Origin
Portsmouth, VA
Afternoon in Portsmouth on Sunday
Local time
4:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Portsmouth, VA to Franklin, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
41.7 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portsmouth, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Franklin, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 41.7-mile drive from Portsmouth to Franklin, Virginia, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately one hour to complete. With a fuel cost estimated at $7, it's an economical option for a quick excursion within the Southeast region. The route primarily utilizes Portsmouth Boulevard and West Military Highway, with a short segment on I-264, suggesting a blend of local roads and some highway travel. Given its short duration and straightforward path, this trip is best suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. There are no specific stops recommended, so you can focus on enjoying the journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth Boulevard | 26.4 mi | 35m |
| I 264 | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| West Military Highway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| US 258 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Union Camp Drive | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Jamestown Lane | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| High Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Portsmouth Boulevard
— 26.4 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth, VA and Franklin, VA.
1
Start on High Street
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
High Street
2
Turn left onto VA 141
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Effingham Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Toward I 264 West
4
Merge onto I 264; US 460 ALT
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I 264; US 460 ALT
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 664
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 13A-B
Toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military Highway
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
9
Continue on US 13; US 58; US 460
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West Military Highway
10
Continue on US 13; US 58; US 460
26 mi
·
35 min
·
Portsmouth Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto VA 189
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
VA 189
Toward VA 189 South, US 258 North: Windsor, Smithfield
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward US 258 North
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto US 258
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
US 258
14
Turn left onto Union Camp Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Union Camp Drive
15
Turn right onto SR 691
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Jamestown Lane
16
Turn slight left onto US 58 BUS; US 258 BUS
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Carrsville Highway
17
Continue on US 58 BUS; US 258 BUS
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East 2nd Avenue
18
Turn left onto North Main Street
88 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 41.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.8 miles from Portsmouth, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 37.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 264; US 460 ALT
Merge onto I 264; US 460 ALT
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
6.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond
8
7.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13A-B
Toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suff...
7
37.2 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
VA 189
Take the exit onto VA 189 toward VA 189 South, US 258 North: Windsor, Smithfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward VA 189 South, US 258 North: Windsor, Smi...
8
37.4 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 258 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 258 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.52 one way
$13.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.13 | $14.26 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.72 | $15.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.21 | $18.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
| Efficient EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.84 | $2.67 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Franklin, VA
Afternoon in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
4:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
12 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 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 41.7-mile journey. While 19% of the route involves highway travel, the majority of your time will be spent navigating local roads, including a significant 26.4-mile stretch on Portsmouth Boulevard. This means you'll encounter more intersections and traffic signals than on a pure interstate route. The road character will shift from potentially busier urban areas near Portsmouth to a more typical local road experience as you head towards Franklin. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires constant attention to your surroundings.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.4 mi on Portsmouth Boulevard.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near I 264; US 460 ALT.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 41.7 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (I 264; US 460 ALT): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Portsmouth, VA and Franklin, VA, road signs point toward Suffolk, Richmond, Military Highway and Smithfield.
Suffolk
6.4 mi in
|
~9m
Richmond
6.4 mi in
|
~9m
Military Highway
7.5 mi in
|
~10m
Smithfield
37.2 mi in
|
~51m
|
via VA 189
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 41.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.4 miles on Portsmouth Boulevard. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Franklin, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.9 miles (I 264; US 460 ALT): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Fort Monroe National Monument. 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 Franklin, VA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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