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Trip from Montrose, VA to Arlington, VA

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

2h 14m

Distance

110.8 mi

178 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 5m ★
6 AM
2h 14m
8 AM
2h 33m
10 AM
2h 21m
12 PM
2h 19m
3 PM
2h 22m
5 PM
2h 32m
8 PM
2h 8m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Montrose, VA, VA

Montrose, VA

César O'neill

Downtown Arlington, VA, VA

Arlington, VA

Dominik Gryzbon

Trip Overview

The drive from Montrose, VA to Arlington, VA covers 110.8 miles and takes about 2h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, I 95, Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 52.8 miles on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.33 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.

Midpoint

55.4 miles from Montrose, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 110.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 14m highway drive covering 110.8 miles, with most of the trip on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 52.8 miles on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike.

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.
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 52.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.6 miles in near I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 13 significant decision points across 110.8 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 8.6 miles (I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.9 miles (I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 107.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
8.6 mi into trip | ~13m in | I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
98.9 mi into trip | ~1h 55m in | I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway toward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Tysons Corner

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Exit 170A; 170B Toward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Ty...
8
107.7 mi into trip | ~2h 6m in

Take the exit toward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike

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 8A Toward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pi...
8
108 mi into trip | ~2h 7m in

Keep slight left at fork toward VA 27 West: Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward VA 27 West: Joint Base Myer-Henderson Ha...
6
108.3 mi into trip | ~2h 8m in | VA 27 / Washington Boulevard

Merge onto VA 27 / Washington Boulevard toward Columbia Pike

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Columbia Pike

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 Montrose, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Tysons Corner along the way.

Tysons Corner

98.9 mi in | ~1h 55m | via I 395

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike 52.8 mi 58m
I 95 36.6 mi 43m
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway 8.7 mi 10m
I 64 6 mi 8m
Washington Boulevard 1.8 mi 3m
Masonic Lane 1.1 mi 1m
Nine Mile Road 0.8 mi 1m
Wilson Boulevard 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike — 52.8 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Montrose, VA and Arlington, VA.

1

Start on Carlisle Avenue

283 ft · 16 sec · Carlisle Avenue
2

Turn left onto Brittles Lane

0.4 mi · 40 sec · Brittles Lane
3

Continue on Masonic Lane

1.1 mi · 1 min · Masonic Lane
4

At end of road, turn left onto VA 33

0.8 mi · 1 min · Nine Mile Road
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 64 West: Downtown
6

Merge onto I 64

6.0 mi · 8 min · I 64
Use the straight lane.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95

53 mi · 58 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; US 17

1.6 mi · 1 min · I 95; US 17
9

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min
10

Merge onto I 95

35 mi · 41 min · I 95
Use the slight left lane.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 395

0.6 mi · 52 sec · Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Exit 170A; 170B Toward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Tysons Corner Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12

Continue on I 395

8.1 mi · 9 min · Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Exit 170A Toward I 395 North: Washington Use the straight lane.
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Exit 8A Toward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward VA 27 West: Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike Use the slight left lane.
15

Merge onto VA 27

1.8 mi · 3 min · Washington Boulevard
Toward Columbia Pike Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Turn left onto VA 237

0.3 mi · 1 min · 10th Street North
17

Turn slight left

137 ft · 8 sec
18

Turn left onto Wilson Boulevard

0.4 mi · 1 min · Wilson Boulevard
19

Arrive at destination

Wilson Boulevard

Trip Plan

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 55.4 miles from Montrose, VA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.8 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 miles or 30m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 55.4 miles or 1h 4m 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 Arlington, VA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Montrose, 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 Montrose, VA

This is one driving day of about 110.8 miles and 2h 14m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Montrose, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike for about 52.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 55.4 mi from Montrose, VA · 1h 4m into the drive

county seat of Stafford County, Virginia, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Stafford, VA

55 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

East Highland Park, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fredericksburg, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 55.4 miles from Montrose, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Arlington, VA

The final approach into Arlington, 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 Arlington, 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.

Petersburg National Battlefield

Petersburg National Battlefield

National Battlefield

Two hundred ninety-two days, eight offensives, over 70,000 casualties, U. S. Colored Troops, and the decline of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. U.S. forces c...

23 mi from route ~58 min detour Free
Park Closure: Eastern Front Tour Road south of Route 36 - Closed
View on nps.gov
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

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!

29 mi from route ~73 min detour Free near mile 110.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.33 one way

$34.65 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 39 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $18.95 $37.89
premium $4.70 $20.51 $41.01
diesel $5.61 $24.46 $48.93

Estimated Tolls: $3.69

Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike (52.8 mi) $3.69

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

$17

Tolls

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 38.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 33.2 0 $11.63 $5.32
Efficient EV 27.7 0 $9.69 $4.43
EV Truck/SUV 44.3 0 $15.51 $7.09

Gas CO2

39 kg

EV CO2

13 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 as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Montrose, VA

Late night in Montrose on Friday

Local time

2:16 AM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arlington, VA

Late night in Arlington on Friday

Local time

2:16 AM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Stafford, VA

55 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

29 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

2h 14m 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 Montrose, VA to Arlington, VA covers 110.8 miles and takes about 2h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, I 95, Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.4 miles from Montrose, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.33 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 13 significant decision points across 110.8 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 8.6 miles (I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.9 miles (I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 107.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Montrose, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Tysons Corner along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Petersburg National Battlefield and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.

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Return Trip

Arlington, VA to Montrose, VA

Plan the drive back the other way.

109.1 mi 2h 14m

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