Origin
Petersburg, VA
Evening in Petersburg on Friday
Local time
8:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Petersburg, VA to Arlington, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
56.2 mi
90 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Petersburg, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, VA
Dominik Gryzbon
Trip Overview
This straightforward 56.2-mile drive from Petersburg, VA to Arlington, VA takes approximately 1 hour and 9 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day trip, with a minimal fuel cost estimated at $9. The route is predominantly highway, making it an efficient way to travel between these two Southeast Virginia locations. You'll spend most of your time on I-66, with brief transitions onto John Marshall Highway and Wilson Boulevard. Given its short duration and highway focus, this trip is ideal for getting from point A to point B with little fuss.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 56.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this journey, with 92% of the drive utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 51.8 miles on I-66, indicating substantial periods of consistent driving speed. While the majority is interstate, there are brief segments on John Marshall Highway and Wilson Boulevard that may offer a slight change of pace before rejoining faster routes. This route prioritizes efficiency over scenic detours, so prepare for a swift and direct travel experience.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 66 is the longest continuous segment at about 51.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 66 and John Marshall Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near SR 688 / Leeds Manor Road.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 9m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (SR 688 / Leeds Manor Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 27.3 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
SR 688 / Leeds Manor Road
Turn left onto SR 688 / Leeds Manor Road
Navigation decision point
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward Washington
Navigation decision point
Toward Washington
6
27.3 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 66
Keep slight right at fork onto I 66
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
55.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward VA 120, VA 237
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 71
Toward VA 120, VA 237
6
55.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
VA 120 / North Glebe Road
Turn right onto VA 120 / North Glebe Road
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 Petersburg, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.
Washington
3.1 mi in
|
~5m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 66 | 51.8 mi | 1h |
| John Marshall Highway | 3 mi | 5m |
| Wilson Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Glebe Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Fairfax Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Leeds Manor Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 66
— 51.8 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Petersburg, VA and Arlington, VA.
1
Start on VA 55
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
John Marshall Highway
2
Turn left onto SR 688
240 ft
·
6 sec
·
Leeds Manor Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward Washington
4
Merge onto I 66
24 mi
·
26 min
·
I 66
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 66
28 mi
·
34 min
·
I 66
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 71
Toward VA 120, VA 237
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on Fairfax Drive
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Fairfax Drive
8
Turn right onto VA 120
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
North Glebe Road
Use the right lane.
9
Turn slight left onto Wilson Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Wilson Boulevard
Use the left lane.
10
Arrive at destination
Wilson Boulevard
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.1 mi from Petersburg, VA · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 28.1 miles from Petersburg, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.79 one way
$17.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.61 | $19.22 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.40 | $20.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.41 | $24.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.90 | $2.70 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.92 | $2.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.87 | $3.60 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Arlington, VA
Evening in Arlington on Friday
Local time
8:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
4 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 9m 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 Petersburg, VA to Arlington, VA covers 56.2 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 66, John Marshall Highway, Wilson Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.1 miles from Petersburg, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.79 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 straightforward 1h 9m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (SR 688 / Leeds Manor Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 27.3 miles (I 66): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Petersburg, VA to Arlington, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Arlington, VA
More trips to Arlington, VA
Explore more options from Petersburg, VA or browse trips ending in Arlington, VA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VA road trips.