How far is Blacksburg, VA from Portsmouth, VA?

The driving distance from Blacksburg, VA to Portsmouth, VA is about 280.9 miles (452 km), with a travel time of about 04h 58m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 228.6 miles (367.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 56m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
280.84 mi
04h 58m
Flight
228.61 mi
367.92 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Blacksburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
228.61 mi
Kilometers
367.92 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
280.84 mi
Kilometers
451.97 km
Drive Time
04h 58m

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 04h 58m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Portsmouth
Sat, May 30, 2:51 PM EDT
Return by in Blacksburg
Sat, May 30, 7:49 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Blacksburg
2026-05-30T09:52
Arrive Portsmouth
Sat, May 30, 2:51 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 58m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:58 AM to 12:58 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:04 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Blacksburg
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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.

Mid-route stop
Lake Monticello
VA

Census-designated place in Virginia, United States

From Blacksburg
156.8 mi
02h 29m
To Portsmouth
124.1 mi
02h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW
Destination
77°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 15 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Blacksburg and Portsmouth.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Blacksburg and Portsmouth.

  1. 1

    Start on North Main Street

    2.6 mi · 7 min · North Main Street

  2. 2

    Take the ramp slight right toward US 460 East: Roanoke

    1.3 km · 2 min

  3. 3

    Merge slight left

    4.8 mi · 6 min

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward US 11, US 460 Business: Christiansburg

    1234 ft · 32 sec

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Roanoke Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Roanoke Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 81 North, US 460 East: Salem, Roanoke

    1.5 km · 2 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    102.4 mi · 1 hr 54 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 East: Richmond

    90 mi · 1 hr 38 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    22.9 mi · 25 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach

    1.3 mi · 3 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    62.7 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 664 South: Downtown Newport News, Suffolk, Chesapeake

    2600 ft · 37 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    6.1 mi · 8 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  15. 15

    Continue on Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel

    4.3 mi · 5 min · Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel

  16. 16

    Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 135 South: College Drive, Churchland

    1575 ft · 39 sec

  18. 18

    Continue on College Drive

    1.4 mi · 2 min · College Drive

  19. 19

    Take the ramp slight left toward VA 164 East: Downtown Portsmouth

    1797 ft · 34 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto Western Freeway

    5.8 mi · 8 min · Western Freeway

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King Freeway

    1.1 km · 46 sec · Martin Luther King Freeway

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 141 South: Downtown Portsmouth

    1461 ft · 36 sec

  23. 23

    Turn straight onto London Boulevard

    1.2 mi · 2 min · London Boulevard

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Effingham Street

    552 ft · 11 sec · Effingham Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto High Street

    2679 ft · 1 min · High Street

  26. 26

    Continue on High Street

    61 m · 21 sec · High Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · High Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Blacksburg and Portsmouth.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
27 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
15
6 merges, 9 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 64 East
154 mi · 55%
I 81 North
103 mi · 37%
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi · 8%
Hampton Roads Beltway
7.25 mi · 3%
Western Freeway
5.83 mi · 2%
US 460 East
5.66 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 81 North

Merge slight left

102 mi · 01h 54m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
04h 58m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+52.3 mi
228.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lake Monticello
02h 29m from Blacksburg
Leave By
7:04 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Blacksburg and Mostly Sunny near Portsmouth.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Blacksburg to Portsmouth?

The road trip is about 280.9 miles (452 km) and usually takes 04h 58m 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?

Lake Monticello is a useful midpoint, sitting about 156.8 miles from Blacksburg and 124.1 miles from Portsmouth.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 228.6 miles (367.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 52.3 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 7:04 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.25 one way or $78.51 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Blacksburg and Mostly Sunny near Portsmouth.

Stop Ideas Near Lake Monticello

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lake Monticello, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lake Monticello.

RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

18 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Culpeper station

68 mi away
109 South Commerce Street
RAIL

Staunton station

69 mi away
1 Middlebrook Avenue
RAIL

Ashland

77 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Blacksburg and Portsmouth. Straight-line distance: 228.61 mi (367.92 km).

Blacksburg

#1 Blacksburg

Town in Virginia, United States

Population44,215
Coordinates37.2295700, -80.4139400
Altitude633
CountryUnited States
Portsmouth

#2 Portsmouth

The most populous city in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Population95,094
Coordinates36.8354300, -76.2982700
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Start: North Main Street (-80.414089, 37.229474)
End: High Street (-76.29827, 36.835429)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 452 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.91 gal
37.51 L · about $39.25
Round trip
$78.51
19.82 gal · 75.02 L
Estimated CO2
88.1 kg one way
Round trip: 176.1 kg / 388 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $39.25 $78.51
Mid-grade $4.43 $43.89 $87.78
Premium $4.78 $47.35 $94.70
Diesel $5.62 $55.73 $111.47

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Blacksburg and Portsmouth. The current time is 09:52:44.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.