Drive Time
2h 11m
Distance
106.8 mi
172 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
Photo: Eric Joseph
The drive from Purcellville, VA to Charlottesville, VA covers 106.8 miles and takes about 2h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South 20th Street, South Nursery Avenue, South 32nd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.09 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
53.4 miles from Purcellville, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 11m drive with frequent turns across 106.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Purcellville, VA to Charlottesville, VA is easy. At 2h 11m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Purcellville, VA to Charlottesville, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 20th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Nursery Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South 32nd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Silcott Springs Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Saint Louis Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| John S Mosby Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Little River Turnpike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Zulla Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Purcellville, VA and Charlottesville, VA.
Start on West Main Street
Turn right onto South 20th Street
Keep slight right to continue on South Nursery Avenue
At the end of the road, turn left onto South 32nd Street
Continue on Silcott Springs Road
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Silcott Springs Road
Exit the roundabout onto Silcott Springs Road
Continue on Saint Louis Road
At the end of the road, turn left onto John S Mosby Highway
Continue on Little River Turnpike
Turn right onto Zulla Road
Continue on Belvoir Road
At the end of the road, turn left onto Winchester Road
Continue on James Madison Highway
Keep slight right to continue on Eastern Bypass
Continue on James Madison Highway
Keep slight left to continue on James Madison Highway
Continue on James Monroe Highway
Continue on North Seminole Trail
Turn left onto Hydraulic Road
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Hydraulic Road
Exit the roundabout onto Hydraulic Road
Turn left onto U.S. 250 Bypass
Take the exit slight right toward Park Street
Turn right onto Park Street
Turn left onto East High Street
Turn right onto 7th Street Northeast
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.4 miles or 1h 5m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charlottesville, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Purcellville, 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 Purcellville, VA
This is one driving day of about 106.8 miles and 2h 11m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53.4 mi from Purcellville, VA · 1h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 53.4 miles from Purcellville, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Charlottesville, 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 Charlottesville, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$17.09 one way
$34.18 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $18.62 | $37.25 |
| premium | $4.78 | $20.09 | $40.18 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $23.73 | $47.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32 | 0 | $11.21 | $5.13 |
| Efficient EV | 26.7 | 0 | $9.34 | $4.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.7 | 0 | $14.95 | $6.84 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Purcellville on Sunday
Local time
12:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Charlottesville on Sunday
Local time
12:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
65°F
Poolesville, MD
53 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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