How far is Colonial Beach, VA from Alexandria, VA?

The driving distance from Colonial Beach, VA to Alexandria, VA is about 60 miles (96.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 18m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 38.3 miles (61.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 36m 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
59.94 mi
01h 18m
Flight
38.29 mi
61.62 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Colonial Beach.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
38.29 mi
Kilometers
61.62 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
59.94 mi
Kilometers
96.46 km
Drive Time
01h 18m

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 01h 18m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alexandria
Thu, Apr 23, 1:45 AM EDT
Return by in Colonial Beach
Thu, Apr 23, 3:03 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Colonial Beach
2026-04-23T00:27
Arrive Alexandria
Thu, Apr 23, 1:45 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 18m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:18 AM to 11:18 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:54 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Colonial Beach
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
Dahlgren
VA

Census-designated place in King George County, Virginia, United States

From Colonial Beach
29.2 mi
00h 39m
To Alexandria
30.8 mi
00h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph N
Destination
79°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Colonial Beach and Alexandria.

  1. 1

    Start on Washington Avenue

    10 m · 6 sec · Washington Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Colonial Avenue

    3168 ft · 2 min · Colonial Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto McKinney Boulevard

    1.8 mi · 3 min · McKinney Boulevard

  4. 4

    Continue on Ridge Road

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Ridge Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Tetotum Road

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Tetotum Road

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Windsor Drive

    4.4 mi · 6 min · Windsor Drive

  7. 7

    Turn right onto James Madison Parkway

    4.1 mi · 6 min · James Madison Parkway

  8. 8

    Continue on Nice Middleton Bridge

    17.6 mi · 25 min · Nice Middleton Bridge

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight left

    84 m · 8 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on Turkey Hill Road

    2.1 mi · 5 min · Turkey Hill Road

  11. 11

    Continue on Middletown Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Middletown Road

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Middletown Road

    48 m · 3 sec · Middletown Road

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto Middletown Road

    3.1 mi · 6 min · Middletown Road

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Berry Road

    3.9 mi · 6 min · Berry Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Indian Head Highway

    10.2 mi · 15 min · Indian Head Highway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South, I 495 South: Alexandria, Richmond

    790 ft · 19 sec

  17. 17

    Continue on I 95 South, I 495 South: Alexandria, Richmond

    157 m · 13 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway (Local)

    2.9 mi · 4 min · Capital Beltway (Local)

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1 North: Alexandria, Mount Vernon

    1025 ft · 25 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Mount Vernon

    641 ft · 16 sec

  21. 21

    Turn straight onto Church Street

    98 m · 18 sec · Church Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto South Washington Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · South Washington Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Washington Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

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.

Directions
23 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
38.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Nice Middleton Bridge
17.7 mi · 29%
Indian Head Highway
10.2 mi · 17%
Windsor Drive
4.38 mi · 7%
Middletown Road
4.21 mi · 7%
James Madison Parkway
4.14 mi · 7%
Berry Road
3.9 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Nice Middleton Bridge

Continue on Nice Middleton Bridge

17.6 mi · 00h 25m

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
01h 18m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.7 mi
38.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Dahlgren
00h 39m from Colonial Beach
Leave By
3:54 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Colonial Beach and Sunny near Alexandria.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Colonial Beach to Alexandria?

The road trip is about 60 miles (96.5 km) and usually takes 01h 18m 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?

Dahlgren is a useful midpoint, sitting about 29.2 miles from Colonial Beach and 30.8 miles from Alexandria.

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

The direct path is about 38.3 miles (61.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.7 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 3:54 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.40 one way or $16.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 18.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Colonial Beach and Sunny near Alexandria.

Stop Ideas Near Dahlgren

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

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

RAIL

Quantico

30 mi away
550 Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Fredericksburg

36 mi away
200 Lafayette Blvd.
RAIL

Woodbridge station

40 mi away
1040 Express Way
RAIL

Lorton station

44 mi away
8006 Lorton Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Colonial Beach and Alexandria. Straight-line distance: 38.29 mi (61.62 km).

Colonial Beach

#1 Colonial Beach

Town in Westmoreland County, Virginia, United States

Population3,645
Coordinates38.2545700, -76.9635800
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Alexandria

#2 Alexandria

A city in Virginia.

Population158,726
Coordinates38.8048400, -77.0469200
Altitude12
CountryUnited States
Start: Washington Avenue (-76.963639, 38.254567)
End: South Washington Street (-77.04696, 38.804845)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 96 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 59m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 51m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 44m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.12 gal
8.01 L · about $8.40
Round trip
$16.79
4.24 gal · 16.02 L
Estimated CO2
18.8 kg one way
Round trip: 37.7 kg / 83 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $8.40 $16.79
Mid-grade $4.43 $9.39 $18.78
Premium $4.78 $10.13 $20.26
Diesel $5.62 $11.92 $23.85

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 Colonial Beach and Alexandria. The current time is 00:27:09.

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.