The drive from Tappahannock, VA to Arlington, VA covers 100.5 miles and takes about 2h 13m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, Tidewater Trail, Kings Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35 miles on I 95.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.72 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
50.2 miles from Tappahannock, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 100.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Tappahannock, VA to Arlington, VA covers 100.5 miles and takes about 2h 13m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 35 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 53.6 miles in near I 95.
Driving Effort8/10
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 100.5 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 53.6 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 88.6 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 97.3 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.
5
53.6 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
9
88.6 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|I 395 / Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
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
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 170A; 170B
Toward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Ty...
8
97.3 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Take the exit toward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8A
Toward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pi...
8
97.7 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward VA 27 West: Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward VA 27 West: Joint Base Myer-Henderson Ha...
6
98 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|VA 27 / Washington Boulevard
Merge onto VA 27 / Washington Boulevard toward Columbia Pike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Columbia Pike
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Tappahannock, VA and Arlington, VA, road signs point toward Baltimore, Fredericksburg and Tysons Corner.
Baltimore
26.8 mi in|~35m|via US 301
Fredericksburg
47.9 mi in|~1h 4m|via VA 3 BUS
Tysons Corner
88.6 mi in|~1h 55m|via I 395
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
35 mi
41m
Tidewater Trail
25.8 mi
32m
Kings Highway
13 mi
17m
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
8.7 mi
10m
Port Conway Road
6.6 mi
9m
Washington Boulevard
1.8 mi
3m
Warrenton Road
1.6 mi
2m
James Madison Parkway
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 35 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tappahannock, VA and Arlington, 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
1.3 mi·1 min·James Madison Parkway
7
Turn left onto SR 607
6.6 mi·9 min·Port Conway Road
8
At end of road, turn left onto VA 3
12 mi·16 min·Kings Highway
9
Continue on VA 3 BUS
0.9 mi·1 min·Kings Highway
Toward VA 3 West Business, Fredericksburg
10
Turn right onto SR 607
1.1 mi·1 min·Cool Springs Road
11
Turn left onto VA 218
0.3 mi·35 sec·White Oak Road
12
Continue on VA 218
1.1 mi·1 min·Butler Road
13
Continue on US 17 BUS
1.6 mi·2 min·Warrenton Road
14
Take the ramp
0.8 mi·1 min
15
Merge onto I 95
35 mi·41 min·I 95
Use the slight left lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 395
0.6 mi·52 sec·Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Exit 170A; 170BToward I 395 North, I 495 North: Washington, Tysons CornerUse the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Continue on I 395
8.1 mi·9 min·Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
Exit 170AToward I 395 North: WashingtonUse the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 8AToward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia PikeUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward VA 27 West: Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Washington Boulevard, Columbia PikeUse the slight left lane.
20
Merge onto VA 27
1.8 mi·3 min·Washington Boulevard
Toward Columbia PikeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn left onto VA 237
0.3 mi·1 min·10th Street North
22
Turn slight left
137 ft·8 sec
23
Turn left onto Wilson Boulevard
0.4 mi·1 min·Wilson Boulevard
24
Arrive at destination
Wilson Boulevard
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 50.2 miles from Tappahannock, VA, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35 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 22 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.2 miles or 1h 8m 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 Arlington, 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 100.5 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Tappahannock, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 35 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50.2 mi from Tappahannock, VA
· 1h 8m into the drive
The midpoint is around 50.2 miles from Tappahannock, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Arlington, VA
The final approach into Arlington, 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 Arlington, 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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 13.9
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
Free
near mile 100.5
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.2
0
$10.55
$4.82
Efficient EV
25.1
0
$8.79
$4.02
EV Truck/SUV
40.2
0
$14.07
$6.43
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
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
5:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, VA
Evening
in Arlington on Thursday
Local time
5:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Fredericksburg, VA
50 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
28 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 13m 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 Arlington, VA covers 100.5 miles and takes about 2h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Tidewater Trail, Kings Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.2 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 $15.72 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 100.5 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 53.6 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 88.6 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 97.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Tappahannock, VA and Arlington, VA, road signs point toward Baltimore, Fredericksburg and Tysons Corner.
