How far is South Riding, VA from Arlington, VA?

The driving distance from South Riding, VA to Arlington, VA is about 23.9 miles (38.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 21.7 miles (34.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 13m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
23.95 mi
00h 36m
Flight
21.66 mi
34.86 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from South Riding.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
21.66 mi
Kilometers
34.86 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
23.95 mi
Kilometers
38.54 km
Drive Time
00h 36m

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 00h 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Arlington
Tue, Nov 10, 8:29 AM EST
Return by in South Riding
Tue, Nov 10, 9:06 AM EST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave South Riding
2026-11-10T07:53
Arrive Arlington
Tue, Nov 10, 8:29 AM EST
Route Timing
00h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:37 AM to 7:37 PM EST

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:16 PM EST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in South Riding
10:00 PM EST
Flexible departure

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
Oakton
VA

Unincorporated community in Virginia

From South Riding
12 mi
00h 18m
To Arlington
12 mi
00h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Nov 10 6:00 AM EST
Wind
2 to 7 mph SW
Destination
68°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Nov 10 6:00 AM EST
Wind
3 to 7 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between South Riding and Arlington.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Riding and Arlington.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    10 m · 8 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Defender Drive

    600 ft · 28 sec · Defender Drive

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South Riding Boulevard

    121 m · 11 sec · South Riding Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Little River Turnpike

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Little River Turnpike

  5. 5

    Continue on Route 50

    7.7 mi · 13 min · Route 50

  6. 6

    Take the exit straight toward I 66 East: Washington

    2995 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    12.5 mi · 16 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 120, VA 237

    1641 ft · 31 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on Fairfax Drive

    573 ft · 25 sec · Fairfax Drive

  10. 10

    Turn right onto North Glebe Road

    985 ft · 33 sec · North Glebe Road

  11. 11

    Turn slight left onto Wilson Boulevard

    2854 ft · 2 min · Wilson Boulevard

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Wilson Boulevard

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between South Riding and Arlington.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
12 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
50.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 66 East
13 mi · 54%
Route 50
7.67 mi · 32%
Little River Turnpike
1.93 mi · 8%
Wilson Boulevard
0.54 mi · 2%
VA 120
0.31 mi · 1%
North Glebe Road
0.19 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 66 East

Merge slight left

12.5 mi · 00h 16m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 36m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.2 mi
21.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Oakton
00h 18m from South Riding
Leave By
7:16 PM EST
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving South Riding and Sunny near Arlington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from South Riding to Arlington?

The road trip is about 23.9 miles (38.5 km) and usually takes 00h 36m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Oakton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 12 miles from South Riding and 12 miles from Arlington.

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

The direct path is about 21.7 miles (34.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.2 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:16 PM EST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.28 one way or $6.56 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around South Riding and Sunny near Arlington.

Stop Ideas Near Oakton

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Oakton and the surrounding midpoint area.
Herndon Old Town Hall
Scenic stop 8.2 mi away

Herndon Old Town Hall

Herndon , VA
730 Station St, Herndon, VA 20170
Rating 4.5/5 45 reviews Historical landmark
Tele-Town Hall
Practical stop 11.5 mi away

Tele-Town Hall

Arlington , VA
3033 Wilson Blvd Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22201
Rating 4.0/5 2 reviews Telecommunications service provider,Telecommunications contractor
Alexandria City Hall
Meeting point 14.9 mi away

Alexandria City Hall

Alexandria , VA
301 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Rating 4.4/5 55 reviews City Hall
Town Hall Pool
Nearby stop 11.5 mi away

Town Hall Pool

Chantilly , VA
43055 Center St, Chantilly, VA 20152
Rating 4.4/5 20 reviews Public swimming pool

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Oakton.

RAIL

Burke Centre

9 mi away
10399 Premier Court
RAIL

Lorton station

21 mi away
8006 Lorton Road
RAIL

Manassas station

21 mi away
9431 West Street
RAIL

Union Station

22 mi away
110 Callahan Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between South Riding and Arlington. Straight-line distance: 21.66 mi (34.86 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 South Riding

South Riding is a place in Virginia, United States.

Population0
Coordinates38.9209400, -77.5038800
Altitude98
CountryUnited States
Arlington

#2 Arlington

A county in Virginia.

Population229,164
Coordinates38.8810100, -77.1042800
Altitude71
CountryUnited States
Start: Defender Drive (-77.503783, 38.921076)
End: Wilson Boulevard (-77.104347, 38.881084)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 39 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.85 gal
3.2 L · about $3.28
Round trip
$6.56
1.7 gal · 6.4 L
Estimated CO2
7.6 kg one way
Round trip: 15.1 kg / 33 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.86 $3.28 $6.56
Mid-grade $4.35 $3.70 $7.40
Premium $4.77 $4.05 $8.11
Diesel $6.16 $5.23 $10.47

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 · Nov 09, 2026

There is no time difference between South Riding and Arlington. The current time is 07:53:10.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.