Origin
McLean, VA
Afternoon in McLean on Thursday
Local time
3:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from McLean, VA to Bristol, VA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
6h 51m
Distance
369.1 mi
594 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$58
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 40m
★
6 AM
6h 52m
8 AM
7h 15m
10 AM
7h 0m
12 PM
6h 57m
3 PM
7h 1m
5 PM
7h 14m
8 PM
6h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McLean, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Bristol, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from McLean, VA to Bristol, VA covers 369.1 miles and takes about 6h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Beverly Road, Old Dominion Drive, Dolley Madison Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $57.72 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
184.6 miles from McLean, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 25m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 51m. Total distance: 369.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 51m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 51m drive with frequent turns across 369.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Beverly Road 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 51m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from McLean, VA to Bristol, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Beverly Road | — | — |
| Old Dominion Drive | — | — |
| Dolley Madison Boulevard | — | — |
| I 495 South | — | — |
| Capital Beltway | — | — |
| I 66 West | — | — |
| I 81 South | — | — |
| I 381 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Beverly Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McLean, VA and Bristol, VA.
1
Start on Elm Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Elm Street
2
Turn left onto Beverly Road
364 ft
·
15 sec
·
Beverly Road
3
Turn right onto Old Dominion Drive
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Old Dominion Drive
4
Turn left onto Dolley Madison Boulevard
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Dolley Madison Boulevard
5
Take the ramp slight right toward I 495 South
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 495 South
6
Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Capital Beltway
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 66 West: Manassas, Front Royal
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
I 66 West: Manassas, Front Royal
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 66 West: Manassas, Front Royal
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
I 66 West: Manassas, Front Royal
9
Merge slight left
64 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 South: Roanoke
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 81 South: Roanoke
11
Merge slight right onto I 81 South: Roanoke
109 mi
·
1 hr 58 min
·
I 81 South: Roanoke
12
Keep slight left
117 mi
·
2 hr 9 min
13
Continue straight
1.3 mi
·
1 min
14
Keep slight left
69 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 381: Bristol
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 381: Bristol
16
Continue straight
1.0 mi
·
1 min
17
Continue on Commonwealth Avenue
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Commonwealth Avenue
18
Turn left onto Sullins Street
115 ft
·
5 sec
·
Sullins Street
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 184.6 miles from McLean, VA, or about 3h 25m 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 81 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 184.6 miles or 3h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bristol, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving McLean, 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 McLean, VA
This is one driving day of about 369.1 miles and 6h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from McLean, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 184.6 mi from McLean, VA · 3h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
185 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 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 184.6 miles from McLean, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bristol, VA
The final approach into Bristol, 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 Bristol, 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
$57.72 one way
$115.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
129 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $63.11 | $126.22 |
| premium | $4.70 | $68.31 | $136.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $81.49 | $162.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 110.7 | 1 | $38.76 | $17.72 |
| Efficient EV | 92.3 | 1 | $32.30 | $14.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 147.6 | 1 | $51.67 | $23.62 |
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Bristol, VA
Afternoon in Bristol on Thursday
Local time
3:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
6 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
6h 51m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from McLean, VA to Bristol, VA covers 369.1 miles and takes about 6h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Beverly Road, Old Dominion Drive, Dolley Madison Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 184.6 miles from McLean, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $57.72 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 51m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from McLean, VA to Bristol, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from McLean, VA to Bristol, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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