How far is Pennington Gap, VA from Alexandria, VA?

The driving distance from Pennington Gap, VA to Alexandria, VA is about 437.4 miles (703.9 km), with a travel time of about 07h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 355.8 miles (572.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 15m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
437.38 mi
07h 07m
Flight
355.77 mi
572.55 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Pennington Gap.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
355.77 mi
Kilometers
572.55 km
Flight Time
00h 42m

Driving Distance

Road route
437.38 mi
Kilometers
703.9 km
Drive Time
07h 07m

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 07h 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alexandria
Mon, May 18, 12:02 AM EDT
Return by in Pennington Gap
Mon, May 18, 7:10 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Pennington Gap
2026-05-17T16:54
Arrive Alexandria
Mon, May 18, 12:02 AM EDT
Route Timing
07h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:08 PM to 2:38 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
9:44 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Pennington Gap
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Buchanan
VA

Town in Virginia, United States

From Pennington Gap
217.9 mi
03h 34m
To Alexandria
219.5 mi
03h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 mph
Destination
90°F
Today

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 17 8:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Pennington Gap and Alexandria.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pennington Gap and Alexandria.

  1. 1

    Start on Joslyn Avenue

    29 m · 5 sec · Joslyn Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Morgan Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · West Morgan Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the exit slight right

    5.2 mi · 8 min

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Wilderness Road

    6 mi · 8 min · Wilderness Road

  5. 5

    Continue on Duff Patt Highway

    4.7 mi · 7 min · Duff Patt Highway

  6. 6

    Turn right onto US Highway 23

    4.2 mi · 5 min · US Highway 23

  7. 7

    Continue on Orby Cantrell Highway

    2 mi · 3 min · Orby Cantrell Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on US Highway 23

    11.4 mi · 15 min · US Highway 23

  9. 9

    Continue on Main Street

    1001 ft · 22 sec · Main Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Wadlow Gap Highway

    4.7 mi · 6 min · Wadlow Gap Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on North John B Dennis Highway

    686 ft · 14 sec · North John B Dennis Highway

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Bloomingdale Pike

    5.1 mi · 9 min · Bloomingdale Pike

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Ollis Bowers Hill Road

    109 m · 16 sec · Ollis Bowers Hill Road

  14. 14

    Turn left onto East Stone Drive

    9.7 mi · 11 min · East Stone Drive

  15. 15

    Take the exit straight

    1329 ft · 32 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    82.4 mi · 1 hr 28 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke

    139.7 mi · 2 hr 34 min

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    1353 ft · 18 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight left

    78.9 mi · 1 hr 26 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward I 66 East: Front Royal, Washington

    1920 ft · 47 sec

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    42.8 mi · 46 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight right

    21.4 mi · 26 min

  23. 23

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

    2186 ft · 42 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway

    12.1 mi · 15 min · Capital Beltway

  25. 25

    Keep slight right to continue on Capital Beltway (Local)

    2 mi · 3 min · Capital Beltway (Local)

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1: Alexandria, Fort Belvoir

    969 ft · 24 sec

  27. 27

    Keep slight left to continue on US 1 North: Alexandria

    2328 ft · 57 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left onto Richmond Highway

    134 m · 8 sec · Richmond Highway

  29. 29

    Continue on South Patrick Street

    1551 ft · 46 sec · South Patrick Street

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Franklin Street

    953 ft · 28 sec · Franklin Street

  31. 31

    Turn left onto South Washington Street

    2462 ft · 2 min · South Washington Street

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Washington Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Pennington Gap and Alexandria.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
32 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 81 North
219 mi · 50%
East Stone Drive
92.3 mi · 21%
I 66 East
64.5 mi · 15%
US Highway 23
15.6 mi · 4%
Capital Beltway
12.1 mi · 3%
Wilderness Road
5.99 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 81 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke

140 mi · 02h 34m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
07h 07m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
14h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+81.6 mi
355.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Buchanan
03h 34m from Pennington Gap
Leave By
9:44 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Pennington Gap and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Alexandria.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Pennington Gap to Alexandria?

The road trip is about 437.4 miles (703.9 km) and usually takes 07h 07m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Buchanan is a useful midpoint, sitting about 217.9 miles from Pennington Gap and 219.5 miles from Alexandria.

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

The direct path is about 355.8 miles (572.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 81.6 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $61.12 one way or $122.24 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 137.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Pennington Gap and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Alexandria.

Stop Ideas Near Buchanan

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

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

RAIL

Clifton Forge

35 mi away
400 Ridgeway Street
BUS

Roanoke

36 mi away
710 Williamson Road NE
RAIL

Kemper Street station

48 mi away
825 Kemper St
RAIL

White Sulphur Springs

62 mi away
315 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Pennington Gap and Alexandria. Straight-line distance: 355.77 mi (572.55 km).

Pennington Gap

#1 Pennington Gap

Town of the United States

Population1,708
Coordinates36.7584200, -83.0271100
Altitude423
CountryUnited States
Alexandria

#2 Alexandria

A city in Virginia.

Population158,726
Coordinates38.8048400, -77.0469200
Altitude12
CountryUnited States
Start: Joslyn Avenue (-83.027127, 36.75842)
End: South Washington Street (-77.04696, 38.804845)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 704 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 44m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.43 gal
58.42 L · about $61.12
Round trip
$122.24
30.86 gal · 116.84 L
Estimated CO2
137.1 kg one way
Round trip: 274.3 kg / 605 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $61.12 $122.24
Mid-grade $4.43 $68.34 $136.68
Premium $4.78 $73.72 $147.45
Diesel $5.62 $86.78 $173.56

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Pennington Gap and Alexandria. The current time is 16:54:44.

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.