How far is Buena Vista, VA from Portsmouth, VA?

The driving distance from Buena Vista, VA to Portsmouth, VA is about 239 miles (384.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 179.1 miles (288.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 10m 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
239.03 mi
03h 35m
Flight
179.08 mi
288.2 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Buena Vista.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
179.08 mi
Kilometers
288.2 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
239.03 mi
Kilometers
384.68 km
Drive Time
03h 35m

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 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Portsmouth
Mon, May 25, 1:33 PM EDT
Return by in Buena Vista
Mon, May 25, 5:08 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Buena Vista
2026-05-25T09:58
Arrive Portsmouth
Mon, May 25, 1:33 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:35 AM to 11:35 AM EDT

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

Leave by
9:50 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Buena Vista
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
Wyndham
VA

Census designated place in Virginia, USA

From Buena Vista
118.7 mi
01h 47m
To Portsmouth
120.4 mi
01h 47m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Memorial Day

Occasional Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 mph SW
Destination
83°F
Memorial Day

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Buena Vista and Portsmouth.

  1. 1

    Start on East 21st Street

    135 m · 24 sec · East 21st Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Sycamore Avenue

    147 m · 6 sec · Sycamore Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn straight onto Beech Avenue

    2457 ft · 42 sec · Beech Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto West 29th Street

    1 km · 43 sec · West 29th Street

  5. 5

    Continue on East Midland Trail

    2.7 mi · 3 min · East Midland Trail

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right

    1800 ft · 44 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    32.4 mi · 35 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 Buena Vista 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
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
5 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 64 East
154 mi · 64%
East Midland Trail
35.5 mi · 15%
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi · 10%
Hampton Roads Beltway
7.25 mi · 3%
Western Freeway
5.83 mi · 2%
Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
4.31 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 64 East

Keep slight right to continue on I 64 East: Richmond

90 mi · 01h 38m

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
03h 35m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+59.9 mi
179.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wyndham
01h 47m from Buena Vista
Leave By
9:50 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Occasional Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista to Portsmouth?

The road trip is about 239 miles (384.7 km) and usually takes 03h 35m 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?

Wyndham is a useful midpoint, sitting about 118.7 miles from Buena Vista and 120.4 miles from Portsmouth.

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

The direct path is about 179.1 miles (288.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 59.9 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 9:50 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.43 one way or $66.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 75 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Occasional Showers And Thunderstorms around Buena Vista and Showers And Thunderstorms near Portsmouth.

Stop Ideas Near Wyndham

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Wyndham, 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 Wyndham.

RAIL

Ashland

13 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Richmond Staples Mill Road station

14 mi away
7519 Staples Mill Road
RAIL

Richmond Main Street Station

24 mi away
1500 East Main Street
RAIL

Petersburg station

53 mi away
3516 South Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Buena Vista and Portsmouth. Straight-line distance: 179.08 mi (288.2 km).

Buena Vista

#1 Buena Vista

Independent city in Virginia, United States

Population6,402
Coordinates37.7343000, -79.3539200
Altitude255
CountryUnited States
Portsmouth

#2 Portsmouth

The most populous city in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Population95,094
Coordinates36.8354300, -76.2982700
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Start: East 21st Street (-79.353899, 37.734349)
End: High Street (-76.29827, 36.835429)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 385 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 59m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.44 gal
31.93 L · about $33.43
Round trip
$66.86
16.88 gal · 63.86 L
Estimated CO2
75 kg one way
Round trip: 150 kg / 331 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $33.43 $66.86
Mid-grade $4.43 $37.38 $74.76
Premium $4.78 $40.33 $80.65
Diesel $5.62 $47.47 $94.93

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 25, 2026

There is no time difference between Buena Vista and Portsmouth. The current time is 09:58:01.

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.