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

The driving distance from South Riding, VA to Charlottesville, VA is about 97.6 miles (157 km), with a travel time of about 02h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 81 miles (130.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 13m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST.
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
97.54 mi
02h 06m
Flight
81.02 mi
130.39 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from South Riding.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
81.02 mi
Kilometers
130.39 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
97.54 mi
Kilometers
156.98 km
Drive Time
02h 06m

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 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Charlottesville
Tue, Nov 10, 10:54 AM EST
Return by in South Riding
Tue, Nov 10, 1:01 PM EST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave South Riding
2026-11-10T08:48
Arrive Charlottesville
Tue, Nov 10, 10:54 AM EST
Route Timing
02h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:07 AM to 12:07 PM EST

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

Leave by
2:16 PM EST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in South Riding
9:30 PM EST
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
Culpeper
VA

Town in Culpeper County, Virginia, United States

From South Riding
50 mi
01h 03m
To Charlottesville
47.5 mi
01h 03m

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
72°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Nov 10 6:00 AM EST
Wind
1 to 8 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Route 50

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 28 South: Centreville

    2903 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Sully Road

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Sully Road

  8. 8

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

    865 ft · 21 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 66 West: Front Royal

    1898 ft · 46 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    9.6 mi · 11 min

  11. 11

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

    1.2 km · 1 min

  12. 12

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

    953 ft · 23 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Lee Highway

    10.6 mi · 16 min · Lee Highway

  14. 14

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

    2786 ft · 45 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight right onto Eastern Bypass

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Eastern Bypass

  16. 16

    Continue on James Madison Highway

    5.1 mi · 7 min · James Madison Highway

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on James Madison Highway

    18.2 mi · 23 min · James Madison Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on James Monroe Highway

    7.8 mi · 10 min · James Monroe Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on North Seminole Trail

    33.8 mi · 48 min · North Seminole Trail

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Hydraulic Road

    1022 ft · 32 sec · Hydraulic Road

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Hydraulic Road

    29 m · 3 sec · Hydraulic Road

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout onto Hydraulic Road

    1252 ft · 33 sec · Hydraulic Road

  23. 23

    Turn left onto U.S. 250 Bypass

    1.5 mi · 3 min · U.S. 250 Bypass

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward Park Street

    147 m · 20 sec

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Park Street

    1 km · 2 min · Park Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto East High Street

    96 m · 13 sec · East High Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto 7th Street Northeast

    873 ft · 44 sec · 7th Street Northeast

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between South Riding 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
28 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
28.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Seminole Trail
33.8 mi · 35%
James Madison Highway
23.3 mi · 24%
Lee Highway
10.6 mi · 11%
I 66 West
10.1 mi · 10%
James Monroe Highway
7.82 mi · 8%
Sully Road
3.1 mi · 3%
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 06m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.6 mi
81 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Culpeper
01h 03m from South Riding
Leave By
2:16 PM EST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving South Riding and Sunny near Charlottesville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 97.6 miles (157 km) and usually takes 02h 06m 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?

Culpeper is a useful midpoint, sitting about 50 miles from South Riding and 47.5 miles from Charlottesville.

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

The direct path is about 81 miles (130.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:16 PM EST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.28 one way or $26.56 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 30.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Culpeper

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

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

RAIL

Culpeper station

109 South Commerce Street
RAIL

Fredericksburg

51 mi away
200 Lafayette Blvd.
RAIL

Manassas station

55 mi away
9431 West Street
RAIL

Quantico

61 mi away
550 Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between South Riding and Charlottesville. Straight-line distance: 81.02 mi (130.39 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 South Riding

South Riding is a place in Virginia, United States.

Population0
Coordinates38.9209400, -77.5038800
Altitude98
CountryUnited States
Charlottesville

#2 Charlottesville

The capital of Virginia.

Population46,950
Coordinates38.0293100, -78.4766800
Altitude142
CountryUnited States
Start: (-77.503783, 38.920942)
End: (-78.476567, 38.029526)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 157 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.44 gal
13.03 L · about $13.28
Round trip
$26.56
6.88 gal · 26.06 L
Estimated CO2
30.6 kg one way
Round trip: 61.1 kg / 135 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.86 $13.28 $26.56
Mid-grade $4.35 $14.97 $29.93
Premium $4.77 $16.41 $32.81
Diesel $6.16 $21.18 $42.36

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 Charlottesville. The current time is 08:48:06.

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.