How far is Charlottesville, VA from South Riding, VA?

The driving distance from Charlottesville, VA to South Riding, VA is about 97.4 miles (156.8 km), with a travel time of about 02h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 81 miles (130.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST.
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
97.44 mi
02h 22m
Flight
81.02 mi
130.39 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Charlottesville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
81.02 mi
Kilometers
130.39 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
97.44 mi
Kilometers
156.82 km
Drive Time
02h 22m

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 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Riding
Tue, Nov 10, 12:15 PM EST
Return by in Charlottesville
Tue, Nov 10, 2:37 PM EST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Charlottesville
2026-11-10T09:52
Arrive South Riding
Tue, Nov 10, 12:15 PM EST
Route Timing
02h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:23 AM to 12:23 PM EST

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

Leave by
1:44 PM EST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Charlottesville
9:30 PM EST
Morning start is best

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Culpeper
VA

Town in Culpeper County, Virginia, United States

From Charlottesville
48.7 mi
01h 11m
To South Riding
48.7 mi
01h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Nov 10 6:00 AM EST
Wind
1 to 8 mph SW
Destination
70°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Nov 10 6:00 AM EST
Wind
2 to 7 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Charlottesville and South Riding.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Charlottesville and South Riding.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    71 m · 23 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Market Street

    55 m · 10 sec · East Market Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 7th Street Northeast

    587 ft · 31 sec · 7th Street Northeast

  4. 4

    Turn left onto East High Street

    96 m · 15 sec · East High Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Park Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Park Street

  6. 6

    Turn left

    77 m · 7 sec

  7. 7

    Take the ramp straight toward US 250 West

    43 m · 4 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto U.S. 250 Bypass

    1.5 mi · 3 min · U.S. 250 Bypass

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Hydraulic Road

    1341 ft · 34 sec · Hydraulic Road

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Hydraulic Road

    29 m · 3 sec · Hydraulic Road

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout onto Hydraulic Road

    865 ft · 23 sec · Hydraulic Road

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Seminole Trail

    33.9 mi · 49 min · Seminole Trail

  13. 13

    Continue on James Monroe Highway

    7.7 mi · 10 min · James Monroe Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on James Madison Highway

    23.3 mi · 30 min · James Madison Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Eastern Bypass

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Eastern Bypass

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on US 15 North, US 29 North

    12.1 mi · 18 min

  17. 17

    Continue on Lee Highway

    3.9 mi · 6 min · Lee Highway

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Sudley Road

    2.3 mi · 4 min · Sudley Road

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Gum Spring Road

    6.7 mi · 11 min · Gum Spring Road

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Little River Turnpike

    2 mi · 3 min · Little River Turnpike

  21. 21

    Turn right onto South Riding Boulevard

    848 ft · 28 sec · South Riding Boulevard

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Defender Drive

    669 ft · 31 sec · Defender Drive

  23. 23

    Turn right

    10 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 Charlottesville and South Riding.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
24 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
24.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Seminole Trail
33.9 mi · 35%
James Madison Highway
23.3 mi · 24%
US 15 North
12.1 mi · 12%
James Monroe Highway
7.72 mi · 8%
Gum Spring Road
6.7 mi · 7%
Lee Highway
3.88 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Seminole Trail

Turn right onto Seminole Trail

33.9 mi · 00h 49m

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 22m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.4 mi
81 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Culpeper
01h 11m from Charlottesville
Leave By
1:44 PM EST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Charlottesville and Sunny near South Riding.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Charlottesville to South Riding?

The road trip is about 97.4 miles (156.8 km) and usually takes 02h 22m 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?

Culpeper is a useful midpoint, sitting about 48.7 miles from Charlottesville and 48.7 miles from South Riding.

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

The direct path is about 81 miles (130.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.4 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:44 PM EST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.28 one way or $26.56 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 30.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Charlottesville and Sunny near South Riding.

Stop Ideas Near Culpeper

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

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

RAIL

Culpeper station

109 South Commerce Street
RAIL

Fredericksburg

51 mi away
200 Lafayette Blvd.
RAIL

Manassas station

55 mi away
9431 West Street
RAIL

Quantico

61 mi away
550 Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Charlottesville and South Riding. Straight-line distance: 81.02 mi (130.39 km).

Charlottesville

#1 Charlottesville

The capital of Virginia.

Population46,950
Coordinates38.0293100, -78.4766800
Altitude142
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 South Riding

South Riding is a place in Virginia, United States.

Population0
Coordinates38.9209400, -77.5038800
Altitude98
CountryUnited States
Start: Charlottesville (-78.47668, 38.02931)
End: South Riding (-77.50388, 38.92094)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 157 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.44 gal
13.02 L · about $13.28
Round trip
$26.56
6.88 gal · 26.04 L
Estimated CO2
30.6 kg one way
Round trip: 61.1 kg / 135 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.86 $13.28 $26.56
Mid-grade $4.35 $14.97 $29.93
Premium $4.77 $16.41 $32.81
Diesel $6.16 $21.18 $42.36

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 · Nov 09, 2026

There is no time difference between Charlottesville and South Riding. The current time is 09:52:38.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.