Business & Tech
76 Northern Virginia Commute Times Ranked First to Worst
U.S. Census surveys looked at the time it takes to get to work from 76 communities. We've ranked the trips from first to worst.

As commuters and school busses get back on the road in most communities Tuesday, here's another look at the best and worst average commute times in Northern Virginia, as compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau over five years.
In the American Community Survey, the census asked questions on more than 40 topics over the last five years. Questions included commute times for residents in dozens of communities in Northern Virginia.
At the top, residents in Herndon reported a commute of less than 26 minutes, along with residents of Fredericksburg and Sterling. Locations like these near the top of the list likely benefited from large business and commercial hubs in close proximity.
Find out what's happening in Fredericksburgfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The average commute time in the Washington, D.C., metro area is 34 minutes, according to census estimates.
The Aquia district in North Stafford was at the bottom of the list. It's not a surprising result considering roadwork in the past few years, but it likely won't be at the bottom for long. Improvements have been made at the intersection of Aquia Harbour and Route 1, and an extension of the Interstate 95 express lanes is on the way.
Find out what's happening in Fredericksburgfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Here's the average commute times, according to the survey results:
- Herndon: 25.8 minutes
- Fredericksburg: 25.9
- Sterling: 25.9
- Arlington: 28.1
- Vienna: 28.5
- Reston: 28.8
- West Falls Church: 28.9
- Dranesville: 29
- Tysons Corner: 29.0
- Hunter Mill: 29.3
- Falls Church: 29.4
- Bailey's Crossroads: 29.8
- McLean: 29.8
- Algonkian: 30.1
- Leesburg: 30.3
- Mason: 30.5
- Wolf Trap: 30.7
- Alexandria: 30.8
- Fairfax City: 31
- Broad Run: 31.1
- Stafford Courthouse: 31.2
- Annandale: 31.4
- Ashburn: 31.5
- Courtland: 31.5
- Providence: 31.5
- North Springfield: 32.1
- Occoquan: 32.3
- West Springfield: 32.5
- Lansdowne: 32.6
- Mount Vernon: 32.7
- Braddock: 32.9
- Merrifield: 33.3
- Falmouth: 33.4
- Lee: 33.4
- Burke: 33.7
- Kingstowne: 33.7
- Sully: 33.7
- Potomac Mills: 33.8
- Franconia: 34.0
- Purcellville: 34.0
- Manassas: 34.2
- Springfield: 34.5
- Mount Vernon: 34.9
- Bull Run: 35.5
- Griffis-Widewater: 35.6
- Lee Hill: 36.1
- George Washington district: 36.2
- Nokesville: 36.6
- Salem district: 36.9
- Dulles: 37
- Fairfax Station: 37.1
- Haymarket: 37.2
- Battlefield district, Spotsylvania: 37.4
- Potomac district, Loudoun: 37.4
- Catoctin: 37.9
- Blue Ridge: 38.3
- Woodbridge: 38.5
- Dumfries: 39.6
- Lake Ridge: 39.6
- Manassas Park: 39.9
- Neabsco: 39.9
- Chancellor: 40.2
- Gainesville: 40.2
- Garrisonville: 40.2
- Dale City: 40.4
- Montclair: 40.4
- Coles: 40.8
- Berkeley: 41
- Falmouth: 41
- Brentsville: 41.1
- Rock Hill: 41.4
- Neabsco: 42.1
- Hartwood: 42.2
- Spotsylvania Courthouse: 44.2
- Livingston: 44.3
- Aquia: 46
Image via Shutterstock
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.