How far is Arlington, VA from Buchanan, VA?

The driving distance from Arlington, VA to Buchanan, VA is about 206.5 miles (332.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 168.2 miles (270.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 46m 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
206.47 mi
03h 53m
Flight
168.22 mi
270.72 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Arlington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
168.22 mi
Kilometers
270.72 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
206.47 mi
Kilometers
332.28 km
Drive Time
03h 53m

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 03h 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Buchanan
Sun, Apr 12, 5:03 AM EDT
Return by in Arlington
Sun, Apr 12, 8:56 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Arlington
2026-04-12T01:10
Arrive Buchanan
Sun, Apr 12, 5:03 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:53 AM to 11:53 AM EDT

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

Leave by
9:14 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Arlington
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
Mount Jackson
VA

Town of the United States

From Arlington
103.2 mi
01h 56m
To Buchanan
103.3 mi
01h 56m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 12 mph SE
Destination
79°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 8 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Wilson Boulevard

    2828 ft · 2 min · Wilson Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn slight right onto North Glebe Road

    936 ft · 31 sec · North Glebe Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Fairfax Drive

    667 ft · 28 sec · Fairfax Drive

  4. 4

    Continue on I 66 Toll West

    2423 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Custis Memorial Parkway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · Custis Memorial Parkway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on Custis Memorial Parkway

    67.1 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Custis Memorial Parkway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 81 South: Roanoke

    1 km · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight right onto I 81 South: Roanoke

    108.7 mi · 1 hr 58 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    22.8 mi · 24 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 614: Arcadia

    990 ft · 26 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Arcadia Road

    29 m · 8 sec · Arcadia Road

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Lee Highway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Lee Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Main Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Main Street

  14. 14

    Turn left

    33 m · 8 sec

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
15 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 81 South
132 mi · 64%
Custis Memorial Parkway
70.4 mi · 34%
Lee Highway
1.29 mi · 1%
Main Street
1.14 mi · 1%
Wilson Boulevard
0.54 mi
I 66 Toll West
0.46 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
03h 53m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.3 mi
168.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mount Jackson
01h 56m from Arlington
Leave By
9:14 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Arlington and Mostly Sunny near Buchanan.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 206.5 miles (332.3 km) and usually takes 03h 53m 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?

Mount Jackson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 103.2 miles from Arlington and 103.3 miles from Buchanan.

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

The direct path is about 168.2 miles (270.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.3 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 9:14 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.88 one way or $57.75 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 64.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Arlington and Mostly Sunny near Buchanan.

Stop Ideas Near Mount Jackson

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

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

RAIL

Culpeper station

64 mi away
109 South Commerce Street
RAIL

Staunton station

76 mi away
1 Middlebrook Avenue
RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

80 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Martinsburg station

99 mi away
229 East Martin St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Arlington and Buchanan. Straight-line distance: 168.22 mi (270.72 km).

Arlington

#1 Arlington

A county in Virginia.

Population229,164
Coordinates38.8810100, -77.1042800
Altitude71
CountryUnited States
Buchanan

#2 Buchanan

Town in Virginia, United States

Population1,182
Coordinates37.5273600, -79.6797600
Altitude259
CountryUnited States
Start: Arlington (-77.10428, 38.88101)
End: Buchanan (-79.67976, 37.52736)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 332 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.29 gal
27.58 L · about $28.88
Round trip
$57.75
14.58 gal · 55.16 L
Estimated CO2
64.8 kg one way
Round trip: 129.6 kg / 286 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $28.88 $57.75
Mid-grade $4.43 $32.29 $64.57
Premium $4.78 $34.83 $69.66
Diesel $5.62 $41.00 $82.00

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 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Arlington and Buchanan. The current time is 01:10:13.

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.