Portsmouth, VA Road Trips
Sitting in the Southeast, Portsmouth, VA is a convenient base with 9 trip routes mapped and ready to explore. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 164-mile quick runs to 420-mile cross-state drives. Most routes from Portsmouth, VA head west, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
9
Longest Drive
420.5 mi
Bristol, VA
Quickest Drive
3h 8m
Pantops, VA
Plan Around Portsmouth, VA
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Portsmouth, VA is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Portsmouth, VA
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Portsmouth, VA
Portsmouth, VA to Richlands, VA
Portsmouth, VA to Wytheville, VA
Portsmouth, VA to Cloverdale, VA
Portsmouth, VA to Bridgewater, VA
Portsmouth, VA to Bedford, VA
Portsmouth, VA to Verona, VA
Portsmouth, VA to Staunton, VA
Portsmouth, VA to Pantops, VA
Driving from Portsmouth, VA
On average, trips departing from Portsmouth, VA run 257 miles with a drive time of roughly 4h 56m. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 420 miles (7h 58m), while the shortest is just 164 miles.
Popular Destinations
Drivers leaving Portsmouth, VA most often head toward Richlands, VA (419.8 mi, 7h 58m), Wytheville, VA (349.4 mi, 6h 32m), Cloverdale, VA (273.2 mi, 5h 7m), Bridgewater, VA (221.4 mi, 4h 13m), and Bedford, VA (219 mi, 4h 39m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in VA currently averages around $3.96 per gallon. For the typical 257-mile trip from Portsmouth, VA, budget about $40 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring. Most routes head west — leaving in the morning keeps the sun behind you for a more comfortable drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 8 mapped routes leaving Portsmouth, VA and 1 routes heading into Portsmouth, VA, covering 9 total connections. Distances range from 164 to 420 miles.
The longest mapped route from Portsmouth, VA covers 420 miles and takes approximately 7h 58m. Shorter options start at just 164 miles.
The average route from Portsmouth, VA runs about 257 miles with a drive time of roughly 4h 56m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.96/gallon for regular), the average 257-mile trip from Portsmouth, VA costs roughly $40 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Portsmouth, VA include Richlands, VA, Wytheville, VA, Cloverdale, VA and Bridgewater, VA. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Portsmouth, VA by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
97,299
Median Income
$58,972
Median Home Value
$229,400
Median Age
35.8
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Portsmouth, VA at a Glance
Founded
1752
Elevation
20 ft
Area
47 mi²
Sister Cities
Notable People from Portsmouth, VA
A sampling of people born in Portsmouth, VA.
Missy Elliott
1971
American rapper (born 1971)
Patton Oswalt
1969
American actor
LaShawn Merritt
1986
American track and field athlete
Wanda Sykes
1964
American comedian, writer, actress and voice artist
Radia Perlman
1951
American software designer and network engineer (born 1951)
Ruth Brown
1928–2006
American singer-songwriter (1928-2006)
V. C. Andrews
1923–1986
American novelist (1923–1986)
Ken Bowersox
1956
American astronaut
Mae Murray
1885–1965
American actress, dancer, film producer, screenwriter (1885–1965)
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Portsmouth, VA.
St. Paul's Catholic Church
church in Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth
lightvessel LV-101
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
hospital in Virginia, United States
Downtown Portsmouth Historic District
historic district in Portsmouth, Virginia
City data from Wikidata (Q342803), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Portsmouth, VA
Portsmouth is in Virginia, within the United States of America.
Portsmouth was founded in 1752 during the days of the Virginia Colony and named after Portsmouth, England. Situated on prime land where the Elizabeth River meets the James and empties into the Chesapeake Bay, its shipyard has always been of strategic importance, from its nascent beginning up through the Civil War and on to today.
1 Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum. 2 Fresnel Lens Pavilion. An 1896 first order Fresnel lens on display in a 16-foot pavilion. (updated Oct 2019) 3 Lightship Portsmouth. 4 Hill House Museum. (updated Oct 2019) 5 Children's Museum of Virginia. (updated Oct 2019) 6 Visual Arts Center at Tidewater Community College. (updated Oct 2019) 7 Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center. (updated Oct 2019) 8 Railroad Museum of Virginia. (updated Oct 2019) 9 Jewish Museum & Cultural Center. (updated Oct 2019) 10 Portsmouth Colored Community Library Museum. (updated Oct 2019) 11 Paradise Creek Nature Park. 12 Portsmouth City Park. A 93-acre landscaped park that includes a nine-hole executive golf course and a walkway along the Elizabeth River. 13 Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve. Virginia’s only urban wildlife preserve. (updated Oct 2019) Olde Towne Public House, 467 Court St, ☏ +1 757-966-1229. (updated Jul 2021)
1 Rivers Casino, 3630 Victory Blvd, ☏ +1 757 840 2278. 24 hours daily. (updated Aug 2025)
Barons Pub, 500 High St, ☏ +1 757-399-4840. Live music daily. (updated Jul 2021)
Bier Garden, 438 High St, ☏ +1 757-393-6022. German classics pair with 300+ global brews in a traditional setting with a beer hall and garden. (updated Jul 2021)
1 Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel and Waterfront Conference Center, 425 Water Street (In the heart of the historic district), ☏ +1 757 673-3000, toll-free: +1-888-839-1775, fax: +1 757 673-3030. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. All guest rooms have views of the Elizabeth River. Foggy Point Bar & Grill, the hotel restaurant, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Portsmouth is primarily served by Norfolk Airport and to a lesser extent, Newport News/Williamsburg Airport. Norfolk International Airport (ORF IATA), 2200 Norview Ave (one mile east of Interstate 64 Exit 279), ☏ +1 757-857-3351. Non-stop flights to Norfolk Airport from the following cities (some cities may be seasonal or only offer service certain days of the week): Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Memphis, Miami, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Nashville, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, St Louis, Tampa and Washington. Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF IATA). Take a ferry from Norfolk.
Travel tips adapted from Portsmouth (Virginia) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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