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

The driving distance from Colonial Heights, VA to Arlington, VA is about 127 miles (204.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 112.7 miles (181.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 21m 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
127.04 mi
02h 10m
Flight
112.65 mi
181.3 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Colonial Heights.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
112.65 mi
Kilometers
181.3 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
127.04 mi
Kilometers
204.45 km
Drive Time
02h 10m

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 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Arlington
Fri, Apr 24, 11:02 PM EDT
Return by in Colonial Heights
Sat, Apr 25, 1:13 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Colonial Heights
2026-04-24T20:51
Arrive Arlington
Fri, Apr 24, 11:02 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:11 AM to 12:11 PM EDT

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

Leave by
2:08 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Colonial Heights
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
Spotsylvania Courthouse
VA

Census designated place

From Colonial Heights
63.4 mi
01h 05m
To Arlington
63.6 mi
01h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
89°F
Today

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 24 11:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph NW
Destination
82°F
This Afternoon

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 24 12:00 PM EDT
Wind
6 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Colonial Heights and Arlington.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    78 m · 25 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto East Ellerslie Avenue

    1743 ft · 37 sec · East Ellerslie Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Boulevard

    1.3 km · 2 min · Boulevard

  4. 4

    Continue on Route 1

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Route 1

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Woods Edge Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · Woods Edge Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right

    3136 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

    20.3 mi · 26 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

    52.8 mi · 58 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

  9. 9

    Keep slight right

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    1 mi · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    35 mi · 41 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

    1 km · 52 sec · Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

    8.1 mi · 10 min · Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 27: Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike

    1866 ft · 50 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on VA 27 West: Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Washington Boulevard, Columbia Pike

    1614 ft · 46 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight right onto Washington Boulevard

    1.8 mi · 4 min · Washington Boulevard

  17. 17

    Turn left onto 10th Street North

    1545 ft · 1 min · 10th Street North

  18. 18

    Turn slight left

    42 m · 8 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Wilson Boulevard

    2043 ft · 1 min · Wilson Boulevard

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Wilson Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
20 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
111 mi · 87%
Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
8.75 mi · 7%
Washington Boulevard
1.78 mi · 1%
Route 1
1.56 mi · 1%
Woods Edge Road
1.47 mi · 1%
Boulevard
0.81 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Keep slight left to continue on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

52.8 mi · 00h 58m

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 10m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14.3 mi
112.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Spotsylvania Courthouse
01h 05m from Colonial Heights
Leave By
2:08 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Colonial Heights and Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms near Arlington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Colonial Heights to Arlington?

The road trip is about 127 miles (204.4 km) and usually takes 02h 10m 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?

Spotsylvania Courthouse is a useful midpoint, sitting about 63.4 miles from Colonial Heights and 63.6 miles from Arlington.

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

The direct path is about 112.7 miles (181.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.3 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 2:08 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $17.75 one way or $35.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 39.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Colonial Heights and Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms near Arlington.

Stop Ideas Near Spotsylvania Courthouse

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

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

RAIL

Fredericksburg

16 mi away
200 Lafayette Blvd.
RAIL

Quantico

44 mi away
550 Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Culpeper station

47 mi away
109 South Commerce Street
RAIL

Ashland

50 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Colonial Heights and Arlington. Straight-line distance: 112.65 mi (181.3 km).

Colonial Heights

#1 Colonial Heights

Independent city in Virginia, United States

Population17,820
Coordinates37.2680400, -77.4072600
Altitude29
CountryUnited States
Arlington

#2 Arlington

A county in Virginia.

Population229,164
Coordinates38.8810100, -77.1042800
Altitude71
CountryUnited States
Start: (-77.40717, 37.268629)
End: Wilson Boulevard (-77.104347, 38.881084)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 204 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.48 gal
16.97 L · about $17.75
Round trip
$35.49
8.96 gal · 33.94 L
Estimated CO2
39.8 kg one way
Round trip: 79.6 kg / 175 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $17.75 $35.49
Mid-grade $4.43 $19.84 $39.68
Premium $4.78 $21.41 $42.81
Diesel $5.62 $25.20 $50.39

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 25, 2026

There is no time difference between Colonial Heights and Arlington. The current time is 20:51:19.

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.