How far is Altavista, VA from Portsmouth, VA?
The driving distance from Altavista, VA to Portsmouth, VA is about 196.6 miles (316.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 43m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 166 miles (267.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 27m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 03h 43m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Census designated place in Virginia, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Showers And Thunderstorms
Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Altavista and Portsmouth.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altavista and Portsmouth.
-
1
Start on Main Street
9 m · 5 sec · Main Street
-
2
Turn right onto Franklin Avenue
111 m · 14 sec · Franklin Avenue
-
3
Turn right onto 7th Street
1.5 km · 2 min · 7th Street
-
4
Turn left onto Main Street
1.9 mi · 3 min · Main Street
-
5
Take the ramp right toward US 29 North
9.4 mi · 12 min
-
6
Turn right onto Colonial Highway
4.3 mi · 8 min · Colonial Highway
-
7
At the end of the road, turn left onto Brookneal Highway
104 m · 8 sec · Brookneal Highway
-
8
Continue on Village Highway
9.2 mi · 17 min · Village Highway
-
9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Village Highway
34 m · 2 sec · Village Highway
-
10
Exit the roundabout onto Village Highway
1.2 mi · 2 min · Village Highway
-
11
Turn right onto Richmond Highway
20.1 mi · 25 min · Richmond Highway
-
12
Continue on Prince Edward Highway
24.1 mi · 29 min · Prince Edward Highway
-
13
Turn left onto Holly Farms Road
9.3 mi · 13 min · Holly Farms Road
-
14
Turn left onto Patrick Henry Highway
17.2 mi · 22 min · Patrick Henry Highway
-
15
Continue on Hull Street Road
13.7 mi · 20 min · Hull Street Road
-
16
Turn right onto Commonwealth Centre Parkway
1.5 km · 2 min · Commonwealth Centre Parkway
-
17
Take the ramp straight
19 m · 2 sec
-
18
Keep slight right to continue on VA 288 South
1577 ft · 40 sec
-
19
Merge slight left onto World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
12.1 mi · 14 min · World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
-
20
Keep slight right to continue on I 95 South: Petersburg
1495 ft · 37 sec
-
21
Merge slight left onto Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
1.5 mi · 2 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
-
22
Take the exit slight right toward VA 10 East: Hopewell
1605 ft · 39 sec
-
23
Continue on West Hundred Road
6.8 mi · 10 min · West Hundred Road
-
24
Continue on West Randolph Road
2.9 mi · 4 min · West Randolph Road
-
25
Continue on James River Drive
14.6 mi · 19 min · James River Drive
-
26
Continue on Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi · 15 min · Colonial Trail West
-
27
At the end of the road, turn left onto Rolfe Highway
1 mi · 2 min · Rolfe Highway
-
28
Take the exit right
45 m · 6 sec
-
29
Merge slight left onto Colonial Trail East
9.8 mi · 11 min · Colonial Trail East
-
30
Continue on Old Stage Highway
12 mi · 16 min · Old Stage Highway
-
31
Keep slight left to continue on Brewers Neck Boulevard
2.8 mi · 4 min · Brewers Neck Boulevard
-
32
Take the exit slight right
713 ft · 20 sec
-
33
Merge slight left onto Carrollton Boulevard
2.3 mi · 3 min · Carrollton Boulevard
-
34
Continue on Bridge Road
6.2 mi · 11 min · Bridge Road
-
35
Keep slight right to continue on Western Freeway
7.4 mi · 10 min · Western Freeway
-
36
Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King Freeway
1.1 km · 46 sec · Martin Luther King Freeway
-
37
Take the exit slight right toward VA 141 South: Downtown Portsmouth
1461 ft · 36 sec
-
38
Turn straight onto London Boulevard
1.2 mi · 2 min · London Boulevard
-
39
Turn right onto Effingham Street
552 ft · 11 sec · Effingham Street
-
40
Turn left onto High Street
2679 ft · 1 min · High Street
-
41
Continue on High Street
61 m · 21 sec · High Street
-
42
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · High Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Altavista and Portsmouth.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Prince Edward Highway
Continue on Prince Edward Highway
24.1 mi · 00h 30m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Altavista and Showers And Thunderstorms near Portsmouth.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Altavista to Portsmouth?
The road trip is about 196.6 miles (316.4 km) and usually takes 03h 43m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Chesterfield Court House is a useful midpoint, sitting about 104.5 miles from Altavista and 92.1 miles from Portsmouth.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 166 miles (267.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:32 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.49 one way or $54.98 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Altavista and Showers And Thunderstorms near Portsmouth.
Stop Ideas Near Chesterfield Court House
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Chesterfield Court House.
Petersburg station
Richmond Main Street Station
Richmond Staples Mill Road station
Ashland
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Altavista and Portsmouth. Straight-line distance: 165.99 mi (267.14 km).
#1 Altavista
Town in Virginia
| Population | 3,422 |
| Coordinates | 37.1118100, -79.2855800 |
| Altitude | 169 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Portsmouth
The most populous city in Portsmouth, Virginia.
| Population | 95,094 |
| Coordinates | 36.8354300, -76.2982700 |
| Altitude | 3 |
| Country | United States |
End: High Street (-76.29827, 36.835429)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 316 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 33m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 54m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 55m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 16m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 48m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 27m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $27.49 | $54.98 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $30.74 | $61.47 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $33.16 | $66.32 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $39.03 | $78.06 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Virginia · May 26, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.