How far is Gainesville, VA from Richmond, VA?

The driving distance from Gainesville, VA to Richmond, VA is about 101.3 miles (163.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 86.2 miles (138.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 49m 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
101.35 mi
01h 54m
Flight
86.22 mi
138.75 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Gainesville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
86.22 mi
Kilometers
138.75 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
101.35 mi
Kilometers
163.11 km
Drive Time
01h 54m

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 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Richmond
Mon, May 18, 10:42 AM EDT
Return by in Gainesville
Mon, May 18, 12:37 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gainesville
2026-05-18T08:47
Arrive Richmond
Mon, May 18, 10:42 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:55 AM to 11:55 AM EDT

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

Leave by
2:40 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Gainesville
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Fredericksburg
VA

Independent city in Virginia, United States

From Gainesville
50.5 mi
00h 57m
To Richmond
50.8 mi
00h 57m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
95°F
Monday

Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 12 mph SW
Destination
95°F
Monday

Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gainesville and Richmond.

  1. 1

    Start on Lee Highway

    1 km · 53 sec · Lee Highway

  2. 2

    Take the exit slight right toward I 66 East: Washington

    1.4 km · 2 min

  3. 3

    Merge slight left

    2928 ft · 38 sec

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward US 234 South: Prince William Parkway, Manassas, Dumfries

    3163 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Continue on Prince William Parkway

    8.3 mi · 12 min · Prince William Parkway

  6. 6

    Continue on Dumfries Road

    13.6 mi · 20 min · Dumfries Road

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right

    2284 ft · 58 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    18.2 mi · 21 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    55.7 mi · 1 hr 2 min

  10. 10

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

    1189 ft · 41 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right onto North Arthur Ashe Boulevard

    1004 ft · 29 sec · North Arthur Ashe Boulevard

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Robin Hood Road

    926 ft · 30 sec · Robin Hood Road

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Hermitage Road

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Hermitage Road

  14. 14

    Continue on North Meadow Street

    1167 ft · 34 sec · North Meadow Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Monument Avenue

    758 ft · 27 sec · Monument Avenue

  16. 16

    Enter the roundabout toward Marcus-David Peters Circle

    25 m · 2 sec · Marcus-David Peters Circle

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Marcus-David Peters Circle

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
17 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dumfries Road
88 mi · 87%
Prince William Parkway
8.25 mi · 8%
I 66 East
1.41 mi · 1%
Hermitage Road
1.06 mi · 1%
Lee Highway
0.64 mi · 1%
US 234 South
0.6 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Dumfries Road

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 54m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15.1 mi
86.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fredericksburg
00h 57m from Gainesville
Leave By
2:40 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Gainesville and Sunny near Richmond.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Gainesville to Richmond?

The road trip is about 101.3 miles (163.1 km) and usually takes 01h 54m 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?

Fredericksburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 50.5 miles from Gainesville and 50.8 miles from Richmond.

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

The direct path is about 86.2 miles (138.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 15.1 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 2:40 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.18 one way or $28.36 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 31.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Gainesville and Sunny near Richmond.

Stop Ideas Near Fredericksburg

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

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

RAIL

Fredericksburg

1 mi away
200 Lafayette Blvd.
RAIL

Quantico

28 mi away
550 Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Woodbridge station

44 mi away
1040 Express Way
RAIL

Lorton station

49 mi away
8006 Lorton Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gainesville and Richmond. Straight-line distance: 86.22 mi (138.75 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Gainesville

Gainesville is a place in Virginia, United States.

Population0
Coordinates38.7956700, -77.6138800
Altitude108
CountryUnited States
Richmond

#2 Richmond

The capital of Virginia.

Population232,226
Coordinates37.5537600, -77.4602600
Altitude64
CountryUnited States
Start: US 29 (-77.613861, 38.79563)
End: Robert E. Lee Circle (-77.460437, 37.553637)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 163 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 15m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.58 gal
13.54 L · about $14.18
Round trip
$28.36
7.16 gal · 27.08 L
Estimated CO2
31.8 kg one way
Round trip: 63.6 kg / 140 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $14.18 $28.36
Mid-grade $4.43 $15.86 $31.71
Premium $4.78 $17.11 $34.21
Diesel $5.62 $20.13 $40.27

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Gainesville and Richmond. The current time is 08:47:22.

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.