Trip from McLean, VA to Fort Hunt, VA

Drive Time

38m

Distance

24.8 mi

40 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 35m ★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m

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

Downtown McLean, VA, VA

McLean, VA

Никита Кригер

Downtown Fort Hunt, VA, VA

Fort Hunt, VA

arnaud audoin

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick excursion from McLean to Fort Hunt, you can expect a manageable 24.8-mile journey that typically takes about 38 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as the short duration eliminates the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Dolley Madison Boulevard, the Capital Beltway, and Fort Hunt Road. Budgeting around $4 for fuel should be sufficient for this local trek across Northern Virginia. Since both the origin and destination are located in the Southeast region, the drive remains within a consistent geographic context, making it a straightforward experience for any local traveler.

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

12.4 miles from McLean, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that requires your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will spend 15.1 miles on the Capital Beltway, the route features 0% highway share in terms of long-distance interstate travel, keeping you primarily on local arteries. You will find that the character of the road shifts as you transition from the initial boulevard stretches into the more technical segments near your destination. This mix of fast-moving traffic and local maneuvering keeps the drive engaging without being overly taxing. You won't find long, empty stretches here, as the route is defined by its frequent transitions between major thoroughfares and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Capital Beltway is the longest continuous segment at about 15.1 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 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 14 significant decision points across 24.8 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 (Beverly Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway (Local)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These 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.
8
18 mi into trip | ~25m 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
20 mi into trip | ~28m 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
9
20.1 mi into trip | ~28m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 1 South: Fort Belvoir

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 177A Toward US 1 South: Fort Belvoir
7
20.4 mi into trip | ~29m in

Take the exit toward Fort Hunt Road: Old Richmond Highway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward Fort Hunt Road: Old Richmond Highway

Towns Along This Route

Between McLean, VA and Fort Hunt, VA, road signs point toward Fort Belvoir and Fort Hunt Road: Old Richmond Highway.

Fort Belvoir

20 mi in | ~28m

Fort Hunt Road: Old Richmond Highway

20.4 mi in | ~29m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Capital Beltway 15.1 mi 18m
Fort Hunt Road 4.2 mi 8m
Dolley Madison Boulevard 2 mi 4m
Capital Beltway (Local) 2 mi 2m
Old Dominion Drive 0.3 mi <1m
Elm Street 0.1 mi <1m
Collingwood Road <0.1 mi <1m
Beverly Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Capital Beltway — 15.1 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between McLean, VA and Fort Hunt, 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

15 mi · 18 min · Capital Beltway
Use the none lane.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; I 495

2.0 mi · 2 min · Capital Beltway (Local)
Toward I 95, I 495: Alexandria Use the slight right lane.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 177A-B Toward US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir Use the slight right lane.
9

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 19 sec
Exit 177A Toward US 1 South: Fort Belvoir Use the slight right lane.
10

Merge onto US 1

344 ft · 6 sec · Richmond Highway
11

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 29 sec
Toward Fort Hunt Road: Old Richmond Highway Use the slight right lane.
12

Turn left onto SR 629

4.2 mi · 8 min · Fort Hunt Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
13

Turn right onto SR 628

457 ft · 20 sec · Collingwood Road
14

Turn left

250 ft · 20 sec
15

Turn right

220 ft · 16 sec
16

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Because this is a short 38-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though it is wise to account for local traffic patterns on the Capital Beltway. Since there are no mandatory stops required for a route of this length, you can complete the trip in one efficient push. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition between the primary roads, as the turn-heavy nature of the route requires quick lane changes. A practical tip for this specific drive is to ensure your fuel tank is topped off before you leave, as the $4 estimate is quite lean and leaves little room for idling in heavy traffic. Enjoy the simplicity of this quick hop across the region.

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 12.4 miles from McLean, VA, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.1 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 24.8 miles or 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 12.4 miles or 18m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Hunt, 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 24.8 miles and 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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Capital Beltway for about 15.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 12.4 mi from McLean, VA · 18m into the drive

Downtown Washington, DC, DC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Washington, DC

12 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

Washington, DC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Washington, DC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 12.4 miles from McLean, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Fort Hunt, VA

The final approach into Fort Hunt, 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 Fort Hunt, 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

$3.97 one way

$7.94 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $4.32 $8.65
premium $4.78 $4.67 $9.33
diesel $5.64 $5.51 $11.02

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.4 0 $2.60 $1.19
Efficient EV 6.2 0 $2.17 $0.99
EV Truck/SUV 9.9 0 $3.47 $1.59

Gas CO2

9 kg

EV CO2

3 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

McLean, VA

Evening in McLean on Sunday

Local time

6:34 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fort Hunt, VA

Evening in Fort Hunt on Sunday

Local time

6:34 PM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

68°F

Washington, DC

12 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

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 Fort Hunt, VA covers 24.8 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Capital Beltway, Fort Hunt Road, Dolley Madison Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.4 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 $3.97 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 14 significant decision points across 24.8 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 (Beverly Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway (Local)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between McLean, VA and Fort Hunt, VA, road signs point toward Fort Belvoir and Fort Hunt Road: Old Richmond Highway.

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