Origin
Merrifield, VA
Afternoon in Merrifield on Saturday
Local time
12:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Merrifield, VA to Alexandria, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
15.7 mi
25 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 24m
8 AM
0h 28m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 25m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 28m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Merrifield, VA
Zetong Li
Alexandria, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Merrifield, VA to Alexandria, VA is 15.7 miles and takes about 24 minutes via Capital Beltway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, straightforward drive entirely within Virginia, moving you from the Southeast region of the state to another part of the Southeast. Given its brief duration and local road focus, this trip is best suited for a quick, no-fuss journey rather than an extended adventure. It's more about navigating local traffic than experiencing a long-haul drive.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 15.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with no highway percentage, meaning you'll be navigating surface streets and interchanges for the entire 15.7 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.7 miles on the Capital Beltway. Expect frequent turns and traffic lights as you make your way, rather than long, open stretches of highway. The drive will likely feel like a typical urban or suburban commute, requiring active attention to navigation and traffic signals.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 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 10.7 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 0.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 15.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12 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 14 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 495 South: Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 495 South: Richmond
8
12 mi into trip
|
~17m 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
14 mi into trip
|
~19m 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
6
14.2 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 1 North: Alexandria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 177B
Toward US 1 North: Alexandria
6
15 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
Franklin Street
Turn right onto Franklin Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
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 Merrifield, VA to Alexandria, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Belvoir along the way.
Fort Belvoir
14 mi in
|
~19m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 10.7 mi | 13m |
| Capital Beltway (Local) | 2 mi | 2m |
| Gallows Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Patrick Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Franklin Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Richmond Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 10.7 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Merrifield, VA and Alexandria, VA.
1
Start on SR 650
93 ft
·
4 sec
·
Gallows Road
2
Continue on SR 650
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Gallows Road
Use the left lane.
3
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 650
114 ft
·
2 sec
·
Gallows Road
4
Turn straight
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
Toward US 50 East: Arlington Boulevard, Richmond
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 495 South: Richmond
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 495
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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 left at fork
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 177B
Toward US 1 North: Alexandria
10
Merge onto US 1
440 ft
·
8 sec
·
Richmond Highway
11
Continue on US 1
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Patrick Street
12
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Franklin Street
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto VA 400
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Washington Street
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
VA 400
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.46 one way
$4.91 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $2.68 | $5.37 |
| premium | $4.70 | $2.91 | $5.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.47 | $6.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.75 |
| Efficient EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.37 | $0.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.20 | $1.00 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Alexandria, VA
Afternoon in Alexandria on Saturday
Local time
12:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
7 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
24m 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 Merrifield, VA to Alexandria, VA covers 15.7 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Capital Beltway, Capital Beltway (Local), Gallows Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7.8 miles from Merrifield, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.46 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 short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 15.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12 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 14 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Merrifield, VA to Alexandria, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Belvoir along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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