How far is Reston, VA from Charlottesville, VA?

The driving distance from Reston, VA to Charlottesville, VA is about 108.2 miles (174.1 km), with a travel time of about 02h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 89.4 miles (143.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 28m 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
108.2 mi
02h 14m
Flight
89.35 mi
143.79 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Reston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
89.35 mi
Kilometers
143.79 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
108.2 mi
Kilometers
174.13 km
Drive Time
02h 14m

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 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Charlottesville
Thu, Apr 23, 12:25 AM EDT
Return by in Reston
Thu, Apr 23, 2:39 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Reston
2026-04-22T22:11
Arrive Charlottesville
Thu, Apr 23, 12:25 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:14 AM to 12:14 PM EDT

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

Leave by
2:02 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Reston
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
Remington
VA

Incorporated town in Virginia

From Reston
52.6 mi
01h 07m
To Charlottesville
55.6 mi
01h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Wednesday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 mph W
Destination
78°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Reston and Charlottesville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Reston and Charlottesville.

  1. 1

    Start on Washington Plaza North

    70 m · 20 sec · Washington Plaza North

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Shore Drive

    157 m · 20 sec · North Shore Drive

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Village Road

    104 m · 17 sec · Village Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Baron Cameron Avenue

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Baron Cameron Avenue

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight

    1749 ft · 48 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Fairfax County Parkway

    8.5 mi · 13 min · Fairfax County Parkway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 66 West: Front Royal

    1 km · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    11.7 mi · 13 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton

    1.2 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on US 29 South: Gainesville, Warrenton

    953 ft · 23 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Lee Highway

    10.6 mi · 16 min · Lee Highway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on US 15 South, US 29 South

    2786 ft · 45 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight right onto Eastern Bypass

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Eastern Bypass

  14. 14

    Continue on James Madison Highway

    5.1 mi · 7 min · James Madison Highway

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on James Madison Highway

    18.2 mi · 23 min · James Madison Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on James Monroe Highway

    7.8 mi · 10 min · James Monroe Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on North Seminole Trail

    33.8 mi · 48 min · North Seminole Trail

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Hydraulic Road

    1022 ft · 32 sec · Hydraulic Road

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Hydraulic Road

    29 m · 3 sec · Hydraulic Road

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout onto Hydraulic Road

    1252 ft · 33 sec · Hydraulic Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto U.S. 250 Bypass

    1.5 mi · 3 min · U.S. 250 Bypass

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward Park Street

    147 m · 20 sec

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Park Street

    1 km · 2 min · Park Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto East High Street

    96 m · 13 sec · East High Street

  25. 25

    Turn right onto 7th Street Northeast

    873 ft · 44 sec · 7th Street Northeast

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Reston and Charlottesville.

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
26 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
24 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Seminole Trail
33.8 mi · 31%
James Madison Highway
23.3 mi · 22%
I 66 West
12.4 mi · 11%
Lee Highway
10.6 mi · 10%
Fairfax County Parkway
8.46 mi · 8%
James Monroe Highway
7.82 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

North Seminole Trail

Continue on North Seminole Trail

33.8 mi · 00h 48m

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 14m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.8 mi
89.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Remington
01h 07m from Reston
Leave By
2:02 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Reston and Chance Rain Showers near Charlottesville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Reston to Charlottesville?

The road trip is about 108.2 miles (174.1 km) and usually takes 02h 14m 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?

Remington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 52.6 miles from Reston and 55.6 miles from Charlottesville.

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

The direct path is about 89.4 miles (143.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.8 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 2:02 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $15.13 one way or $30.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 33.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Reston and Chance Rain Showers near Charlottesville.

Stop Ideas Near Remington

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

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

RAIL

Culpeper station

17 mi away
109 South Commerce Street
RAIL

Manassas station

38 mi away
9431 West Street
RAIL

Fredericksburg

40 mi away
200 Lafayette Blvd.
RAIL

Quantico

45 mi away
550 Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Reston and Charlottesville. Straight-line distance: 89.35 mi (143.79 km).

Reston

#1 Reston

Census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States

Population58,404
Coordinates38.9687200, -77.3411000
Altitude100
CountryUnited States
Charlottesville

#2 Charlottesville

The capital of Virginia.

Population46,950
Coordinates38.0293100, -78.4766800
Altitude142
CountryUnited States
Start: Washington Plaza North (-77.341608, 38.968772)
End: (-78.476567, 38.029526)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 174 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 42m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.82 gal
14.45 L · about $15.13
Round trip
$30.26
7.64 gal · 28.9 L
Estimated CO2
33.9 kg one way
Round trip: 67.9 kg / 150 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $15.13 $30.26
Mid-grade $4.43 $16.92 $33.84
Premium $4.78 $18.25 $36.50
Diesel $5.62 $21.48 $42.97

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 Reston and Charlottesville. The current time is 22:11:06.

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.