The drive from McLean, VA to Madison Heights, VA covers 169.7 miles and takes about 3h 47m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 29, North Seminole Trail, James Madison Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57.9 miles on US 29.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.54 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
84.9 miles from McLean, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 47m. Total distance: 169.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from McLean, VA to Madison Heights, VA covers 169.7 miles and takes about 3h 47m, 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 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 29 is the longest continuous segment at about 57.9 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.
Driving Effort10/10
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 169.7 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 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.3 miles: 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.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Beverly Road
Turn left onto Beverly Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
4.9 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward I 66 West: Manassas, Front Royal
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49
Toward I 66 West: Manassas, Front Royal
9
5.3 mi into trip|~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 66 West: Manassas, Front Royal
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 49
Toward I 66 West: Manassas, Front Royal
8
27 mi into trip|~36m in
Take the exit toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 43A
Toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
8
27.7 mi into trip|~37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
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 McLean, VA to Madison Heights, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Warrenton along the way.
Warrenton
27 mi in|~36m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 29
57.9 mi
1h 11m
North Seminole Trail
33.8 mi
47m
James Madison Highway
23.3 mi
30m
I 66
21.4 mi
25m
Lee Highway
10.6 mi
15m
James Monroe Highway
7.8 mi
9m
Eastern Bypass
2.6 mi
3m
US 29 BUS
2.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 29
— 57.9 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McLean, VA and Madison 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
2.1 mi·2 min·Capital Beltway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 49Toward I 66 West: Manassas, Front RoyalUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 49Toward I 66 West: Manassas, Front RoyalUse the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Merge onto I 66
21 mi·25 min·I 66
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 43AToward US 29 South: Gainesville, WarrentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 29 South: Gainesville, WarrentonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto US 29
11 mi·15 min·Lee Highway
Use the left lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29
0.5 mi·44 sec·US 15; US 29
Toward US 15 South, US 29 South
14
Merge onto US 15; US 17; US 29
2.6 mi·3 min·Eastern Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 15; US 17; US 29
5.1 mi·7 min·James Madison Highway
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29
18 mi·23 min·James Madison Highway
17
Continue on US 29
7.8 mi·9 min·James Monroe Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on US 29
34 mi·47 min·North Seminole Trail
19
Continue on US 29
0.3 mi·41 sec·Emmet Street North
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit onto US 29
58 mi·1 hr 11 min·US 29
Toward US 29 South, US 250 West
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward VA 130 West: Madison Heights
22
Turn right onto VA 130
2.1 mi·3 min·Amelon Expressway
23
Turn left onto US 29 BUS
2.2 mi·3 min·US 29 BUS
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Turn left onto VA 163
0.4 mi·43 sec·South Amherst Highway
Use the left lane.
25
Turn left onto Phelps Road
167 ft·7 sec·Phelps Road
26
Arrive at destination
Phelps Road
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 84.9 miles from McLean, VA, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.9 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 37 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.9 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Madison 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 169.7 miles and 3h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 US 29 for about 57.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.9 mi from McLean, VA
· 1h 55m into the drive
The midpoint is around 84.9 miles from McLean, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Madison Heights, VA
The final approach into Madison 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 Madison Heights, 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.
Shenandoah National Park
National Park
Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
$30
near mile 81.9
On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the effective end of the nation's largest war. Question...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 163.9
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 17.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.54 one way
$53.07 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$29.02
$58.03
premium
$4.70
$31.41
$62.82
diesel
$5.61
$37.47
$74.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.9
0
$17.82
$8.15
Efficient EV
42.4
0
$14.85
$6.79
EV Truck/SUV
67.9
0
$23.76
$10.86
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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
McLean, VA
Night
in McLean on Thursday
Local time
9:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Madison Heights, VA
Night
in Madison Heights on Thursday
Local time
9:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
SW 13 mph0% chanceLive 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
15 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
3h 47m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Madison Heights, VA covers 169.7 miles and takes about 3h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 29, North Seminole Trail, James Madison Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.9 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 $26.54 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 169.7 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 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from McLean, VA to Madison Heights, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Warrenton along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Shenandoah National Park, Appomattox Court House National Historical Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.
