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

The driving distance from Richmond, VA to Dale City, VA is about 82.1 miles (132.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 75.3 miles (121.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 16m 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
82.1 mi
01h 38m
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 Richmond.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
82.1 mi
Kilometers
132.12 km
Drive Time
01h 38m

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 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Dale City
Fri, May 1, 9:20 AM EDT
Return by in Richmond
Fri, May 1, 10:58 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Richmond
2026-05-01T07:42
Arrive Dale City
Fri, May 1, 9:20 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:38 AM to 11:38 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:14 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Richmond
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 Richmond
41.1 mi
00h 49m
To Dale City
41 mi
00h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 10 mph W
Destination
66°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Marcus-David Peters Circle

    525 ft · 15 sec · Marcus-David Peters Circle

  2. 2

    Exit the rotary onto Monument Avenue

    684 ft · 26 sec · Monument Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Meadow Street

    1157 ft · 30 sec · North Meadow Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Hermitage Road

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Hermitage Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Robin Hood Road

    908 ft · 32 sec · Robin Hood Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto North Arthur Ashe Boulevard

    962 ft · 30 sec · North Arthur Ashe Boulevard

  7. 7

    Turn left onto I 95 North, I 64 West

    988 ft · 24 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

    1797 ft · 28 sec · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

    52.8 mi · 58 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

  10. 10

    Keep slight right

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    1 mi · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    21.8 mi · 25 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 784: Dale City, Rippon Landing

    1453 ft · 35 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on SR 784 West: Dale City, Potomac Mills, Stratford University

    1620 ft · 40 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on SR 784 West: Dale City

    1682 ft · 47 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto Dale Boulevard

    1 mi · 2 min · Dale Boulevard

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Birchdale Avenue

    3155 ft · 2 min · Birchdale Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Bayfield Drive

    13 m · 2 sec · Bayfield Drive

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Bayfield Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
23.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
77.5 mi · 94%
Hermitage Road
1.07 mi · 1%
Dale Boulevard
1.02 mi · 1%
SR 784 West
0.63 mi · 1%
Birchdale Avenue
0.6 mi · 1%
SR 784
0.28 mi
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
01h 38m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.8 mi
75.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Spotsylvania Courthouse
00h 49m from Richmond
Leave By
3:14 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 82.1 miles (132.1 km) and usually takes 01h 38m 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 41.1 miles from Richmond and 41 miles from Dale City.

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 6.8 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 3:14 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.49 one way or $22.97 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 25.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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

Richmond

#1 Richmond

The capital of Virginia.

Population232,226
Coordinates37.5537600, -77.4602600
Altitude64
CountryUnited States
Dale City

#2 Dale City

Census designated place

Population65,969
Coordinates38.6370600, -77.3110900
Altitude70
CountryUnited States
Start: Richmond (-77.46026, 37.55376)
End: Dale City (-77.31109, 38.63706)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 132 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 44m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 22m
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
2.9 gal
10.97 L · about $11.49
Round trip
$22.97
5.8 gal · 21.94 L
Estimated CO2
25.8 kg one way
Round trip: 51.5 kg / 114 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $11.49 $22.97
Mid-grade $4.43 $12.84 $25.69
Premium $4.78 $13.86 $27.71
Diesel $5.62 $16.31 $32.62

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 Richmond and Dale City. The current time is 07:42:15.

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.