The drive from Tappahannock, VA to Alexandria, VA covers 87.3 miles and takes about 2h 7m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Tidewater Trail, Nice Middleton Bridge, James Madison Parkway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 25.8 miles on Tidewater Trail.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.65 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.
Midpoint
43.6 miles from Tappahannock, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 7m. Total distance: 87.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 7m drive with frequent turns across 87.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tidewater Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 25.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26.8 miles in near US 301 / A.P. Hill Boulevard.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 87.3 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 26.8 miles (US 301 / A.P. Hill Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 65.8 miles (Middletown Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 83.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
26.8 mi into trip|~35m in|US 301 / A.P. Hill Boulevard
Turn right onto US 301 / A.P. Hill Boulevard toward Baltimore
Navigation decision point
Toward Baltimore
4
65.8 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|Middletown Road
Enter roundabout onto Middletown Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
83.1 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South, I 495 South: Alexandria, Richmond
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.
Toward I 95 South, I 495 South: Alexandria, Ric...
8
86.2 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Take the exit toward US 1 North: Alexandria, Mount Vernon
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 177B; 177C
Toward US 1 North: Alexandria, Mount Vernon
9
86.4 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Mount Vernon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 177C
Toward Mount Vernon
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 Tappahannock, VA to Alexandria, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Baltimore along the way.
Baltimore
26.8 mi in|~35m|via US 301
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tidewater Trail
25.8 mi
32m
Nice Middleton Bridge
17.6 mi
25m
James Madison Parkway
17.1 mi
23m
Indian Head Highway
10.2 mi
14m
Middletown Road
4.2 mi
7m
Berry Road
3.9 mi
6m
Capital Beltway (Local)
2.9 mi
3m
Turkey Hill Road
2.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Tidewater Trail
— 25.8 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tappahannock, VA and Alexandria, VA.
1
Start on US 17; US 360
0.3 mi·55 sec·Tappahannock Boulevard
2
Continue on US 17
0.7 mi·1 min·Church Lane
3
Continue on US 17
26 mi·32 min·Tidewater Trail
4
Turn right onto US 301
0.4 mi·53 sec·A.P. Hill Boulevard
Toward Baltimore
5
Continue on US 301
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
6
Continue on US 301
17 mi·23 min·James Madison Parkway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 301
18 mi·25 min·Nice Middleton Bridge
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
277 ft·7 sec
9
Continue on Turkey Hill Road
2.1 mi·5 min·Turkey Hill Road
10
Continue on Middletown Road
1.1 mi·1 min·Middletown Road
11
Enter roundabout onto Middletown Road
158 ft·3 sec·Middletown Road
12
Continue on Middletown Road
3.1 mi·5 min·Middletown Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto MD 228
3.9 mi·6 min·Berry Road
14
Continue on MD 210
10 mi·14 min·Indian Head Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward I 95 South, I 495 South: Alexandria, RichmondUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on this road
516 ft·12 sec·this road
Toward I 95 South, I 495 South: Alexandria, Richmond
17
Merge onto I 95; I 495
2.9 mi·3 min·Capital Beltway (Local)
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 177B; 177CToward US 1 North: Alexandria, Mount VernonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 177CToward Mount VernonUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn straight onto Church Street
321 ft·18 sec·Church Street
21
Turn left onto VA 400
0.7 mi·2 min·South Washington Street
22
Arrive at destination
VA 400
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.6 miles from Tappahannock, VA, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.8 miles.
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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.6 miles or 58m 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 46m
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 Tappahannock, 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 Tappahannock, VA
This is one driving day of about 87.3 miles and 2h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Tappahannock, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Tidewater Trail for about 25.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.6 mi from Tappahannock, VA
· 58m into the drive
The midpoint is around 43.6 miles from Tappahannock, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
George Washington Birthplace National Monument
National Monument
George Washington Birthplace National Monument is located in the Northern Neck of Virginia. It encompasses 551 acres of land where seven generations of the Washington family lived and where George Was...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.65 one way
$27.30 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.93
$29.85
premium
$4.70
$16.16
$32.31
diesel
$5.61
$19.27
$38.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.2
0
$9.17
$4.19
Efficient EV
21.8
0
$7.64
$3.49
EV Truck/SUV
34.9
0
$12.22
$5.59
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Tappahannock, VA
Evening
in Tappahannock on Thursday
Local time
5:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alexandria, VA
Evening
in Alexandria on Thursday
Local time
5:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
La Plata, MD
44 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
11 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
2h 7m 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 Tappahannock, VA to Alexandria, VA covers 87.3 miles and takes about 2h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tidewater Trail, Nice Middleton Bridge, James Madison Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.6 miles from Tappahannock, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.65 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 demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 87.3 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 26.8 miles (US 301 / A.P. Hill Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 65.8 miles (Middletown Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 83.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Tappahannock, VA to Alexandria, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Baltimore along the way.
