How far is Charlottesville, VA from Lexington, VA?
The driving distance from Charlottesville, VA to Lexington, VA is about 14.5 miles (23.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 27m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 11.6 miles (18.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 55m 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 27m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
Independent city in Virginia, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Charlottesville and Lexington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlottesville and Lexington.
-
1
Start on the route
71 m · 23 sec
-
2
Turn left onto East Market Street
55 m · 10 sec · East Market Street
-
3
Turn right onto 7th Street Northeast
587 ft · 31 sec · 7th Street Northeast
-
4
Turn left onto East High Street
96 m · 15 sec · East High Street
-
5
Turn right onto Park Street
1.1 km · 2 min · Park Street
-
6
Turn left
77 m · 7 sec
-
7
Take the ramp straight toward US 250 West
43 m · 4 sec
-
8
Merge slight left onto U.S. 250 Bypass
1.5 mi · 3 min · U.S. 250 Bypass
-
9
Turn right onto Hydraulic Road
1341 ft · 34 sec · Hydraulic Road
-
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Hydraulic Road
29 m · 3 sec · Hydraulic Road
-
11
Exit the roundabout onto Hydraulic Road
1.9 mi · 4 min · Hydraulic Road
-
12
Turn left onto Earlysville Road
3.8 mi · 6 min · Earlysville Road
-
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Earlysville Road
46 m · 3 sec · Earlysville Road
-
14
Exit the roundabout onto Earlysville Road
2.6 mi · 4 min · Earlysville Road
-
15
Continue on Buck Mountain Road
1.4 mi · 2 min · Buck Mountain Road
-
16
Turn right onto Simmons Gap Road
2540 ft · 51 sec · Simmons Gap Road
-
17
Keep slight right to continue on Buffalo River Road
1.4 mi · 3 min · Buffalo River Road
-
18
Turn left onto Lexington Lane
132 m · 19 sec · Lexington Lane
-
19
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Lexington Lane
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Charlottesville and Lexington.
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.
Earlysville Road
Turn left onto Earlysville Road
3.83 mi · 00h 06m
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 then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Charlottesville and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lexington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Charlottesville to Lexington?
The road trip is about 14.5 miles (23.3 km) and usually takes 00h 27m 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?
Franklin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7.2 miles from Charlottesville and 7.2 miles from Lexington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 11.6 miles (18.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.9 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 7:34 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.02 one way or $4.04 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Charlottesville and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lexington.
Stop Ideas Near Franklin
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Franklin.
Charlottesville Union Station
Staunton station
Culpeper station
Ashland
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Charlottesville and Lexington. Straight-line distance: 11.61 mi (18.69 km).
#1 Charlottesville
The capital of Virginia.
| Population | 46,950 |
| Coordinates | 38.0293100, -78.4766800 |
| Altitude | 142 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Lexington
Independent city in Virginia, United States
| Population | 7,279 |
| Coordinates | 38.1973500, -78.4822300 |
| Altitude | 185 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lexington (-78.48223, 38.19735)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 23 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 28m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 21m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 17m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 14m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 12m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 10m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $2.02 | $4.04 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $2.26 | $4.52 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $2.44 | $4.87 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $2.87 | $5.74 |
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 11, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.