How far is Arlington, VA from Cana, VA?

The driving distance from Arlington, VA to Cana, VA is about 322.9 miles (519.6 km), with a travel time of about 06h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 251.1 miles (404.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 08m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
322.84 mi
06h 04m
Flight
251.09 mi
404.09 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
251.09 mi
Kilometers
404.09 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
322.84 mi
Kilometers
519.56 km
Drive Time
06h 04m

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 06h 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cana
Thu, Apr 23, 6:40 AM EDT
Return by in Arlington
Thu, Apr 23, 12:44 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Arlington
2026-04-23T00:36
Arrive Cana
Thu, Apr 23, 6:40 AM EDT
Route Timing
06h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:04 PM to 1:34 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:52 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Arlington
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Stuarts Draft
VA

Census designated place

From Arlington
161.4 mi
03h 02m
To Cana
161.5 mi
03h 02m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph NW
Destination
82°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    110 mi · 2 hr 2 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 77 South: Charlotte NC

    2043 ft · 50 sec

  11. 11

    Continue on I 77 South: Charlotte NC

    2179 ft · 53 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    23.1 mi · 27 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 148, SR 775: Fancy Gap

    1381 ft · 36 sec

  14. 14

    Turn straight onto Chance Creek Road

    1.4 km · 1 min · Chance Creek Road

  15. 15

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Fancy Gap Highway

    6.8 mi · 8 min · Fancy Gap Highway

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Fancy Gap Highway

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
16 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 81 South
219 mi · 68%
Custis Memorial Parkway
70.4 mi · 22%
I 77 South
23.9 mi · 7%
Fancy Gap Highway
6.8 mi · 2%
Chance Creek Road
0.88 mi
Wilson Boulevard
0.54 mi
Longest Stretch

I 81 South

Keep slight left

110 mi · 02h 02m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 04m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+71.8 mi
251.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Stuarts Draft
03h 02m from Arlington
Leave By
11:52 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Arlington and Sunny near Cana.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 322.9 miles (519.6 km) and usually takes 06h 04m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Stuarts Draft is a useful midpoint, sitting about 161.4 miles from Arlington and 161.5 miles from Cana.

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

The direct path is about 251.1 miles (404.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 71.8 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 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $45.12 one way or $90.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 101.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Arlington and Sunny near Cana.

Stop Ideas Near Stuarts Draft

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

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

RAIL

Staunton station

14 mi away
1 Middlebrook Avenue
RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

47 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Kemper Street station

70 mi away
825 Kemper St
RAIL

Clifton Forge

74 mi away
400 Ridgeway Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Arlington and Cana. Straight-line distance: 251.09 mi (404.09 km).

Arlington

#1 Arlington

A county in Virginia.

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

#2 Cana

Census designated place

Population1,254
Coordinates36.5895800, -80.6717300
Altitude439
CountryUnited States
Start: Arlington (-77.10428, 38.88101)
End: Cana (-80.67173, 36.58958)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 520 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.39 gal
43.12 L · about $45.12
Round trip
$90.23
22.78 gal · 86.24 L
Estimated CO2
101.2 kg one way
Round trip: 202.4 kg / 446 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $45.12 $90.23
Mid-grade $4.43 $50.45 $100.89
Premium $4.78 $54.42 $108.84
Diesel $5.62 $64.06 $128.11

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Arlington and Cana. The current time is 00:36:33.

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.