Drive Time
1h 38m
Distance
82.1 mi
132 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
Photo: Kelly
The drive from Richmond, VA to Dale City, VA covers 82.1 miles and takes about 1h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, I 95, Hermitage Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53.1 miles on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.14 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
41 miles from Richmond, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
This is a 1h 38m highway drive covering 82.1 miles, with most of the trip on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 53.1 miles on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 82.1 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 1.7 miles (VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto VA 161 / North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left toward I 95 North, I 64 West
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward SR 784: Dale City, Rippon Landing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 784 West: Dale City, Potomac Mills, Stratford University
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 784 West: Dale City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike | 53.1 mi | 58m |
| I 95 | 23.4 mi | 27m |
| Hermitage Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Dale Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| Birchdale Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Meadow Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Arthur Ashe Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Robin Hood Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, VA and Dale City, VA.
Start on Marcus-David Peters Circle
Continue on Monument Avenue
Turn right onto North Meadow Street
Continue on Hermitage Road
Turn left onto Robin Hood Road
Turn right onto VA 161
Turn left
Merge onto I 64; I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95; US 17
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto SR 784
Turn right onto SR 1811
Turn right onto Bayfield Drive
Arrive at 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 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41 miles or 48m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dale City, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Richmond, 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 Richmond, VA
This is one driving day of about 82.1 miles and 1h 38m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41 mi from Richmond, VA · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 41 miles from Richmond, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Dale City, 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 Dale City, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$13.14 one way
$26.28 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $14.32 | $28.63 |
| premium | $4.78 | $15.44 | $30.89 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $18.24 | $36.48 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.69
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
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, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.6 | 0 | $8.62 | $3.94 |
| Efficient EV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.18 | $3.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.8 | 0 | $11.49 | $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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Richmond on Sunday
Local time
2:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Dale City on Sunday
Local time
2:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Mostly Clear
Along the Route
86°F
Middletown, MD
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
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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