How far is Arlington, VA from Colonial Beach, VA?

The driving distance from Arlington, VA to Colonial Beach, VA is about 67.7 miles (108.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 43.9 miles (70.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 33m 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
67.69 mi
01h 46m
Flight
43.94 mi
70.72 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Arlington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
43.94 mi
Kilometers
70.72 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
67.69 mi
Kilometers
108.93 km
Drive Time
01h 46m

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 01h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Colonial Beach
Thu, Apr 23, 1:54 AM EDT
Return by in Arlington
Thu, Apr 23, 3:40 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Arlington
2026-04-23T00:07
Arrive Colonial Beach
Thu, Apr 23, 1:54 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:47 AM to 11:47 AM EDT

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

Leave by
2:56 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Arlington
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Fort Hunt
VA

Census designated place

From Arlington
33.9 mi
00h 53m
To Colonial Beach
33.9 mi
00h 53m

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
79°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arlington and Colonial Beach.

  1. 1

    Start on Wilson Boulevard

    1932 ft · 1 min · Wilson Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn straight

    63 m · 9 sec

  3. 3

    Turn straight onto 10th Street North

    1490 ft · 57 sec · 10th Street North

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Washington Boulevard

    1.9 mi · 4 min · Washington Boulevard

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on I 395 North: Washington

    1400 ft · 29 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 395 North: Washington

    1870 ft · 53 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Arland D. Williams Junior Memorial Bridge

    2430 ft · 39 sec · Arland D. Williams Junior Memorial Bridge

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 395 North: Capitol Hill, Nationals Park, Capital One Arena

    2326 ft · 48 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Francis Case Memorial Bridge

    880 ft · 19 sec · Francis Case Memorial Bridge

  11. 11

    Continue on Southwest Freeway

    2566 ft · 55 sec · Southwest Freeway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Southeast Freeway

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Southeast Freeway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward 11th Street Southeast, Southeast Boulevard

    1872 ft · 43 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto 11th Street Southeast

    1607 ft · 46 sec · 11th Street Southeast

  15. 15

    Continue on Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast

    2387 ft · 60 sec · Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Marion Barry Avenue Southeast

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Marion Barry Avenue Southeast

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Naylor Road Southeast

    1.1 km · 2 min · Naylor Road Southeast

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Southern Avenue Southeast

    62 m · 7 sec · Southern Avenue Southeast

  19. 19

    Continue on Naylor Road

    1522 ft · 53 sec · Naylor Road

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Naylor Road

    32 m · 2 sec · Naylor Road

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto Naylor Road

    118 m · 11 sec · Naylor Road

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Naylor Road

    34 m · 3 sec · Naylor Road

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout onto Naylor Road

    1001 ft · 30 sec · Naylor Road

  24. 24

    Merge slight left onto Branch Avenue

    1654 ft · 48 sec · Branch Avenue

  25. 25

    Keep slight right to continue on Branch Avenue

    12.2 mi · 17 min · Branch Avenue

  26. 26

    Merge slight right onto Crain Highway

    28.3 mi · 42 min · Crain Highway

  27. 27

    Continue on James Madison Parkway

    4.1 mi · 6 min · James Madison Parkway

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Windsor Drive

    4.4 mi · 6 min · Windsor Drive

  29. 29

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Tetotum Road

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Tetotum Road

  30. 30

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Ridge Road

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Ridge Road

  31. 31

    Continue on McKinney Boulevard

    1.8 mi · 3 min · McKinney Boulevard

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Colonial Avenue

    3168 ft · 2 min · Colonial Avenue

  33. 33

    Turn right onto Washington Avenue

    10 m · 1 sec · Washington Avenue

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Washington Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
34 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
50.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Crain Highway
28.3 mi · 42%
Branch Avenue
12.5 mi · 19%
Windsor Drive
4.39 mi · 6%
James Madison Parkway
4.14 mi · 6%
Ridge Road
3.52 mi · 5%
Washington Boulevard
1.89 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Crain Highway

Merge slight right onto Crain Highway

28.3 mi · 00h 42m

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
01h 46m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.8 mi
43.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fort Hunt
00h 53m from Arlington
Leave By
2:56 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Arlington and Sunny near Colonial Beach.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Arlington to Colonial Beach?

The road trip is about 67.7 miles (108.9 km) and usually takes 01h 46m 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?

Fort Hunt is a useful midpoint, sitting about 33.9 miles from Arlington and 33.9 miles from Colonial Beach.

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

The direct path is about 43.9 miles (70.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.8 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:56 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.47 one way or $18.93 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 21.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Arlington and Sunny near Colonial Beach.

Stop Ideas Near Fort Hunt

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

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

RAIL

Union Station

8 mi away
110 Callahan Drive
RAIL

Lorton station

14 mi away
8006 Lorton Road
RAIL

Woodbridge station

19 mi away
1040 Express Way
RAIL

Washington Union Station

19 mi away
50 Massachusetts Ave NE

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Arlington and Colonial Beach. Straight-line distance: 43.94 mi (70.72 km).

Arlington

#1 Arlington

A county in Virginia.

Population229,164
Coordinates38.8810100, -77.1042800
Altitude71
CountryUnited States
Colonial Beach

#2 Colonial Beach

Town in Westmoreland County, Virginia, United States

Population3,645
Coordinates38.2545700, -76.9635800
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Start: Arlington (-77.10428, 38.88101)
End: Colonial Beach (-76.96358, 38.25457)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 109 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 58m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.39 gal
9.04 L · about $9.47
Round trip
$18.93
4.78 gal · 18.08 L
Estimated CO2
21.2 kg one way
Round trip: 42.5 kg / 94 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $9.47 $18.93
Mid-grade $4.43 $10.59 $21.17
Premium $4.78 $11.42 $22.84
Diesel $5.62 $13.44 $26.88

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 Colonial Beach. The current time is 00:07:18.

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.