Origin
Newington, VA
Morning in Newington on Wednesday
Local time
7:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Newington, VA to Alexandria, VA
Data updated 4 hours ago
Drive Time
18m
Distance
12 mi
19 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 17m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 22m
10 AM
0h 20m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 20m
5 PM
0h 22m
8 PM
0h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Newington, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Alexandria, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This brief 12-mile drive from Newington, VA to Alexandria, VA, is estimated to take around 18 minutes. It's a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day, making it perfect for a quick local excursion. You'll primarily be on major roadways like I-95 and the Capital Beltway (Local), with about 46% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this short hop is a modest $2. Given the short distance and minimal stops, this route offers a flexible and efficient way to travel within the Southeast region of Virginia.
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
6 miles from Newington, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 8m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, blending efficient highway travel with some local road navigation. While 46% of the journey is on highways, including a 5.5-mile stretch on I-95, you'll also encounter sections that feel more like typical local commuting. The Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway and the Capital Beltway will likely dominate the initial and final portions of your drive, offering a relatively fast pace. This route doesn't present a monotonous interstate grind, but rather a practical blend of speeds and road types.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 16 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 5.5 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 0.2 miles in near SR 877 / Loisdale Road.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 12 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 0.2 miles (SR 877 / Loisdale Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
SR 877 / Loisdale Road
Turn left onto SR 877 / Loisdale Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95 North: Washington
8
2.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 toward I 95 North, I 495 East: Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 95 North, I 495 East: Baltimore
8
8.4 mi into trip
|
~11m 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
10.4 mi into trip
|
~14m 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
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 Newington, VA to Alexandria, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Belvoir along the way.
Fort Belvoir
10.4 mi in
|
~14m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Capital Beltway (Local) | 2 mi | 2m |
| South Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Patrick Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Franklin Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Newington Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Loisdale Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 5.5 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newington, VA and Alexandria, VA.
1
Start on this road
139 ft
·
17 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
89 ft
·
12 sec
3
Turn left onto SR 877
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Newington Road
4
Turn left onto SR 877
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Loisdale Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Turn right onto VA 286
229 ft
·
8 sec
·
Fairfax County Parkway
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 95 North: Washington
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 95
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I 95
Toward I 95 North, I 495 East: Baltimore
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
9
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.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 177A-B
Toward US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 177B
Toward US 1 North: Alexandria
12
Merge onto US 1
440 ft
·
8 sec
·
Richmond Highway
13
Continue on US 1
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Patrick Street
14
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Franklin Street
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto VA 400
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Washington Street
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
VA 400
Trip Plan
For this short 12-mile trip, timing is key to avoid local traffic, especially if you're traveling during peak commute hours. Since the drive is only about 18 minutes and has no designated stops, you have a lot of flexibility. Consider departing mid-morning or early afternoon for a smoother experience. The fuel cost is minimal at an estimated $2, so you won't need to worry about extensive refueling. A specific tip for this route: keep an eye on your GPS for the best lane guidance as you transition between I-95 and the Capital Beltway (Local) to ensure a seamless continuation of your journey.
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 6 miles from Newington, VA, or about 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.5 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 12 miles or 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6 miles or 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Newington, 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 Newington, VA
This is one driving day of about 12 miles and 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Newington, 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 5.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6 mi from Newington, VA · 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
6 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 6 miles from Newington, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Alexandria, VA
The final approach into Alexandria, 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 Alexandria, 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
$1.88 one way
$3.75 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $2.05 | $4.10 |
| premium | $4.70 | $2.22 | $4.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.65 | $5.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.26 | $0.58 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.05 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Morning in Alexandria on Wednesday
Local time
7:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Washington, DC
6 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
16 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
18m 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 Newington, VA to Alexandria, VA covers 12 miles and takes about 18m 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 (Local). Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6 miles from Newington, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.88 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 12 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 0.2 miles (SR 877 / Loisdale Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Newington, VA to Alexandria, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Belvoir along the way.
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