The drive from Orange County, VA to Arlington, VA covers 82 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, Constitution Highway, Plank Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.4 miles on I 95.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.82 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
41 miles from Orange County, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 82 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Orange County, VA to Arlington, VA covers 82 miles and takes about 1h 52m, 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 18 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 36.4 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 31.1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 31.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.1 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 78.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
31.1 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward I 95 North: Washington
9
70.1 mi into trip|~1h 34m 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
78.9 mi into trip|~1h 45m 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
79.2 mi into trip|~1h 45m 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
79.5 mi into trip|~1h 46m 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 Orange County, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Tysons Corner along the way.
Tysons Corner
70.1 mi in|~1h 34m|via I 395
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
36.4 mi
42m
Constitution Highway
17.1 mi
23m
Plank Road
12.7 mi
19m
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
8.7 mi
10m
Washington Boulevard
1.8 mi
3m
Kendall Road
1 mi
2m
Wilson Boulevard
0.4 mi
1m
10th Street North
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 36.4 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Orange County, VA and Arlington, VA.
1
Start on Bickers Lane
0.2 mi·54 sec·Bickers Lane
2
Turn right onto SR 600
1.0 mi·2 min·Kendall Road
3
Turn right onto VA 20
17 mi·23 min·Constitution Highway
4
Turn right onto VA 3
0.1 mi·10 sec·Germanna Highway
5
Continue on VA 3
13 mi·19 min·Plank Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Take the exit
1.6 mi·3 min
Toward I 95 North: WashingtonUse the left / straight lanes.
7
Merge onto I 95; US 17
1.4 mi·1 min·I 95; US 17
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
9
Merge onto I 95
35 mi·41 min·I 95
Use the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 395
0.6 mi·52 sec·Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Exit 170A; 170BToward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Tysons CornerUse the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Continue on I 395
8.1 mi·9 min·Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Exit 170AToward I 395 North: WashingtonUse the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 8AToward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia PikeUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward VA 27 West: Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Washington Boulevard, Columbia PikeUse the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto VA 27
1.8 mi·3 min·Washington Boulevard
Toward Columbia PikeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto VA 237
0.3 mi·1 min·10th Street North
16
Turn slight left
137 ft·8 sec
17
Turn left onto Wilson Boulevard
0.4 mi·1 min·Wilson Boulevard
18
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 41 miles from Orange County, VA, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.4 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 18 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41 miles or 1h 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 34m
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 Orange County, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Orange County, VA
This is one driving day of about 82 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Orange County, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 36.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41 mi from Orange County, VA
· 1h into the drive
The midpoint is around 41 miles from Orange County, 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.
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.
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 82
Caution: Great Allegheny Passage Erosion Near Confluence, Pennsylvania (Mile Marker 56)
Park Closure: Trail Closure at Veterans Park at Balls Bluff (Leesburg, Virginia)
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.82 one way
$25.65 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.02
$28.04
premium
$4.70
$15.18
$30.35
diesel
$5.61
$18.10
$36.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.6
0
$8.61
$3.94
Efficient EV
20.5
0
$7.18
$3.28
EV Truck/SUV
32.8
0
$11.48
$5.25
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 13, 2026
Origin
Orange County, VA
Evening
in Orange County on Thursday
Local time
7:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, VA
Evening
in Arlington on Thursday
Local time
7:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Fredericksburg, VA
41 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
8 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
1h 52m 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 Orange County, VA to Arlington, VA covers 82 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Constitution Highway, Plank Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41 miles from Orange County, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.82 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 82 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 31.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.1 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 78.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Orange County, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Tysons Corner along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.
