How far is Arlington, VA from Gainesville, VA?
The driving distance from Arlington, VA to Gainesville, VA is about 30.8 miles (49.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 42m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 28 miles (45.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 24m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 00h 42m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Independent city in Virginia, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Arlington and Gainesville.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington and Gainesville.
-
1
Start on Wilson Boulevard
2828 ft · 2 min · Wilson Boulevard
-
2
Turn slight right onto North Glebe Road
936 ft · 31 sec · North Glebe Road
-
3
Turn left onto Fairfax Drive
667 ft · 28 sec · Fairfax Drive
-
4
Continue on I 66 Toll West
2423 ft · 1 min
-
5
Merge slight left onto Custis Memorial Parkway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Custis Memorial Parkway
-
6
Keep slight left to continue on Custis Memorial Parkway
24.2 mi · 30 min · Custis Memorial Parkway
-
7
Take the exit slight right toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
1.2 km · 1 min
-
8
Keep slight left to continue on US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton
953 ft · 23 sec
-
9
Merge slight left onto Lee Highway
3143 ft · 53 sec · Lee Highway
-
10
Turn right onto McGraws Corner Drive
118 m · 19 sec · McGraws Corner Drive
-
11
Continue on McGraws Corner Drive
139 m · 23 sec · McGraws Corner Drive
-
12
Turn left onto Lee Highway
1693 ft · 40 sec · Lee Highway
-
13
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Lee Highway
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Arlington and Gainesville.
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.
Custis Memorial Parkway
Keep slight left to continue on Custis Memorial Parkway
24.2 mi · 00h 30m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Sunny leaving Arlington and Sunny near Gainesville.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Arlington to Gainesville?
The road trip is about 30.8 miles (49.6 km) and usually takes 00h 42m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Fairfax is a useful midpoint, sitting about 15.3 miles from Arlington and 15.4 miles from Gainesville.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 28 miles (45.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.8 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:06 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.32 one way or $8.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Arlington and Sunny near Gainesville.
Stop Ideas Near Fairfax
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Herndon Old Town Hall
Tele-Town Hall
Manassas Park City Hall
Town Hall Pool
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Fairfax.
Burke Centre
Lorton station
Manassas station
Union Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Arlington and Gainesville. Straight-line distance: 28.05 mi (45.15 km).
#1 Arlington
A county in Virginia.
| Population | 229,164 |
| Coordinates | 38.8810100, -77.1042800 |
| Altitude | 71 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Gainesville
Gainesville is a place in Virginia, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 38.7956700, -77.6138800 |
| Altitude | 108 |
| Country | United States |
End: Gainesville (-77.61388, 38.79567)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 50 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 01m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 46m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 36m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 30m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 26m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 23m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $4.32 | $8.63 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $4.83 | $9.66 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $5.21 | $10.42 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $6.13 | $12.26 |
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 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.