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Trip from Orange County, VA to Leesburg, VA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 52m

Distance

77.2 mi

124 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 44m ★
6 AM
1h 53m
8 AM
2h 9m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 57m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 48m

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 Orange County, VA, VA

Orange County, VA

Alex Raugust

historic town within and the county seat of Loudoun County, Virginia, United States

Leesburg, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Orange County, VA to Leesburg, VA covers 77.2 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 James Madison Highway, Zachary Taylor Highway, James Monroe Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32.9 miles on James Madison Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.07 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

38.6 miles from Orange County, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 77.2 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 (10%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 52m drive with frequent turns across 77.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
James Madison Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 32.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in near US 522 / Zachary Taylor Highway.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.9 miles (US 522 / Zachary Taylor Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 19 miles (US 522; VA 3 / Germanna Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

5
4.9 mi into trip | ~8m in | US 522 / Zachary Taylor Highway

Turn left onto US 522 / Zachary Taylor Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
19 mi into trip | ~28m in | US 522; VA 3 / Germanna Highway

At end of road, turn left onto US 522; VA 3 / Germanna Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
19.4 mi into trip | ~28m in

Take the exit toward US 15 North, US 29 North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 15 North, US 29 North
6
43.9 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in | US 15; US 29

Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29 toward US 15 North, US 29 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 15 North, US 29 North
5
52 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in | US 15 / James Madison Highway

Turn left onto US 15 / James Madison Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
James Madison Highway 32.9 mi 44m
Zachary Taylor Highway 14.1 mi 19m
James Monroe Highway 11.7 mi 16m
US 15 8.1 mi 11m
Constitution Highway 3.7 mi 5m
Eastern Bypass 2.4 mi 3m
South King Street 2.4 mi 6m
Kendall Road 1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: James Madison Highway — 32.9 mi, about 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Orange County, VA and Leesburg, 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

3.7 mi · 5 min · Constitution Highway
4

Turn left onto US 522

14 mi · 19 min · Zachary Taylor Highway
Use the straight lane.
5

At end of road, turn left onto US 522; VA 3

0.4 mi · 43 sec · Germanna Highway
Use the left lane.
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward US 15 North, US 29 North
7

Merge onto US 15; US 29

22 mi · 28 min · James Madison Highway
8

Continue on US 15; US 17; US 29

2.4 mi · 3 min · Eastern Bypass
9

Keep slight left at fork onto US 15; US 29

8.1 mi · 11 min · US 15; US 29
Toward US 15 North, US 29 North
10

Turn left onto US 15

11 mi · 16 min · James Madison Highway
Use the left lane.
11

Continue on US 15

2.3 mi · 3 min · James Monroe Highway
12

Enter roundabout onto US 15

115 ft · 1 sec · James Monroe Highway
13

Continue on US 15

0.3 mi · 38 sec · James Monroe Highway
14

Enter roundabout onto US 15

181 ft · 2 sec · James Monroe Highway
15

Continue on US 15

9.1 mi · 12 min · James Monroe Highway
16

Continue on US 15

2.4 mi · 6 min · South King Street
Use the left lane.
17

Turn right onto VA 7 BUS

226 ft · 7 sec · East Market Street
18

Arrive at destination

VA 7 BUS

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 38.6 miles from Orange County, VA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.9 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 17 miles or 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 38.6 miles or 54m 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 33m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leesburg, 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 77.2 miles and 1h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Orange County, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on James Madison Highway for about 32.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 38.6 mi from Orange County, VA · 54m into the drive

Downtown Bealeton, VA, VA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bealeton, VA

39 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

Culpeper, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bealeton, VA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 38.6 miles from Orange County, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Leesburg, VA

The final approach into Leesburg, 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

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!

3 mi from route ~8 min detour Free near mile 77.2
Caution: Great Allegheny Passage Erosion Near Confluence, Pennsylvania (Mile Marker 56)
Park Closure: Trail Closure at Veterans Park at Balls Bluff (Leesburg, Virginia)
View on nps.gov
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

National Historical Park

At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people, lies Harpers Ferry. Here you can explore John Brown's Raid against slavery. Find your...

17 mi from route ~42 min detour $20 near mile 77.2
View on nps.gov
Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park

National Park

Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over...

26 mi from route ~64 min detour $30 near mile 16
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.07 one way

$24.14 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $13.20 $26.40
premium $4.70 $14.29 $28.58
diesel $5.61 $17.04 $34.09

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 27 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.2 0 $8.11 $3.71
Efficient EV 19.3 0 $6.76 $3.09
EV Truck/SUV 30.9 0 $10.81 $4.94

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 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 13, 2026

Origin

Orange County, VA

Evening in Orange County on Thursday

Local time

6:09 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Leesburg, VA

Evening in Leesburg on Thursday

Local time

6:09 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

5 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 Leesburg, VA covers 77.2 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 James Madison Highway, Zachary Taylor Highway, James Monroe Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.6 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 $12.07 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 77.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.9 miles (US 522 / Zachary Taylor Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 19 miles (US 522; VA 3 / Germanna Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Orange County, VA to Leesburg, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and Shenandoah National Park.

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