Road Information

Interstate 495 in Virginia    
Total Mileage in State: 22 miles
Counterclockwise End: At District of Columbia line
Clockwise End: At Maryland state line
Mileage covered in Photos: 22 miles
Counties covered in Photos: City of Alexandria, Fairfax
Major Junctions in Photos: I-95, in Springfield
I-395, in Springfield
I-66, in Tysons Corner
Control Cities in Photos: Alexandria, Springfield, Annandale, Tysons Corner

Inner Loop

   

Virginia welcome sign on Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) / Interstate 95 South as the duplex enters the state from Washington D.C. and Maryland via the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) / Interstate 95 South at Exit 177C: Mount Vernon; Exit 177B: US 1 North - Alexandria (Photo taken 1/4/21).

From the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to near Exit 174, Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) / Interstate 95 South have an Express Lane / Local Lane configuration. All exits during this stretch are made from the local lanes, with the exception of the one with advance signage shown here (Eisenhower Avenue). The Express Lane / Local Lane configuration begins on I-495 Inner Loop / I-95 South in Maryland and carries over into Virginia. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) / Interstate 95 South at Exit 177A: US 1 South - Fort Belvoir (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) / Interstate 95 South at their Express Lane Exit to Eisenhower Avenue (Photo taken 1/4/21).

A closer view of the ramp to Eisenhower Avenue from the Express Lanes of Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) / Interstate 95 South, as the ramp flies over the local lanes. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) / Interstate 95 South as they enter Fairfax County. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) / Interstate 95 South at Exit 176B: VA 241 North - Telegraph Rd / Alexandria / To Eisenhower Avenue (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) / Interstate 95 South at Exit 176A: SR 611 South - Telegraph Rd (Photo taken 1/4/21).

View on Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) / Interstate 95 South at mile marker 175.4. In case you haven't noticed, the mileage and exit numbers during the I-495 / I-95 concurrency are based on the total mileage of I-95 in Virginia. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Take Exit 174 to Stratford University. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Approaching Exit 174, the Express Lane / Local Lane configuration on Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) / Interstate 95 South comes to an end as the express and local lanes merge together. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) / Interstate 95 South at Exit 174: Eisenhower Ave Connector / Alexandria (Photo taken 1/4/21).

As this sign reads, all trucks hauling hazardous materials in an amount or weight requiring placards are restricted to the two right lanes. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Ahead, a tolled express lane will begin on Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) / Interstate 95 South and continue on I-95 South after its departure from I-495. EZ Pass is required to use the tolled express lanes, and the lanes are only to be used by 2 axle vehicles and buses. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

The speed limit on Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) / Interstate 95 South starts out at 55 mph. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

More signage listing the rules for using the tolled express lane, which can be entered ahead on the left. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) / Interstate 95 South at Exit 173: SR 613 - Van Dorn St / Franconia (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) / Interstate 95 South approaching the entrance to the tolled express lanes - 1 mile ahead on the left. These express lanes can only be used to take I-95 South or Interstate 395 North. I-495 thru traffic must remain in the main lanes. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Approaching Exits 170B-A and 169B-A at the very busy Springfield Interchange, Interstate 95 South thru traffic is to use the two left lanes. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

More advance signage for the upcoming Springfield Interchange. Interstate 95 South thru traffic must keep left. Traffic to Interstate 395 North that is not using the tolled express lanes should keep right. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) / Interstate 95 South at Exit 170A: Interstate 495 North - Tysons Corner. It is at this point that I-95 South departs approaching the Springfield Interchange. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

The aforementioned tolled express lane entrance occurs here, on the mainline of Interstate 95 South just after it has departed Interstate 495. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) approaching Exit 170B - 1/2 mile. Although Interstate 95 South has now departed on the left, this exit is still numbered by I-95 mileage. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Take Exit 170B (Interstate 395 North) to Arlington. Here, we get a view of the very busy Springfield Interchange. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (West) at Exit 170B: Interstate 395 North - Washington; Exit 170A: Interstate 495 North - Tysons Corner (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exits 169B-A: SR 644 - Springfield (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Ahead, after traffic from Interstate 95 North has merged into it, Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) will get some tolled express lanes of its own. Traffic looking to enter and use the express lanes must have an EZ Pass transponder, and should keep left. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

View on Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North). On the right, we have the ramp from Interstate 95 North to I-495 Inner Loop (North). On the left, we see the ramp from the tolled express lanes of Interstate 395 South. There's a lot going on here since the Springfield Interchange is massive. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

As traffic from the tolled express lanes of Interstate 395 South merges into Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) ahead on the left, traffic looking to use the express toll lanes of Interstate 495 is urged to keep left. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

View on Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at mile marker 56, as traffic from Interstate 95 North prepares to merge into it ahead from the right. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) as traffic from Interstate 95 North merges into it on the right and the massive Springfield Interchange is now behind us. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

The entrance to the express toll lanes on Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) is 1 mile ahead on the left. This sign also dynamically displays the current toll rates in the express lane to three of its biggest interchanges. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 North reassurance shield. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

View on Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at mile marker 55. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Take Exit 54A to George Mason University, EagleBank Arena, and the Center For The Arts. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exits 54B-A: SR 620 - Braddock Rd (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exit 54B: SR 620 East - Braddock Rd (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exit 54A: SR 620 West - Braddock Rd (Photo taken 1/4/21).

View on Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at mile marker 53.8. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Take Exit 52A and follow VA 236 West to the Fairfax Museum and Visitors Center. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Also take Exit 52A to Northern Virginia Community College (Annandale Campus). (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exits 52B-A: VA 236 (Little River Tnpk) - Annandale / Fairfax (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exit 52B: VA 236 East (Little River Tnpk) - Annandale (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exit 52A: VA 236 West (Little River Tnpk) - Fairfax (Photo taken 1/4/21).

View on Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at mile marker 52. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Another Interstate 495 North reassurance shield. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exit 51: SR 650 - Gallows Rd (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exits 50B-A: US 50 / To US 29 - Fairfax / Arlington (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exit 50B: US 50 East (Arlington Blvd) - Arlington (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exit 50A: US 50 West (Arlington Blvd) / To US 29 (Lee Hwy) - Fairfax (Photo taken 1/4/21).

This sign dynamically displays the current toll rates to the three exits listing on it. The rates are only displayed during the times at which the tolls are active on Interstate 66 East. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at its Express Lane Exit to US 29 - Lee Hwy (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) approaching Exits 49B-A - 3/4 mile. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

As this sign at mile marker 49.4 reads, trucks are prohibited on Interstate 66 East. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at its Express Lane Exit to Interstate 66 East and West. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exits 49B-A: Interstate 66 - Washington / Front Royal (Photo taken 1/4/21).

View of the ramp to Exits 49B-A as it splits into the two respective ramps to Interstate 66 East (Exit 49B) and Interstate 66 West (Exit 49A). (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) as it passes under the eastbound lanes of Interstate 66. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

View on Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at mile marker 48.2. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Overhead mileage sign listing the distances to the next three interchanges on Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North). (Photo taken 1/4/21).

The speed limit remains 55 mph on Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North). The speed limit in the tolled express lanes is 65 mph. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at its Express Lane Exit to VA 7 (Leesburg Pike) (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exits 47B-A: VA 7 (Leesburg Pike) - Falls Church / Tysons Corner (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exit 47B: VA 7 East (Leesburg Pike) - Falls Church (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exit 47B: VA 7 West (Leesburg Pike) - Tysons Corner (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at its Express Lane Exit to Westpark Dr / Tysons Corner (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Take Exit 45 to Leesburg. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exit 46B: VA 123 North (Chain Bridge Rd) - McLean (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Also take Exit 45 (3/4 mile ahead on the left) to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exit 46A: VA 123 South - Chain Bridge Rd / Tysons Corner (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at its Express Lane Exit to Jones Branch Drive (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exit 45: VA 267 West - Reston / Herndon / Dulles Airport (Photo taken 1/4/21).

North of Exit 45, the tolled express lanes come to an end on Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North). (Photo taken 1/4/21).

Overhead mileage sign listing the distances to the next three interchanges on Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) as the tolled express lane comes to an end on the left. (Photo taken 1/7/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exit 44: VA 193 (Georgetown Pike) - Langley / Great Falls (Photo taken 1/7/21).

Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) at Exit 43: George Washington Memorial Parkway / Washington (Photo taken 1/7/21).

Advance signage for Exit 41 as Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) prepares to cross the American Legion Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River, which will carry I-495 into Maryland. (Photo taken 1/7/21).

View on Interstate 495 Inner Loop (North) as it crosses the American Legion Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River and prepares to cross into Maryland. (Photo taken 1/7/21).