Origin
Shawsville, VA
Afternoon in Shawsville on Friday
Local time
3:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shawsville, VA to Alexandria, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 7m
Distance
257.6 mi
415 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 54m
★
6 AM
4h 8m
8 AM
4h 34m
10 AM
4h 17m
12 PM
4h 14m
3 PM
4h 18m
5 PM
4h 32m
8 PM
4h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shawsville, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Alexandria, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Shawsville, VA to Alexandria, VA covers 257.6 miles and takes about 4h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Alleghany Spring Road, Roanoke Road, Dow Hollow Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.28 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
128.8 miles from Shawsville, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 7m. Total distance: 257.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 7m drive with frequent turns across 257.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Alleghany Spring Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 7m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Shawsville, VA to Alexandria, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alleghany Spring Road | — | — |
| Roanoke Road | — | — |
| Dow Hollow Road | — | — |
| I 66 East | — | — |
| I 495 South | — | — |
| Capital Beltway | — | — |
| Capital Beltway (Local) | — | — |
| US 1 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Alleghany Spring Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shawsville, VA and Alexandria, VA.
1
Start on Alleghany Spring Road
243 ft
·
11 sec
·
Alleghany Spring Road
2
Continue on Alleghany Spring Road
161 ft
·
7 sec
·
Alleghany Spring Road
3
Turn left onto Roanoke Road
8.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Roanoke Road
4
Turn left onto Dow Hollow Road
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Dow Hollow Road
5
Take the ramp right
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
6
Merge slight left
89 mi
·
1 hr 38 min
7
Keep slight left
79 mi
·
1 hr 26 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 66 East: Front Royal, Washington
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 66 East: Front Royal, Washington
9
Continue straight
43 mi
·
46 min
10
Keep slight right
21 mi
·
25 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria
12
Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Capital Beltway
13
Keep slight right to continue on Capital Beltway (Local)
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Capital Beltway (Local)
14
Take the exit slight right toward US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir
15
Keep slight left to continue on US 1 North: Alexandria
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 1 North: Alexandria
16
Merge slight left onto Richmond Highway
440 ft
·
8 sec
·
Richmond Highway
17
Continue on South Patrick Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
South Patrick Street
18
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Franklin Street
19
Turn left onto South Washington Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Washington Street
20
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 128.8 miles from Shawsville, VA, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
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 57 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.8 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Shawsville, 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 Shawsville, VA
This is one driving day of about 257.6 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Shawsville, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 128.8 mi from Shawsville, VA · 2h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
129 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 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 128.8 miles from Shawsville, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Alexandria, VA
The final approach into Alexandria, 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 Alexandria, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.28 one way
$80.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
90 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $44.05 | $88.09 |
| premium | $4.70 | $47.68 | $95.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $56.87 | $113.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.3 | 0 | $27.05 | $12.36 |
| Efficient EV | 64.4 | 0 | $22.54 | $10.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103 | 1 | $36.06 | $16.49 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Alexandria, VA
Afternoon in Alexandria on Friday
Local time
3:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 7m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Shawsville, VA to Alexandria, VA covers 257.6 miles and takes about 4h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Alleghany Spring Road, Roanoke Road, Dow Hollow Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 128.8 miles from Shawsville, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.28 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 7m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Shawsville, VA to Alexandria, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Shawsville, VA to Alexandria, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
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