How far is Cana, VA from Arlington, VA?

The driving distance from Cana, VA to Arlington, VA is about 321.5 miles (517.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 251.1 miles (404.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 17m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
321.5 mi
05h 08m
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 Cana.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
251.09 mi
Kilometers
404.09 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
321.5 mi
Kilometers
517.41 km
Drive Time
05h 08m

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 05h 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Arlington
Thu, Apr 23, 4:04 AM EDT
Return by in Cana
Thu, Apr 23, 9:12 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cana
2026-04-22T22:55
Arrive Arlington
Thu, Apr 23, 4:04 AM EDT
Route Timing
05h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:09 AM to 1:09 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:42 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cana
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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 Cana
160.6 mi
02h 34m
To Arlington
160.9 mi
02h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 9 mph W
Destination
73°F
Wednesday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Fancy Gap Highway

    6.8 mi · 8 min · Fancy Gap Highway

  2. 2

    Turn left

    1.1 km · 48 sec

  3. 3

    Take the exit slight right

    1276 ft · 31 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    23 mi · 27 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 81 North: Roanoke

    2334 ft · 57 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke

    139 mi · 2 hr 33 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    1353 ft · 18 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    78.9 mi · 1 hr 26 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 66 East: Front Royal, Washington

    1920 ft · 47 sec

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    42.8 mi · 46 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right

    27.8 mi · 34 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 120, VA 237

    1641 ft · 31 sec

  13. 13

    Continue on Fairfax Drive

    573 ft · 25 sec · Fairfax Drive

  14. 14

    Turn right onto North Glebe Road

    985 ft · 33 sec · North Glebe Road

  15. 15

    Turn slight left onto Wilson Boulevard

    2854 ft · 2 min · Wilson Boulevard

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Wilson Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

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
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 81 North
219 mi · 68%
I 66 East
70.9 mi · 22%
Fancy Gap Highway
30 mi · 9%
Wilson Boulevard
0.54 mi
VA 120
0.31 mi
North Glebe Road
0.19 mi
Longest Stretch

I 81 North

Merge slight left onto I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke

139 mi · 02h 33m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 08m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+70.4 mi
251.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Stuarts Draft
02h 34m from Cana
Leave By
6:42 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Cana and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Arlington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 321.5 miles (517.4 km) and usually takes 05h 08m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Stuarts Draft is a useful midpoint, sitting about 160.6 miles from Cana and 160.9 miles from Arlington.

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 70.4 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 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:42 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.96 one way or $89.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 100.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Cana and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Arlington.

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 Cana and Arlington. Straight-line distance: 251.09 mi (404.09 km).

Cana

#1 Cana

Census designated place

Population1,254
Coordinates36.5895800, -80.6717300
Altitude439
CountryUnited States
Arlington

#2 Arlington

A county in Virginia.

Population229,164
Coordinates38.8810100, -77.1042800
Altitude71
CountryUnited States
Start: Fancy Gap Highway (-80.671881, 36.589413)
End: Wilson Boulevard (-77.104347, 38.881084)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 517 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.35 gal
42.95 L · about $44.96
Round trip
$89.91
22.7 gal · 85.9 L
Estimated CO2
100.9 kg one way
Round trip: 201.7 kg / 445 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $44.96 $89.91
Mid-grade $4.43 $50.27 $100.54
Premium $4.78 $54.23 $108.46
Diesel $5.62 $63.83 $127.66

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 Cana and Arlington. The current time is 22:55:46.

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.