SR 234 begins at an intersection with US 1 (Jefferson Davis Highway) on the northern edge of the town of Dumfries. The state highway heads northwest as Dumfries Road, a six-lane
divided highway that passes southwest of the Dumfries Road Commuter Lot, a
park and ride facility, before it meets I-95 at a partial cloverleaf interchange. North of Dumfries, SR 234 parallels Quantico Creek and follows the border of
Prince William Forest Park to the southwest. The state highway also passes many residential subdivisions on the highway's northbound side in the community of
Montclair, where the highway reduces to four lanes at Country Club Drive. SR 234 curves to the north at Independent Hill, which the highway bypasses. The old alignment through the village, which contains the remains of the
Greenwood Gold Mine, is designated
SR 234 Old. SR 234 passes through the communities of
Canova,
Cornwell, and
Lake Jackson, where the highway crosses the
Occoquan River just east of the community's namesake reservoir. Just north of Lake Jackson, the state highway intersects
Prince William Parkway (SR 294), which connects Manassas and Woodbridge. Just north of Prince William Parkway, Dumfries Road turns north toward the city of Manassas as SR 234 Business. SR 234 continues northwest as Prince William Parkway, a four-lane divided highway western bypass of Manassas. The state highway passes to the east of
Manassas Regional Airport, which is accessed via Clover Hill Road. Just north of the airport, SR 234 crosses over
Norfolk Southern Railway's Washington District rail line, which is also used by
Virginia Railway Express's Manassas Line, whose western terminus is at the
Broad Run/Airport just to the west in the community of
Bristow. Just north of the rail line, the state highway meets
SR 28 (Nokesville Road) at a three-level interchange featuring flyover ramps from both directions of SR 28 to SR 234. SR 234 continues north past the Prince William Science and Technology Campus of
George Mason University, which features the Hylton Performing Arts Center, then intersects
SR 674 (Wellington Road) and Sudley Manor Drive, which connects
Linton Hall to the southwest with
Bull Run to the northeast. SR 234 continues northwest, intersecting Balls Ford Road before reaching a trumpet interchange with I-66, at exit 44 on I-66. SR 234 joins the interstate in a
concurrency east for three miles to a partial cloverleaf interchange with Sudley Road at exit 47, where SR 234 leaves the concurrency and meets the northern end of SR 234 Business. SR 234 heads north from I-66 as a four-lane divided highway that reduces to two lanes at the entrance to the Manassas Campus of
Northern Virginia Community College, and then enters Manassas National Battlefield Park, site of the
First and
Second Battles of Bull Run. The state highway intersects
US 29 (
Lee Highway) within the battlefield park. After leaving the preserve, SR 234 passes through the community of
Sudley Springs, where the highway crosses Little Bull Run and curves to the west. The state highway heads through the community of
Catharpin before reaching its northern terminus at US 15 (James Madison Highway) in the hamlet of Woolsey north of Haymarket. ==History==