How far is Alexandria, VA from Shawsville, VA?

The driving distance from Alexandria, VA to Shawsville, VA is about 258 miles (415.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 208.1 miles (334.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 50m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
257.97 mi
04h 55m
Flight
208.08 mi
334.88 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Alexandria.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
208.08 mi
Kilometers
334.88 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
257.97 mi
Kilometers
415.16 km
Drive Time
04h 55m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Shawsville
Sun, Apr 19, 9:58 AM EDT
Return by in Alexandria
Sun, Apr 19, 2:53 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Alexandria
2026-04-19T05:03
Arrive Shawsville
Sun, Apr 19, 9:58 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:55 AM to 12:55 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:10 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Alexandria
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Harrisonburg
VA

The most populous city in Virginia.

From Alexandria
128.9 mi
02h 27m
To Shawsville
129.1 mi
02h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph W
Destination
64°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Alexandria and Shawsville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria and Shawsville.

  1. 1

    Start on South Washington Street

    23 m · 7 sec · South Washington Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto King Street

    96 m · 15 sec · King Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South Saint Asaph Street

    842 ft · 41 sec · South Saint Asaph Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Duke Street

    102 m · 19 sec · Duke Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto South Washington Street

    1260 ft · 51 sec · South Washington Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Gibbon Street

    923 ft · 38 sec · Gibbon Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto South Patrick Street

    1157 ft · 34 sec · South Patrick Street

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South, I 495 West, I 95 North, I 495 East: Richmond, Baltimore

    133 m · 11 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 95 South, I 495 West

    3238 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway (Local)

    5 mi · 6 min · Capital Beltway (Local)

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Capital Beltway

    1.1 km · 48 sec · Capital Beltway

  12. 12

    Continue on Capital Beltway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Capital Beltway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Capital Beltway

    5.7 mi · 7 min · Capital Beltway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 66 West: Vienna, Front Royal

    1.4 km · 2 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    64.2 mi · 1 hr 12 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 81 South: Roanoke

    1 km · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight right onto I 81 South: Roanoke

    108.7 mi · 1 hr 58 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    59.2 mi · 1 hr 6 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 647: Dixie Caverns

    1533 ft · 39 sec

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Dow Hollow Road

    1241 ft · 33 sec · Dow Hollow Road

  21. 21

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West Main Street

    8.4 mi · 12 min · West Main Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Alleghany Spring Road

    123 m · 18 sec · Alleghany Spring Road

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Alleghany Spring Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Alexandria and Shawsville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
23 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 81 South
168 mi · 65%
I 66 West
65.1 mi · 25%
Capital Beltway
8.78 mi · 3%
West Main Street
8.4 mi · 3%
Capital Beltway (Local)
4.98 mi · 2%
I 95 South
0.7 mi
Longest Stretch

I 81 South

Merge slight right onto I 81 South: Roanoke

109 mi · 01h 58m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 55m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+49.9 mi
208.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Harrisonburg
02h 27m from Alexandria
Leave By
7:10 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Alexandria and Chance Rain Showers near Shawsville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Alexandria to Shawsville?

The road trip is about 258 miles (415.2 km) and usually takes 04h 55m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Harrisonburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 128.9 miles from Alexandria and 129.1 miles from Shawsville.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 208.1 miles (334.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:10 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.05 one way or $72.09 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 80.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Alexandria and Chance Rain Showers near Shawsville.

Stop Ideas Near Harrisonburg

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Harrisonburg, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Harrisonburg.

RAIL

Staunton station

38 mi away
1 Middlebrook Avenue
RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

57 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Culpeper station

76 mi away
109 South Commerce Street
RAIL

Clifton Forge

110 mi away
400 Ridgeway Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Alexandria and Shawsville. Straight-line distance: 208.08 mi (334.88 km).

Alexandria

#1 Alexandria

A city in Virginia.

Population158,726
Coordinates38.8048400, -77.0469200
Altitude12
CountryUnited States
Shawsville

#2 Shawsville

Census designated place

Population1,310
Coordinates37.1684700, -80.2553200
Altitude439
CountryUnited States
Start: Alexandria (-77.04692, 38.80484)
End: Shawsville (-80.25532, 37.16847)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 415 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 41m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.1 gal
34.46 L · about $36.05
Round trip
$72.09
18.2 gal · 68.92 L
Estimated CO2
80.9 kg one way
Round trip: 161.7 kg / 356 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $36.05 $72.09
Mid-grade $4.43 $40.30 $80.61
Premium $4.78 $43.48 $86.96
Diesel $5.62 $51.18 $102.36

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Virginia · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Alexandria and Shawsville. The current time is 05:03:13.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.