Origin
Portsmouth, VA
Morning in Portsmouth on Sunday
Local time
6:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Portsmouth, VA to Virginia Beach, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
30m
Distance
20.2 mi
33 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portsmouth, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Virginia Beach, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling the 20.2 miles from Portsmouth to Virginia Beach is a quick, straightforward journey that typically takes about 25 minutes. Because this is a short local trip within the Southeast region of Virginia, it works perfectly as a half-day excursion or a quick commute. You will navigate primarily via Court Street, Pavilion Drive, and 21st Street rather than relying on high-speed interstates. With a fuel budget of approximately $3, the trip is incredibly affordable and doesn't require any planned stops. It is an ideal route if you want to move between these two cities without the hassle of long-distance highway travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 264 | 18.6 mi | 26m |
| 21st Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Court Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Arctic Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Pavilion Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| High Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 25th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 264
— 18.6 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth, VA and Virginia Beach, VA.
1
Start on High Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
High Street
2
Turn left onto Court Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Court Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto Pavilion Drive
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Pavilion Drive
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
5
Merge onto I 264; US 460 ALT
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
I 264; US 460 ALT
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 264; VA 337
17 mi
·
23 min
·
I 264; VA 337
Use the slight right lane.
7
Continue on 21st Street
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
21st Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto Arctic Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Arctic Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto 25th Street
454 ft
·
12 sec
·
25th Street
10
Arrive at destination
25th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 20.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Court Street
Turn left onto Court Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 264; VA 337
Keep slight right at fork onto I 264; VA 337
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
19.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
Arctic Avenue
Turn left onto Arctic Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
20.2 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
25th Street
Turn right onto 25th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.16 one way
$6.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $3.45 | $6.91 |
| premium | $4.70 | $3.74 | $7.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.46 | $8.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.12 | $0.97 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.77 | $0.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.29 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Virginia Beach, VA
Morning in Virginia Beach on Sunday
Local time
6:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
2 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
30m 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 that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Since this route maintains a zero percent highway share, you will be navigating city streets for the entire 20.2-mile distance. You won't find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, so be prepared for consistent maneuvering through local intersections. The character of the drive is defined by its urban flow, offering a direct change of scenery from Portsmouth to the coast. It is a practical, functional transit that prioritizes local connectivity over high-speed transit.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.6 mi on I 264.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 264 and 21st Street. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Court Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 20.2 miles you will encounter 7 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 0.1 miles (Court Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 264; VA 337): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 20.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.6 miles on I 264. 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 0.1 miles (Court Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 264; VA 337): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Virginia Beach, 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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