The drive from Matoaca, VA to Alexandria, VA covers 129.8 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 Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, I 95, River Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 76.9 miles on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.30 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
64.9 miles from Matoaca, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 129.8 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 (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 38m highway drive covering 129.8 miles, with most of the trip on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 76.9 miles on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 76.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near VA 36 / River Road.
Driving Effort9/10
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 20 significant decision points across 129.8 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 0.1 miles (VA 36 / River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.3 miles (I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 120.7 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|VA 36 / River Road
Turn right onto VA 36 / River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
30.3 mi into trip|~41m in|I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
120.7 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 toward I 95 North, I 495 East: Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 95 North, I 495 East: Baltimore
8
126.2 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway (Local)
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway (Local) toward I 95, I 495: Alexandria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95, I 495: Alexandria
8
128.2 mi into trip|~2h 34m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir
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 177A-B
Toward US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
76.9 mi
1h 29m
I 95
42.1 mi
50m
River Road
2.9 mi
4m
Capital Beltway (Local)
2 mi
2m
East Westover Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
East River Road
0.6 mi
<1m
Conduit Road
0.5 mi
1m
South Washington Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
— 76.9 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Matoaca, VA and Alexandria, VA.
1
Start on Fitzhugh Street
287 ft·17 sec·Fitzhugh Street
2
Turn left onto SR 1304
163 ft·9 sec·Wilcox Street
3
Turn right onto VA 36
2.9 mi·4 min·River Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto SR 1107
0.1 mi·19 sec·Granger Street
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on SR 1107
0.6 mi·58 sec·East River Road
6
Continue on SR 1107
0.4 mi·43 sec·Dupuy Avenue
7
Turn left onto US 1; US 301
0.4 mi·1 min·Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn right onto East Westover Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·East Westover Avenue
9
At end of road, turn left onto Conduit Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Conduit Road
10
Turn left onto VA 144
225 ft·10 sec·Temple Avenue
Use the left lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 95 North: Richmond
12
Merge onto I 95
24 mi·30 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
53 mi·58 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; US 17
1.6 mi·1 min·I 95; US 17
15
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
16
Merge onto I 95
35 mi·41 min·I 95
Use the slight left lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
5.5 mi·7 min·I 95
Toward I 95 North, I 495 East: BaltimoreUse the slight left / straight lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; I 495
2.0 mi·2 min·Capital Beltway (Local)
Toward I 95, I 495: AlexandriaUse the slight right lane.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 177A-BToward US 1: Alexandria, Fort BelvoirUse the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 177BToward US 1 North: Alexandria
21
Merge onto US 1
440 ft·8 sec·Richmond Highway
22
Continue on US 1
0.3 mi·45 sec·South Patrick Street
23
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·Franklin Street
Use the right lane.
24
Turn left onto VA 400
0.5 mi·1 min·South Washington Street
Use the left lane.
25
Arrive at destination
VA 400
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 64.9 miles from Matoaca, VA, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.9 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 29 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.9 miles or 1h 20m 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 Alexandria, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Matoaca, 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 Matoaca, VA
This is one driving day of about 129.8 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Matoaca, 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 Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike for about 76.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.9 mi from Matoaca, VA
· 1h 20m into the drive
The midpoint is around 64.9 miles from Matoaca, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.9 miles.
Arriving in Alexandria, VA
The final approach into Alexandria, 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 Alexandria, VA.
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.
Petersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
Park Closure: Eastern Front Tour Road south of Route 36 - Closed
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.9
0
$13.63
$6.23
Efficient EV
32.5
0
$11.36
$5.19
EV Truck/SUV
51.9
0
$18.17
$8.31
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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 16, 2026
Origin
Matoaca, VA
Night
in Matoaca on Friday
Local time
10:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alexandria, VA
Night
in Alexandria on Friday
Local time
10:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Ashland, VA
65 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
13 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 Matoaca, VA to Alexandria, VA covers 129.8 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 Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, I 95, River 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 64.9 miles from Matoaca, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.30 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 20 significant decision points across 129.8 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 0.1 miles (VA 36 / River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.3 miles (I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 120.7 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Matoaca, VA to Alexandria, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
