Origin
McLean, VA
Evening in McLean on Sunday
Local time
6:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from McLean, VA to Richmond, VA
Drive Time
2h 11m
Distance
107.3 mi
173 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 2m
★
6 AM
2h 11m
8 AM
2h 30m
10 AM
2h 18m
12 PM
2h 16m
3 PM
2h 19m
5 PM
2h 29m
8 PM
2h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McLean, VA
Никита Кригер
Trip Overview
Traveling the 107.3 miles from McLean to Richmond is a straightforward journey through the heart of Virginia. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 11 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $17, the drive is both efficient and budget-friendly for solo travelers or families. You will remain within the Southeast region throughout the entire transit, moving between these two major hubs. Because the duration is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you have a packed itinerary at your destination. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that connects the northern suburbs to the state capital with ease.
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
53.6 miles from McLean, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 107.3-mile trip offers a mixed driving profile that transitions through some of Virginia's busiest corridors. You will rely heavily on major arteries including the Capital Beltway, the Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway, and a significant portion of I-95. Roughly 52% of your time will be spent on highways, so prepare for a consistent interstate experience rather than winding backroads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a 55.7-mile segment on I-95, which requires steady focus and attention to traffic flow. As you progress, the road character shifts from the high-density suburban congestion near McLean to the more open stretches leading toward Richmond.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
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 55.7 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 16 significant decision points across 107.3 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 16 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
105.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 5m in
Take the exit toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 78
Toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from McLean, VA to Richmond, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Franconia along the way.
Franconia
13.1 mi in
|
~20m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 55.7 mi | 1h 2m |
| Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway | 35.7 mi | 42m |
| Capital Beltway | 9.7 mi | 12m |
| Dolley Madison Boulevard | 2 mi | 4m |
| Hermitage Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Old Dominion Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Meadow Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Arthur Ashe Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 55.7 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McLean, VA and Richmond, 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
56 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
I 95
Use the none lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 78
Toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto VA 161
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Use the none lane.
14
Turn left onto Robin Hood Road
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Robin Hood Road
15
Turn right onto Hermitage Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Hermitage Road
16
Continue on North Meadow Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
North Meadow Street
17
Turn left onto Monument Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Monument Avenue
18
Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle
81 ft
·
2 sec
·
Marcus-David Peters Circle
19
Arrive at destination
Marcus-David Peters Circle
Trip Plan
Planning your departure time is the most important factor for this 2-hour and 11-minute drive. Since you are navigating high-traffic corridors like the Capital Beltway and I-95, avoiding peak rush hours will significantly improve your experience. You likely won't need any formal stops given the manageable duration, but having your $17 fuel budget ready before you leave ensures a smooth trip. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as the short distance allows you to depart early in the morning or mid-afternoon without feeling rushed. A concrete tip for this route: keep a close watch on real-time traffic updates for the I-95 corridor, as road conditions can change rapidly throughout the day.
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 53.6 miles from McLean, VA, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.7 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 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.6 miles or 1h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, 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 107.3 miles and 2h 11m.
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 I 95 for about 55.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53.6 mi from McLean, VA · 1h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 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 53.6 miles from McLean, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Richmond, VA
The final approach into Richmond, 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 Richmond, 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
$17.17 one way
$34.34 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $18.71 | $37.42 |
| premium | $4.78 | $20.18 | $40.37 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $23.84 | $47.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.2 | 0 | $11.27 | $5.15 |
| Efficient EV | 26.8 | 0 | $9.39 | $4.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.9 | 0 | $15.02 | $6.87 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
Richmond, VA
Evening in Richmond on Sunday
Local time
6:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
62°F
La Plata, MD
54 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
3 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 11m 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 Richmond, VA covers 107.3 miles and takes about 2h 11m 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, Capital Beltway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 53.6 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 $17.17 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 16 significant decision points across 107.3 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 Richmond, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Franconia along the way.
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