Origin
Richlands, VA
Night in Richlands on Saturday
Local time
9:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richlands, VA to Portsmouth, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 58m
Distance
419.8 mi
676 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$66
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 50m
★
6 AM
7h 58m
8 AM
8h 16m
10 AM
8h 5m
12 PM
8h 3m
3 PM
8h 5m
5 PM
8h 15m
8 PM
7h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richlands, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Portsmouth, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 419.8-mile journey from Richlands, Virginia, to Portsmouth, Virginia, will take approximately 7 hours and 58 minutes of driving time, making it a feasible day trip. Your route primarily follows I-64 and I-81, with a portion on Governor G C Peery Highway. With 80% of the drive on highways, expect a straightforward, efficient trip. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $66, and with two recommended stops, you can break up the drive comfortably. Both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region of the US, so you'll be traversing familiar territory throughout this Virginia-centric road trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
209.9 miles from Richlands, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 152.9 mi | 2h 47m |
| I 81 | 139.7 mi | 2h 33m |
| Governor G C Peery Highway | 27.3 mi | 35m |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 22.9 mi | 25m |
| US 52 | 19.7 mi | 22m |
| I 77 | 16 mi | 17m |
| Trail of the Lonesome Pine | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | 7.2 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 152.9 mi, about 2h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richlands, VA and Portsmouth, VA.
1
Start on Virginia Avenue
88 ft
·
6 sec
·
Virginia Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 460 BUS
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Front Street
3
Continue on US 460 BUS
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Cedar Valley Drive
4
Take the ramp
250 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 460 East: Claypool Hill
5
Merge onto US 460
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Governor George C Peery Highway
6
Turn left onto US 19; US 460
27 mi
·
35 min
·
Governor G C Peery Highway
7
Continue on US 19; US 460
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Trail of the Lonesome Pine
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit onto US 52 Truck
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
US 52 Truck
9
Take the exit onto US 52
20 mi
·
22 min
·
US 52
10
Continue on I 77
16 mi
·
17 min
·
I 77
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 11
140 mi
·
2 hr 33 min
·
I 81; US 11
Toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on I 64; I 81
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 64; I 81
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
90 mi
·
1 hr 38 min
·
I 64
Toward I 64 East: Richmond
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 177
Toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on I 295
23 mi
·
25 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Exit 28A
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 64
63 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 264
Toward I 664 South: Downtown Newport News, Suffolk, Chesapeake
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 664
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 664
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
21
Continue on I 664
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 8B
Toward VA 135 South: College Drive, Churchland
Use the right lane.
23
Continue on VA 135
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
College Drive
Use the straight lane.
24
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward VA 164 East: Downtown Portsmouth
25
Merge onto VA 164
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Western Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Merge onto US 58; VA 164
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
·
Martin Luther King Freeway
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward VA 141 South: Downtown Portsmouth
Use the right lane.
28
Turn straight onto US 58
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
London Boulevard
29
Turn right onto VA 141
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Effingham Street
Use the right lane.
30
Turn left onto High Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
High Street
Use the left lane.
31
Continue on High Street
201 ft
·
20 sec
·
High Street
Use the left lane.
32
Arrive at destination
High Street
Trip Plan
For this nearly 8-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Richlands to maximize daylight and arrive in Portsmouth at a reasonable hour. With two planned stops, you can easily space them out to break up the 419.8 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 152.9 miles on I-64, as services can sometimes be further apart on interstates. The estimated fuel cost of $66 is a good budget to plan around for this trip.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 209.9 miles from Richlands, VA, or about 4h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 152.9 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 92 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 209.9 miles or 4h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Portsmouth, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Richlands, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Richlands, VA
This is one driving day of about 419.8 miles and 7h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 92 miles from Richlands, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 152.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
210 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 92 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 209.9 miles from Richlands, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 152.9 miles.
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 195 decision points cluster between mile 79 and 409.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
79 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
|
I 81; US 11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 11 toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke
8
309 mi into trip
|
~5h 48m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
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 177
Toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
8
333.1 mi into trip
|
~6h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 28A
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
8
397 mi into trip
|
~7h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 664 South: Downtown Newport News, Suffolk, Chesapeake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 264
Toward I 664 South: Downtown Newport News, Suff...
8
409.1 mi into trip
|
~7h 42m in
Take the exit toward VA 135 South: College Drive, Churchland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 8B
Toward VA 135 South: College Drive, Churchland
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$65.65 one way
$131.29 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
147 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $71.78 | $143.56 |
| premium | $4.70 | $77.70 | $155.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $92.69 | $185.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 146.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 125.9 | 1 | $44.08 | $20.15 |
| Efficient EV | 105 | 1 | $36.73 | $16.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 167.9 | 2 | $58.77 | $26.87 |
Gas CO2
147 kg
EV CO2
49 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Portsmouth, VA
Night in Portsmouth on Saturday
Local time
9:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
8 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
7h 58m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 80% of your travel occurring on major interstates. You'll encounter stretches where you can maintain steady speeds, including a significant 152.9-mile segment on I-64. While much of the route keeps you on fast-paced highways, the inclusion of Governor G C Peery Highway suggests a potential for more local road driving at certain points. The character of the road is likely to be efficient and direct, designed for covering distance rather than leisurely exploration.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 152.9 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 79 miles in near I 81; US 11.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 419.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 79 miles (I 81; US 11): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 309 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 333.1 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 Richlands, VA and Portsmouth, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Suffolk and Chesapeake.
Norfolk
309 mi in
|
~5h 48m
Virginia Beach
333.1 mi in
|
~6h 14m
Suffolk
397 mi in
|
~7h 27m
Chesapeake
397 mi in
|
~7h 27m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 58m. Total distance: 419.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 58m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 152.9 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Portsmouth, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 79 miles (I 81; US 11): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 309 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 333.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 15.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Portsmouth, VA before the return drive.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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