Origin
McLean, VA
Afternoon in McLean on Sunday
Local time
3:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from McLean, VA to Colonial Heights, VA
Drive Time
2h 38m
Distance
129.1 mi
208 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 28m
★
6 AM
2h 39m
8 AM
3h 0m
10 AM
2h 46m
12 PM
2h 44m
3 PM
2h 47m
5 PM
2h 59m
8 PM
2h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McLean, VA
Никита Кригер
Colonial Heights, VA
Pavan Sai .D
Trip Overview
Traveling from McLean to Colonial Heights covers 129.1 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 38 minutes. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, as it connects two points within the Southeast region of Virginia. You should budget approximately $21 for fuel to complete the journey. Because the transit time is relatively short, you have the flexibility to make this a quick morning departure or a relaxed afternoon drive. It serves as a straightforward connection between Northern Virginia and the Richmond-Petersburg area, making it a manageable trek for most drivers.
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
64.5 miles from McLean, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Drive Character
This drive is a mixed-profile experience, characterized by a heavy reliance on major thoroughfares. Approximately 60% of your time will be spent on highways, specifically utilizing the Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway and the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike as part of your I-95 transit. Be prepared for a long haul, as your longest uninterrupted stretch spans 58.4 miles on I-95. The road transitions from the dense urban corridors of Northern Virginia into the more centralized transit routes leading toward Petersburg, requiring steady focus through high-traffic segments.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 58.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Beverly Road.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 129.1 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: at 0.1 miles (Beverly Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Beverly Road
Turn left onto Beverly Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
12.6 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Richmond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 57A
Toward I 95 South: Richmond
8
13.1 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, SR 644 East: Richmond, Franconia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, SR 644 East: Richmond, Franc...
7
13.4 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South: Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Toward I 95 South: Richmond
7
125.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward SR 620 West: Woods Edge Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 58B
Toward SR 620 West: Woods Edge Road
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from McLean, VA to Colonial Heights, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Franconia along the way.
Franconia
13.1 mi in
|
~20m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 58.4 mi | 1h 5m |
| Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway | 35.7 mi | 42m |
| Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike | 17.3 mi | 21m |
| Capital Beltway | 9.7 mi | 12m |
| Dolley Madison Boulevard | 2 mi | 4m |
| Route 1 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Woods Edge Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 58.4 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McLean, VA and Colonial Heights, VA.
1
Start on Elm Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Elm Street
2
Turn left onto Beverly Road
365 ft
·
15 sec
·
Beverly Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto VA 309
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Old Dominion Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto VA 123
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Dolley Madison Boulevard
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 495 South
6
Merge onto I 495
9.7 mi
·
12 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the none lane.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 57A
Toward I 95 South: Richmond
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 95 South, SR 644 East: Richmond, Franconia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 95 South: Richmond
Use the none lane.
10
Merge onto I 395
36 mi
·
42 min
·
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
58 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
I 95
Use the none lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
17 mi
·
21 min
·
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 58B
Toward SR 620 West: Woods Edge Road
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto SR 620
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Woods Edge Road
15
Turn left onto US 1; US 301
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Route 1
Use the left / none lanes.
16
Continue on US 1; US 301; VA 144
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Boulevard
Use the none / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto East Ellerslie Avenue
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
East Ellerslie Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right
257 ft
·
18 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To ensure a smooth trip, plan for at least one stop during the 129.1-mile journey to break up the monotony of the interstate. Since traffic congestion can fluctuate significantly on I-95, checking real-time conditions before you head out is your best strategy for avoiding unnecessary delays. If possible, avoid peak rush hours in the Northern Virginia and Richmond corridors to keep your travel time closer to the 2-hour and 38-minute estimate. With a $21 fuel budget, filling up your tank before leaving McLean allows you to bypass extra stops, giving you more freedom to pace your drive according to your own comfort level.
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 64.5 miles from McLean, VA, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.4 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 80 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.5 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 Colonial Heights, 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 129.1 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 58.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.5 mi from McLean, VA · 1h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 64.5 miles from McLean, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Colonial Heights, VA
The final approach into Colonial Heights, 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 Colonial Heights, 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
$20.66 one way
$41.32 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $22.51 | $45.02 |
| premium | $4.78 | $24.29 | $48.57 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $28.68 | $57.36 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.21
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(17.3 mi)
$1.21
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
$21
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.7 | 0 | $13.56 | $6.20 |
| Efficient EV | 32.3 | 0 | $11.30 | $5.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.6 | 0 | $18.07 | $8.26 |
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.
Destination
Colonial Heights, VA
Afternoon in Colonial Heights on Sunday
Local time
3:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
62°F
La Plata, MD
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
4 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 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 McLean, VA to Colonial Heights, VA covers 129.1 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 I 95, Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway, Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.5 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 $20.66 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 15 significant decision points across 129.1 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: at 0.1 miles (Beverly Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from McLean, VA to Colonial Heights, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Franconia along the way.
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