Washington, DC to Richmond distance
Washington, DC and Richmond are 95.3 miles (153 km) apart in a straight line and 105 miles (170 km) apart by road: about 2 hr 5 min of driving without stops, mostly on I-95 and I-395. Below you’ll find the route map, both halfway points, the bearing and where every figure comes from.
By the All Map Tools Team
- By road
- 105 mi (170 km)
- Driving time
- 2 hr 5 min
- Straight line
- 95.3 mi (153 km)
- Driving route
- Straight line
- Straight-line midpoint
- Halfway by road
Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection centered on the midpoint. Route: FOSSGIS OSRM with data © OpenStreetMap contributors, calculated on November 1, 2026; simplified line.
The figures
| Figure | Value |
|---|---|
| Straight line | 95.3 mi (153 km) geodesic on the WGS84 ellipsoid |
| By road | 105 mi (170 km) fastest driving route (OSRM) |
| Driving time | 2 hr 5 min no stops, no traffic |
| Road detour | +11% 1.11 times the straight line |
| Average speed | 50 mph (81 km/h) along the route, without stops |
| Bearing | 194° (south) leaving Washington, DC toward Richmond |
| Midpoint | 38.2247° N, 77.2503° W near Port Royal (Virginia) |
| Halfway by road | Near Chatham Heights (Virginia) 52.7 mi from each city by road |
| Time difference | None both share the same time |
| Elevation | Washington, DC: 24 ft (7 m) · Richmond: 213 ft (65 m) USGS 3DEP |
| Population | Washington, DC: 693,645 · Richmond: 237,257 Census Bureau estimate for 2025 |
Washington, DC to Richmond by road
The fastest driving route is 105 miles (170 km) long and takes about 2 hr 5 min without stops or traffic. It runs mostly on I-95 (55.7 mi) and I-395 (46.2 mi).
It goes through 1 state and Washington, DC: Washington, DC (1.9 mi) and Virginia (103 mi). That’s an average of 50 mph (81 km/h). AAA recommends a break every two hours or 100 miles: with 1 stop of 20 minutes, the trip takes about 2 hr 25 min. The time is OSRM’s estimate with OpenStreetMap data: no traffic and speeds somewhat below the limits, so real trips can differ.
Straight-line distance and bearing
In a straight line, the shortest distance over the Earth’s surface, Washington, DC and Richmond are 95.3 miles (153 km) apart. That’s the geodesic on the WGS84 ellipsoid, the distance “as the crow flies”.
The road is 11% longer: for every 100 miles in a straight line you drive 111. The route runs almost straight. Of the 110 US driving pairs in this series, it ranks 75th for detour (the average is 16%).
From Washington, DC, Richmond lies to the south (bearing 194°), and from Richmond, Washington, DC lies to the north.
Halfway between Washington, DC and Richmond
Halfway along the straight line, 47.7 miles (76.7 km) from each city, is the point 38.2247° N, 77.2503° W. It falls near Port Royal (Virginia, pop. 220), 5.0 mi away. The nearest town of 20,000 people or more is Leesylvania (Virginia, pop. 21,632), 26.5 mi away.
By road, the halfway point is 52.7 miles (84.8 km) from each city, near Chatham Heights (Virginia), 3.5 mi away. The nearest town of 20,000 people or more is Leesylvania (Virginia, pop. 21,632), 25.7 mi away. The two midpoints are 14.7 mi apart: if you want to meet halfway, the one on the road is the useful one.
Time zone and flight
Washington, DC and Richmond share the same time all year: both are on Eastern Time.
No flight time is given: under 500 km (311 miles) in a straight line, time at the airport outweighs time in the air.
The two cities
Washington, DC sits at 24 ft (7 m) and Richmond at 213 ft (65 m), 189 ft (58 m) higher.
Washington, DC has 693,645 people and Richmond 237,257 people (Census Bureau estimate for 2025).
Frequently asked questions
How many miles is it from Washington, DC to Richmond?
95.3 miles (153 km) in a straight line and 105 miles (170 km) by road on the fastest route (mostly on I-95 and I-395).
How long is the drive from Washington, DC to Richmond?
About 2 hr 5 min without stops or traffic, according to OSRM with OpenStreetMap data; with 1 stop of 20 minutes, about 2 hr 25 min.
Where is the halfway point between Washington, DC and Richmond?
In a straight line, near Port Royal (Virginia). By road, 52.7 mi from each city, near Chatham Heights (Virginia).
Are Washington, DC and Richmond in the same time zone?
Yes: both are on Eastern Time all year.
Which city is higher, Washington, DC or Richmond?
Richmond, at 213 ft (65 m); Washington, DC sits at 24 ft (7 m).
Measure it yourself on the map
The same two cities, already set up in the tools: move the points, get the route by bike or on foot and download the map.
- Distance between two points Measure the distance between any two places or points on the map, in miles or kilometers.
- Straight line vs driving distance Compare the as-the-crow-flies distance with the real driving distance and see how much the road adds.
- Halfway point Find the exact halfway point between two places and see it on the map, ready to share.
More distances from Washington, DC
All distances- Washington, DC to Charlotte 329 mi straight line · 396 mi by road · 7 hr 35 min
- Washington, DC to Virginia Beach 152 mi straight line · 208 mi by road · 4 hr 5 min
- Washington, DC to Ottawa 455 mi straight line · 557 mi by road · 11 hr 25 min
- New York to Washington, DC 204 mi straight line · 227 mi by road · 4 hr 50 min
- Boston to Washington, DC 395 mi straight line · 439 mi by road · 9 hr 15 min
- Philadelphia to Washington, DC 124 mi straight line · 137 mi by road · 3 hr 5 min
Sources
- Driving route: FOSSGIS OSRM, car profile (calculated on November 1, 2026) · FOSSGIS e.V.
- Roads, streets and places · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Straight line, bearings and midpoint (geodesics on the WGS84 ellipsoid) · GeographicLib (C. F. F. Karney)
- US city centers (GNIS) and their elevation (3DEP) · USGS (public domain)
- Population estimates, Vintage 2025 · US Census Bureau (public domain)
- Places near the midpoints: All Map Tools gazetteer (GeoNames, INE, IGN and Census) · All Map Tools
- Time zones (timezone-boundary-builder outlines and the IANA database) · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Map: provinces (IGN), states (US Census Bureau) and countries (Natural Earth) · IGN, Census and Natural Earth
- Methodology