Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 18m
Distance
113.2 mi
182 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Great Falls, VA
Wilson Rodriguez
This 113.2-mile drive from Richmond, VA, to Great Falls, VA, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 18 minutes to complete. The majority of your journey, about 79% of it, will be on highways, specifically the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I-95, before transitioning to the Capital Beltway. With an estimated fuel cost of $18, this route is quite budget-friendly for a day out. Given its relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, it's an efficient way to travel between these two points within the Southeast region of Virginia. You won't need to worry about breaking up the drive with an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.6 miles from Richmond, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 18m. Total distance: 113.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 113.2-mile journey. You'll spend a significant 79% of your time on major interstates like the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and I-95. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 53.1 miles on the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, offering a good period of consistent driving. While primarily a highway experience, the route eventually leads you onto the Capital Beltway, which can bring increased traffic and complexity as you near your destination. This drive is built for efficiency rather than scenic detours.
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 1.9 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 113.2 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 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.7 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 105.3 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 left toward I 95 North, I 64 West
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Take the exit toward VA 267 Toll West: Reston, Herndon, Dulles Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward VA 7: Tysons Corner, Leesburg, Leesburg Pike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward VA 7 West: Leesburg Pike, Leesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Richmond, VA and Great Falls, VA, road signs point toward Tysons Corner, Herndon, Dulles Airport and Leesburg.
Tysons Corner
Herndon
Dulles Airport
Leesburg
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike | 53.1 mi | 58m |
| I 95 | 36.6 mi | 43m |
| Capital Beltway | 10.5 mi | 12m |
| Leesburg Pike | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Walker Road | 2 mi | 4m |
| Dulles Toll Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Hermitage Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, VA and Great Falls, 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
Keep slight right at fork onto I 395
Take the exit
Merge onto I 495
Keep slight right at fork onto I 495
Take the exit
Merge onto VA 267
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto VA 267
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto VA 7
Turn right onto SR 743
Turn right onto SR 681
Turn right onto VA 193
Arrive at destination
For this 2-hour and 18-minute drive, leaving early in the morning can help you avoid some of the Capital Beltway's potential congestion. With no designated stops in the data, you can be flexible with your timing, but it's always wise to fuel up before you leave Richmond. The estimated fuel cost is around $18, so keep an eye on your gauge. Since this is a straightforward, highway-centric trip, your main consideration will be managing traffic as you approach Great Falls, especially if you're traveling during peak hours. Keep your longest stretch of 53.1 miles on the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike in mind as a good time to check your navigation and ensure you're on the correct path for the Capital Beltway.
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 25 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.6 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 Great Falls, 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 113.2 miles and 2h 18m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.6 mi from Richmond, VA · 1h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 56.6 miles from Richmond, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Great Falls, 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 Great Falls, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$17.70 one way
$35.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $19.36 | $38.71 |
| premium | $4.70 | $20.95 | $41.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.99 | $49.99 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.92
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
$18
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34 | 0 | $11.89 | $5.43 |
| Efficient EV | 28.3 | 0 | $9.91 | $4.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.3 | 0 | $15.85 | $7.24 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Richmond on Friday
Local time
9:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Night in Great Falls on Friday
Local time
9:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
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.
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.
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