How far is Arlington, VA from Lake Monticello, VA?

The driving distance from Arlington, VA to Lake Monticello, VA is about 117.7 miles (189.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 93.9 miles (151.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 42m 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
117.71 mi
02h 51m
Flight
93.9 mi
151.12 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
93.9 mi
Kilometers
151.12 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
117.71 mi
Kilometers
189.43 km
Drive Time
02h 51m

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 02h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lake Monticello
Mon, Jun 1, 7:24 PM EDT
Return by in Arlington
Mon, Jun 1, 10:15 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Arlington
2026-06-01T16:32
Arrive Lake Monticello
Mon, Jun 1, 7:24 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:51 AM to 12:51 PM EDT

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

Leave by
12:48 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
Spotsylvania Courthouse
VA

Census designated place

From Arlington
58.8 mi
01h 25m
To Lake Monticello
58.9 mi
01h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Monday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph N
Destination
81°F
Monday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arlington and Lake Monticello.

  1. 1

    Start on Wilson Boulevard

    27 m · 8 sec · Wilson Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Oakland Street

    2360 ft · 1 min · North Oakland Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Pershing Drive

    766 ft · 28 sec · North Pershing Drive

  4. 4

    Turn left onto North Glebe Road

    2.4 mi · 6 min · North Glebe Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 395 South: Richmond

    1666 ft · 42 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 395 South: Richmond, Quaker Lane

    96 m · 8 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 395 South: Richmond

    842 ft · 20 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

    5.8 mi · 7 min · Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

    36.3 mi · 43 min · Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right

    3.8 mi · 4 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 3 West: Culpeper

    1560 ft · 38 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    534 ft · 15 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Plank Road

    12.5 mi · 19 min · Plank Road

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight left

    152 m · 16 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight right onto Constitution Highway

    21.6 mi · 30 min · Constitution Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on Berry Hill Road

    1.2 km · 2 min · Berry Hill Road

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Caroline Street

    1404 ft · 48 sec · Caroline Street

  18. 18

    Continue on James Madison Highway

    7.9 mi · 12 min · James Madison Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on East Gordon Avenue

    817 ft · 21 sec · East Gordon Avenue

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward West Gordon Avenue

    37 m · 1 sec · West Gordon Avenue

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto West Gordon Avenue

    1.4 mi · 3 min · West Gordon Avenue

  22. 22

    Continue on Gordonsville Road

    8.2 mi · 12 min · Gordonsville Road

  23. 23

    Continue on Louisa Road

    5.3 mi · 9 min · Louisa Road

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Richmond Road

    729 ft · 14 sec · Richmond Road

  25. 25

    Turn slight right onto SR 729

    100 m · 12 sec

  26. 26

    Turn straight onto North Milton Road

    3278 ft · 1 min · North Milton Road

  27. 27

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

    2.6 mi · 5 min · Milton Road

  28. 28

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Thomas Jefferson Parkway

    4.6 mi · 6 min · Thomas Jefferson Parkway

  29. 29

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Thomas Jefferson Parkway

    6 m · 1 sec · Thomas Jefferson Parkway

  30. 30

    Exit the roundabout onto Thomas Jefferson Parkway

    2225 ft · 47 sec · Thomas Jefferson Parkway

  31. 31

    Turn left onto Monish Drive

    58 m · 8 sec · Monish Drive

  32. 32

    Turn right onto Jefferson Drive

    1.3 km · 3 min · Jefferson Drive

  33. 33

    Turn left onto Briarwood Road

    535 ft · 19 sec · Briarwood Road

  34. 34

    Turn left onto Blackwood Lane

    129 m · 16 sec · Blackwood Lane

  35. 35

    Turn right onto Sherwood Drive

    1383 ft · 47 sec · Sherwood Drive

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Sherwood Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
36 steps
18 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
3 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
30.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
45.9 mi · 39%
Constitution Highway
21.6 mi · 18%
Plank Road
12.6 mi · 11%
Gordonsville Road
8.17 mi · 7%
James Madison Highway
7.92 mi · 7%
Louisa Road
5.33 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

Continue on Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

36.3 mi · 00h 43m

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
02h 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.8 mi
93.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Spotsylvania Courthouse
01h 25m from Arlington
Leave By
12:48 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Arlington and Mostly Sunny near Lake Monticello.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Arlington to Lake Monticello?

The road trip is about 117.7 miles (189.4 km) and usually takes 02h 51m 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?

Spotsylvania Courthouse is a useful midpoint, sitting about 58.8 miles from Arlington and 58.9 miles from Lake Monticello.

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

The direct path is about 93.9 miles (151.1 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 12:48 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.44 one way or $32.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 36.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Arlington and Mostly Sunny near Lake Monticello.

Stop Ideas Near Spotsylvania Courthouse

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Spotsylvania Courthouse, 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 Spotsylvania Courthouse.

RAIL

Fredericksburg

16 mi away
200 Lafayette Blvd.
RAIL

Quantico

44 mi away
550 Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Culpeper station

47 mi away
109 South Commerce Street
RAIL

Ashland

50 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Arlington and Lake Monticello. Straight-line distance: 93.9 mi (151.12 km).

Arlington

#1 Arlington

A county in Virginia.

Population229,164
Coordinates38.8810100, -77.1042800
Altitude71
CountryUnited States
Lake Monticello

#2 Lake Monticello

Census-designated place in Virginia, United States

Population9,920
Coordinates37.9232000, -78.3347300
Altitude113
CountryUnited States
Start: Arlington (-77.10428, 38.88101)
End: Lake Monticello (-78.33473, 37.9232)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 189 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.15 gal
15.72 L · about $16.44
Round trip
$32.88
8.3 gal · 31.44 L
Estimated CO2
36.9 kg one way
Round trip: 73.8 kg / 163 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $16.44 $32.88
Mid-grade $4.43 $18.38 $36.76
Premium $4.78 $19.83 $39.66
Diesel $5.62 $23.34 $46.68

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 · Jun 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Arlington and Lake Monticello. The current time is 16:32:35.

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.