How far is Arlington, VA from Galax, VA?

The driving distance from Arlington, VA to Galax, VA is about 317.6 miles (511.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 258.9 miles (416.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 11m 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
317.63 mi
06h 05m
Flight
258.89 mi
416.64 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
258.89 mi
Kilometers
416.64 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
317.63 mi
Kilometers
511.18 km
Drive Time
06h 05m

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 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Galax
Thu, Apr 16, 3:44 AM EDT
Return by in Arlington
Thu, Apr 16, 9:49 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Arlington
2026-04-15T21:38
Arrive Galax
Thu, Apr 16, 3:44 AM EDT
Route Timing
06h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:06 PM to 1:36 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
11:48 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
158.8 mi
03h 02m
To Galax
158.9 mi
03h 02m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
91°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 8:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 13 mph SW
Destination
58°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 5:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    12.5 mi · 14 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 620

    1779 ft · 43 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right

    36 m · 3 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Coulson Church Road

    5.4 mi · 9 min · Coulson Church Road

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Carrollton Pike

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Carrollton Pike

  17. 17

    Continue on East Stuart Drive

    3044 ft · 1 min · East Stuart Drive

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Cranberry Road

    1251 ft · 38 sec · Cranberry Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Glendale Road

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Glendale Road

  20. 20

    Turn right onto East Stuart Drive

    2863 ft · 1 min · East Stuart Drive

  21. 21

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    2079 ft · 50 sec · North Main Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto East Oldtown Street

    48 m · 12 sec · East Oldtown Street

  23. 23

    Turn left

    11 m · 3 sec

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 81 South
219 mi · 69%
Custis Memorial Parkway
70.4 mi · 22%
I 77 South
13.3 mi · 4%
Coulson Church Road
5.42 mi · 2%
Carrollton Pike
3.63 mi · 1%
Glendale Road
2.08 mi · 1%
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 05m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+58.7 mi
258.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Stuarts Draft
03h 02m from Arlington
Leave By
11:48 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Arlington and Mostly Clear near Galax.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 317.6 miles (511.2 km) and usually takes 06h 05m 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 158.8 miles from Arlington and 158.9 miles from Galax.

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

The direct path is about 258.9 miles (416.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 58.7 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 $44.40 one way or $88.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Galax. Straight-line distance: 258.89 mi (416.64 km).

Arlington

#1 Arlington

A county in Virginia.

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

#2 Galax

Independent city in Virginia, United States

Population6,296
Coordinates36.6612400, -80.9239700
Altitude723
CountryUnited States
Start: Arlington (-77.10428, 38.88101)
End: Galax (-80.92397, 36.66124)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 511 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.21 gal
42.43 L · about $44.40
Round trip
$88.81
22.42 gal · 84.86 L
Estimated CO2
99.6 kg one way
Round trip: 199.2 kg / 439 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $44.40 $88.81
Mid-grade $4.43 $49.65 $99.30
Premium $4.78 $53.56 $107.12
Diesel $5.62 $63.05 $126.09

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Arlington and Galax. The current time is 21:38:29.

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.