Portsmouth, VA to Enon, VA is 77 miles and takes about 1 hour 42 minutes via James River Drive, Colonial Trail West, and Benns Church Boulevard, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Virginia, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a local road experience with frequent turns, rather than a high-speed highway journey. It's a straightforward trip, perfect for a single day of travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.5 miles from Portsmouth, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
James River Drive
14.6 mi
19m
Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi
15m
Benns Church Boulevard
12.1 mi
15m
Colonial Trail East
9.9 mi
11m
Western Freeway
7.4 mi
9m
Bridge Road
6.5 mi
11m
East Randolph Road
2.9 mi
4m
Brewers Neck Boulevard
2.9 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
James River Drive
— 14.6 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth, VA and Enon, VA.
1
Start on High Street
0.5 mi·56 sec·High Street
2
Turn right onto VA 141
0.1 mi·11 sec·Effingham Street
3
Turn left onto VA 141
1.1 mi·1 min·London Boulevard
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward US 58, VA 164: Western Freeway, Midtown TunnelUse the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto US 58; VA 164
0.3 mi·34 sec·Martin Luther King Freeway
6
Continue on VA 164
7.4 mi·9 min·Western Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 17
6.5 mi·11 min·Bridge Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 17
2.4 mi·3 min·Carrollton Boulevard
9
Turn left onto Brewers Neck Boulevard
2.9 mi·4 min·Brewers Neck Boulevard
10
Merge onto US 258; VA 10
12 mi·15 min·Benns Church Boulevard
11
Continue on VA 10
9.9 mi·11 min·Colonial Trail East
12
Turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
1.0 mi·1 min·Rolfe Highway
13
Turn right onto VA 10
13 mi·15 min·Colonial Trail West
14
Continue on VA 10
15 mi·19 min·James River Drive
15
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
2.9 mi·4 min·East Randolph Road
16
Continue on VA 10
1.7 mi·2 min·East Hundred Road
17
Continue on VA 10
183 ft·9 sec·East Hundred Road
18
Arrive at destination
VA 10
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 42 minute duration, this is a comfortable same-day trip. You can leave anytime, but an early start will give you the most flexibility for any unexpected detours or if you decide to pause. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, you won't need to worry excessively about your budget, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Pay close attention to your navigation, especially on the segments designated as James River Drive, Colonial Trail West, and Benns Church Boulevard, as the 'turn-heavy' nature of this route means frequent adjustments.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.5 miles from Portsmouth, VA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.5 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Enon, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Portsmouth, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Portsmouth, VA
This is one driving day of about 77 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Portsmouth, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on James River Drive for about 14.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 43.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.5 mi into trip|~0m in|VA 141 / Effingham Street
Turn right onto VA 141 / Effingham Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|VA 141 / London Boulevard
Turn left onto VA 141 / London Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward US 58, VA 164: Western Freeway, Midtown Tunnel
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 58, VA 164: Western Freeway, Midtown...
3
1.9 mi into trip|~3m in|US 58; VA 164 / Martin Luther King Freeway
Merge onto US 58; VA 164 / Martin Luther King Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
43.3 mi into trip|~59m in|VA 10; VA 31 / Rolfe Highway
Turn left onto VA 10; VA 31 / Rolfe Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.04 one way
$24.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.17
$26.33
premium
$4.70
$14.25
$28.50
diesel
$5.61
$17.00
$34.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.1
0
$8.08
$3.70
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.74
$3.08
EV Truck/SUV
30.8
0
$10.78
$4.93
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Portsmouth, VA
Late night
in Portsmouth on Tuesday
Local time
5:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Enon, VA
Late night
in Enon on Tuesday
Local time
5:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 42m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Colonial National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On May 13, 1607, Jamestown was established as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Three cultures came together – European, Virginia Indian and African–to create a new society that...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
$15
near mile 37.2
Park Closure: Rehabilitation of Colonial Parkway Continues
Fort Monroe's story spans from prehistory to the 2000s. Kecoughtan Indians occupied Old Point Comfort before the arrival of English colonists. The first enslaved Africans arrived in 1619. Those escapi...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 5.3
Two hundred ninety-two days, eight offensives, over 70,000 casualties, U. S. Colored Troops, and the decline of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. U.S. forces c...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive', with only 10% of the journey on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 14.6 miles along James River Drive. Prepare for a driving experience that involves navigating a series of local roads, requiring your attention to frequent directional changes. The roads will likely feel more connected to the local landscape, offering a different pace than interstate travel.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.6 mi on James River Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near VA 141 / Effingham Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 42m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (VA 141 / Effingham Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (VA 141 / London Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.6 miles on James River Drive. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (VA 141 / Effingham Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (VA 141 / London Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Colonial National Historical Park, Fort Monroe National Monument and Petersburg National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Enon, VA before heading back.
