How far is Amherst, VA from Arlington, VA?

The driving distance from Amherst, VA to Arlington, VA is about 158.9 miles (255.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 138.5 miles (222.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
158.88 mi
02h 55m
Flight
138.5 mi
222.89 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Amherst.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
138.5 mi
Kilometers
222.89 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
158.88 mi
Kilometers
255.7 km
Drive Time
02h 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 02h 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Arlington
Sat, May 23, 12:08 PM EDT
Return by in Amherst
Sat, May 23, 3:04 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Amherst
2026-05-23T09:12
Arrive Arlington
Sat, May 23, 12:08 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:56 AM to 12:56 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:38 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Amherst
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Madison
VA

City in Madison County, Florida, United States

From Amherst
79.3 mi
01h 27m
To Arlington
79.6 mi
01h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Saturday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sat, May 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph E
Destination
59°F
Saturday

Rain

Starts
Sat, May 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Amherst and Arlington.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Amherst and Arlington.

  1. 1

    Start on Goodwin Street

    16 m · 8 sec · Goodwin Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Court Street

    43 m · 8 sec · East Court Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    1161 ft · 22 sec · South Main Street

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Amherst Traffic Circle

    50 m · 4 sec · North Main Street

  5. 5

    Exit the rotary onto North Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Boxwood Farm Road

    132 m · 7 sec · Boxwood Farm Road

  7. 7

    Take the ramp slight right toward US 29 North

    1292 ft · 35 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto North Amherst Highway

    6 mi · 8 min · North Amherst Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on Thomas Nelson Highway

    21.6 mi · 27 min · Thomas Nelson Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Monacan Trail

    20.2 mi · 26 min · Monacan Trail

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right

    882 ft · 26 sec

  12. 12

    Turn slight right onto Emmet Street North

    44 m · 11 sec · Emmet Street North

  13. 13

    Continue on Emmet Street North

    2610 ft · 1 min · Emmet Street North

  14. 14

    Continue on Seminole Trail

    33.9 mi · 49 min · Seminole Trail

  15. 15

    Continue on James Monroe Highway

    7.7 mi · 10 min · James Monroe Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on James Madison Highway

    23.3 mi · 30 min · James Madison Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Eastern Bypass

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Eastern Bypass

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on US 15 North, US 29 North

    11.7 mi · 17 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward I 66 East: Washington

    1.4 km · 2 min

  20. 20

    Merge slight left

    27.2 mi · 34 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 120, VA 237

    1641 ft · 31 sec

  22. 22

    Continue on Fairfax Drive

    573 ft · 25 sec · Fairfax Drive

  23. 23

    Turn right onto North Glebe Road

    985 ft · 33 sec · North Glebe Road

  24. 24

    Turn slight left onto Wilson Boulevard

    2854 ft · 2 min · Wilson Boulevard

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Wilson Boulevard

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Amherst and Arlington.

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
25 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Seminole Trail
33.9 mi · 21%
I 66 East
28.1 mi · 18%
James Madison Highway
23.3 mi · 15%
Thomas Nelson Highway
21.6 mi · 14%
Monacan Trail
20.3 mi · 13%
US 15 North
11.7 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Seminole Trail

Continue on Seminole Trail

33.9 mi · 00h 49m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 55m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20.4 mi
138.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Madison
01h 27m from Amherst
Leave By
12:38 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Amherst and Rain near Arlington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Amherst to Arlington?

The road trip is about 158.9 miles (255.7 km) and usually takes 02h 55m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Madison is a useful midpoint, sitting about 79.3 miles from Amherst and 79.6 miles from Arlington.

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

The direct path is about 138.5 miles (222.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 20.4 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:38 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.22 one way or $44.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Amherst and Rain near Arlington.

Stop Ideas Near Madison

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Madison, 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 Madison.

RAIL

Culpeper station

25 mi away
109 South Commerce Street
RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

44 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Fredericksburg

70 mi away
200 Lafayette Blvd.
RAIL

Staunton station

76 mi away
1 Middlebrook Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Amherst and Arlington. Straight-line distance: 138.5 mi (222.89 km).

Amherst

#1 Amherst

Town in Virginia, USA

Population2,182
Coordinates37.5851400, -79.0514100
Altitude232
CountryUnited States
Arlington

#2 Arlington

A county in Virginia.

Population229,164
Coordinates38.8810100, -77.1042800
Altitude71
CountryUnited States
Start: Goodwin Street (-79.05153, 37.585172)
End: Wilson Boulevard (-77.104347, 38.881084)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 256 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 17m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.61 gal
21.22 L · about $22.22
Round trip
$44.44
11.22 gal · 42.44 L
Estimated CO2
49.9 kg one way
Round trip: 99.7 kg / 220 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $22.22 $44.44
Mid-grade $4.43 $24.85 $49.69
Premium $4.78 $26.80 $53.61
Diesel $5.62 $31.55 $63.10

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 · May 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Amherst and Arlington. The current time is 09:12:10.

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.