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

The driving distance from Colonial Beach, VA to Arlington, VA is about 70.3 miles (113.2 km), with a travel time of about 01h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 43.9 miles (70.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 05m 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
70.33 mi
01h 32m
Flight
43.94 mi
70.72 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
43.94 mi
Kilometers
70.72 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
70.33 mi
Kilometers
113.19 km
Drive Time
01h 32m

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 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Arlington
Wed, Apr 22, 11:45 PM EDT
Return by in Colonial Beach
Thu, Apr 23, 1:18 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Colonial Beach
2026-04-22T22:13
Arrive Arlington
Wed, Apr 22, 11:45 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:33 AM to 11:33 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:24 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
Fort Hunt
VA

Census designated place

From Colonial Beach
33.9 mi
00h 46m
To Arlington
36.5 mi
00h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Wednesday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 10 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 Colonial Beach and Arlington.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Washington Avenue

    10 m · 8 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

    28.8 mi · 43 min · Nice Middleton Bridge

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Branch Avenue

    11.8 mi · 16 min · Branch Avenue

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Branch Avenue

    2162 ft · 39 sec · Branch Avenue

  11. 11

    Take the exit left

    982 ft · 28 sec

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Naylor Road

    39 m · 3 sec · Naylor Road

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto Naylor Road

    116 m · 13 sec · Naylor Road

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Naylor Road

    15 m · 1 sec · Naylor Road

  15. 15

    Exit the roundabout onto Naylor Road

    1543 ft · 51 sec · Naylor Road

  16. 16

    Turn straight

    90 m · 10 sec

  17. 17

    Turn slight right onto Naylor Road Southeast

    1.1 km · 2 min · Naylor Road Southeast

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Marion Barry Avenue Southeast

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Marion Barry Avenue Southeast

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast

    2387 ft · 54 sec · Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast

  20. 20

    Continue on 11th Street Southeast

    1754 ft · 52 sec · 11th Street Southeast

  21. 21

    Take the ramp left toward I 695 West

    1555 ft · 30 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left onto Southeast Freeway

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Southeast Freeway

  23. 23

    Continue on Southwest Freeway

    1.1 km · 1 min · Southwest Freeway

  24. 24

    Continue on Francis Case Memorial Bridge

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Francis Case Memorial Bridge

  25. 25

    Continue on Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

    1.1 km · 55 sec · Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 27: Pentagon South Parking, Washington Boulevard, South Arlington Ridge Road

    817 ft · 20 sec

  27. 27

    Keep slight right to continue on VA 27 West: South Arlington Ridge Road

    1 km · 1 min

  28. 28

    Merge slight left onto Washington Boulevard

    1282 ft · 24 sec · Washington Boulevard

  29. 29

    Keep slight left to continue on Washington Boulevard

    1.8 mi · 4 min · Washington Boulevard

  30. 30

    Turn left onto 10th Street North

    1545 ft · 1 min · 10th Street North

  31. 31

    Turn slight left

    42 m · 8 sec

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Wilson Boulevard

    2043 ft · 1 min · Wilson Boulevard

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Wilson Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

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
33 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
2 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
46.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Nice Middleton Bridge
28.8 mi · 41%
Branch Avenue
12.4 mi · 18%
Windsor Drive
4.38 mi · 6%
James Madison Parkway
4.14 mi · 6%
Ridge Road
3.51 mi · 5%
Washington Boulevard
2.09 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Nice Middleton Bridge

Continue on Nice Middleton Bridge

28.8 mi · 00h 43m

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 32m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.4 mi
43.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fort Hunt
00h 46m from Colonial Beach
Leave By
3:24 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Colonial Beach 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 Colonial Beach to Arlington?

The road trip is about 70.3 miles (113.2 km) and usually takes 01h 32m 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?

Fort Hunt is a useful midpoint, sitting about 33.9 miles from Colonial Beach and 36.5 miles from Arlington.

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

The direct path is about 43.9 miles (70.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.4 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:24 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.82 one way or $19.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 22 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Colonial Beach and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Arlington.

Stop Ideas Near Fort Hunt

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

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

RAIL

Union Station

8 mi away
110 Callahan Drive
RAIL

Lorton station

14 mi away
8006 Lorton Road
RAIL

Woodbridge station

19 mi away
1040 Express Way
RAIL

Washington Union Station

19 mi away
50 Massachusetts Ave NE

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Colonial Beach and Arlington. Straight-line distance: 43.94 mi (70.72 km).

Colonial Beach

#1 Colonial Beach

Town in Westmoreland County, Virginia, United States

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

#2 Arlington

A county in Virginia.

Population229,164
Coordinates38.8810100, -77.1042800
Altitude71
CountryUnited States
Start: Washington Avenue (-76.963639, 38.254567)
End: Wilson Boulevard (-77.104347, 38.881084)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 113 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.48 gal
9.39 L · about $9.82
Round trip
$19.65
4.96 gal · 18.78 L
Estimated CO2
22 kg one way
Round trip: 44.1 kg / 97 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $9.82 $19.65
Mid-grade $4.43 $10.98 $21.97
Premium $4.78 $11.85 $23.70
Diesel $5.62 $13.95 $27.90

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 Arlington. The current time is 22:13:03.

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.