

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Street

9

At end of road, turn left onto US 340

0.3 mi · 54 sec · South Royal Avenue

10

Continue on US 340

23 mi · 32 min · Stonewall Jackson Highway

11

Take the ramp onto US 340

5.7 mi · 8 min · US 340

Toward US 211 West, US 340 South

12

Arrive at destination

US 211; US 340

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 36.4 miles from Manassas, VA, or about 44m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.1 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 72.7 miles or 1h 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 36.4 miles or 44m 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 22m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salem, VA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Manassas, 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 Manassas, VA

This is one driving day of about 72.7 miles and 1h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Manassas, 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 I 66 for about 29.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 36.4 mi from Manassas, VA · 44m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Poolesville, MD

36 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

Cumberland, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 72.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Poolesville, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.4 miles from Manassas, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Salem, VA

The final approach into Salem, 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 Salem, 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

$11.37 one way

$22.74 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$12.43	$24.86
premium	$4.70	$13.46	$26.91
diesel	$5.61	$16.05	$32.10

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	21.8	$7.63	$3.49
Efficient EV	18.2	$6.36	$2.91
EV Truck/SUV	29.1	$10.18	$4.65

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

9 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 5 days ago

Origin

Manassas, VA

Morning in Manassas on Wednesday

Local time

6:03 AM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Salem, VA

Morning in Salem on Wednesday

Local time

6:03 AM

EDT

Current temp

35°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

33 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

1h 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 Manassas, VA to Salem, VA covers 72.7 miles and takes about 1h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 66, Stonewall Jackson Highway, US 340. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 36.4 miles from Manassas, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.37 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.