How far is Dale City, VA from Richmond, VA?

The driving distance from Dale City, VA to Richmond, VA is about 81.8 miles (131.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 75.3 miles (121.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 54m 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
81.8 mi
01h 27m
Flight
75.29 mi
121.16 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Dale City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
75.29 mi
Kilometers
121.16 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
81.8 mi
Kilometers
131.65 km
Drive Time
01h 27m

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 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Richmond
Fri, May 1, 7:49 AM EDT
Return by in Dale City
Fri, May 1, 9:16 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dale City
2026-05-01T06:22
Arrive Richmond
Fri, May 1, 7:49 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:27 AM to 11:27 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:36 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Dale City
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 Dale City
40.8 mi
00h 43m
To Richmond
41.1 mi
00h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph W
Destination
70°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Dale City and Richmond.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dale City and Richmond.

  1. 1

    Start on Bayfield Drive

    13 m · 7 sec · Bayfield Drive

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Birchdale Avenue

    3155 ft · 2 min · Birchdale Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Dale Boulevard

    1.1 km · 1 min · Dale Boulevard

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 95 South: Richmond

    1.3 km · 1 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on I 95 South

    1849 ft · 26 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    21.2 mi · 24 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    55.7 mi · 1 hr 2 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe Boulevard

    1189 ft · 41 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto North Arthur Ashe Boulevard

    1004 ft · 29 sec · North Arthur Ashe Boulevard

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Robin Hood Road

    926 ft · 30 sec · Robin Hood Road

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Hermitage Road

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Hermitage Road

  12. 12

    Continue on North Meadow Street

    1167 ft · 34 sec · North Meadow Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Monument Avenue

    758 ft · 27 sec · Monument Avenue

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout toward Marcus-David Peters Circle

    25 m · 2 sec · Marcus-David Peters Circle

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Marcus-David Peters Circle

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Dale City and Richmond.

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
15 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 95 South
78.1 mi · 95%
Hermitage Road
1.06 mi · 1%
Dale Boulevard
0.67 mi · 1%
Birchdale Avenue
0.6 mi · 1%
VA 161
0.22 mi
North Meadow Street
0.22 mi
Longest Stretch

I 95 South

Keep slight left

55.7 mi · 01h 02m

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 27m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.5 mi
75.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Spotsylvania Courthouse
00h 43m from Dale City
Leave By
3:36 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Dale City and Mostly Sunny near Richmond.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Dale City to Richmond?

The road trip is about 81.8 miles (131.7 km) and usually takes 01h 27m 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 40.8 miles from Dale City and 41.1 miles from Richmond.

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

The direct path is about 75.3 miles (121.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:36 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.45 one way or $22.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 25.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Dale City and Mostly Sunny near Richmond.

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 Dale City and Richmond. Straight-line distance: 75.29 mi (121.16 km).

Dale City

#1 Dale City

Census designated place

Population65,969
Coordinates38.6370600, -77.3110900
Altitude70
CountryUnited States
Richmond

#2 Richmond

The capital of Virginia.

Population232,226
Coordinates37.5537600, -77.4602600
Altitude64
CountryUnited States
Start: Bayfield Drive (-77.311091, 38.637094)
End: Robert E. Lee Circle (-77.460437, 37.553637)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 132 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.89 gal
10.93 L · about $11.45
Round trip
$22.89
5.78 gal · 21.86 L
Estimated CO2
25.7 kg one way
Round trip: 51.4 kg / 113 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $11.45 $22.89
Mid-grade $4.43 $12.80 $25.60
Premium $4.78 $13.81 $27.62
Diesel $5.62 $16.25 $32.51

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 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Dale City and Richmond. The current time is 06:22:29.

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.