How far is Chilhowie, VA from Alexandria, VA?

The driving distance from Chilhowie, VA to Alexandria, VA is about 346 miles (556.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 288.5 miles (464.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 57m 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
346.02 mi
05h 28m
Flight
288.49 mi
464.28 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chilhowie.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
288.49 mi
Kilometers
464.28 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
346.02 mi
Kilometers
556.86 km
Drive Time
05h 28m

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 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alexandria
Sat, May 30, 11:31 AM EDT
Return by in Chilhowie
Sat, May 30, 4:59 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chilhowie
2026-05-30T06:02
Arrive Alexandria
Sat, May 30, 11:31 AM EDT
Route Timing
05h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:29 AM to 1:29 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
6:02 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chilhowie
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
Stuarts Draft
VA

Census designated place

From Chilhowie
172.8 mi
02h 44m
To Alexandria
173.2 mi
02h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 6 mph NW
Destination
77°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Chilhowie and Alexandria.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chilhowie and Alexandria.

  1. 1

    Start on Whitetop Road

    1730 ft · 42 sec · Whitetop Road

  2. 2

    Take the ramp left

    944 ft · 23 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left

    45.9 mi · 49 min

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke

    139.7 mi · 2 hr 34 min

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    1353 ft · 18 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    78.9 mi · 1 hr 26 min

  7. 7

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

    1920 ft · 47 sec

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    42.8 mi · 46 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right

    21.4 mi · 26 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 495 South: Richmond, Alexandria

    2186 ft · 42 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway

    12.1 mi · 15 min · Capital Beltway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Capital Beltway (Local)

    2 mi · 3 min · Capital Beltway (Local)

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir

    969 ft · 24 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on US 1 North: Alexandria

    2328 ft · 57 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Richmond Highway

    134 m · 8 sec · Richmond Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on South Patrick Street

    1551 ft · 46 sec · South Patrick Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Franklin Street

    953 ft · 28 sec · Franklin Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto South Washington Street

    2462 ft · 2 min · South Washington Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Washington Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Chilhowie and Alexandria.

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
19 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 81 North
219 mi · 63%
I 66 East
64.5 mi · 19%
Whitetop Road
46.4 mi · 13%
Capital Beltway
12.1 mi · 4%
Capital Beltway (Local)
1.98 mi · 1%
South Washington Street
0.47 mi
Longest Stretch

I 81 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke

140 mi · 02h 34m

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 28m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+57.5 mi
288.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Stuarts Draft
02h 44m from Chilhowie
Leave By
6:02 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Chilhowie and Sunny near Alexandria.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Chilhowie to Alexandria?

The road trip is about 346 miles (556.9 km) and usually takes 05h 28m 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 172.8 miles from Chilhowie and 173.2 miles from Alexandria.

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

The direct path is about 288.5 miles (464.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 57.5 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 6:02 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $48.36 one way or $96.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 108.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Chilhowie and Sunny near Alexandria.

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 Chilhowie and Alexandria. Straight-line distance: 288.49 mi (464.28 km).

Chilhowie

#1 Chilhowie

Town in Smyth County, Virginia, United States

Population1,698
Coordinates36.7984500, -81.6823400
Altitude595
CountryUnited States
Alexandria

#2 Alexandria

A city in Virginia.

Population158,726
Coordinates38.8048400, -77.0469200
Altitude12
CountryUnited States
Start: Whitetop Road (-81.682266, 36.798495)
End: South Washington Street (-77.04696, 38.804845)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 557 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.21 gal
46.22 L · about $48.36
Round trip
$96.73
24.42 gal · 92.44 L
Estimated CO2
108.5 kg one way
Round trip: 217 kg / 478 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $48.36 $96.73
Mid-grade $4.43 $54.08 $108.16
Premium $4.78 $58.34 $116.68
Diesel $5.62 $68.67 $137.34

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 · May 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Chilhowie and Alexandria. The current time is 06:02:17.

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.