How far is Covington, VA from Portsmouth, VA?
The driving distance from Covington, VA to Portsmouth, VA is about 275.2 miles (442.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 07m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 213.6 miles (343.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 14m 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 04h 07m.
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.
County in Virginia, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Isolated Rain Showers
Partly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Covington and Portsmouth.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Covington and Portsmouth.
-
1
Start on West Main Street
1653 ft · 55 sec · West Main Street
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2
Turn left onto North Lexington Avenue
107 m · 9 sec · North Lexington Avenue
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3
Turn right onto West Locust Street
675 ft · 14 sec · West Locust Street
-
4
Continue on North Craig Avenue
1.3 km · 1 min · North Craig Avenue
-
5
Continue on South Durant Road
2336 ft · 49 sec · South Durant Road
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6
Take the ramp slight right
1072 ft · 26 sec
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7
Merge slight left
72.1 mi · 1 hr 18 min
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8
Keep slight right to continue on I 64 East: Richmond
90 mi · 1 hr 38 min
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9
Take the exit slight right toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
1.2 mi · 2 min
-
10
Continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi · 25 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
1.3 mi · 3 min
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12
Merge slight left
62.7 mi · 1 hr 10 min
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13
Take the exit slight right toward I 664 South: Downtown Newport News, Suffolk, Chesapeake
2600 ft · 37 sec
-
14
Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway
11.6 mi · 14 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward VA 135 South: College Drive, Churchland
1575 ft · 39 sec
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16
Continue on College Drive
1.4 mi · 2 min · College Drive
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17
Take the ramp slight left toward VA 164 East: Downtown Portsmouth
1797 ft · 34 sec
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18
Merge slight left onto Western Freeway
5.8 mi · 8 min · Western Freeway
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19
Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King Freeway
1.1 km · 46 sec · Martin Luther King Freeway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward VA 141 South: Downtown Portsmouth
1461 ft · 36 sec
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21
Turn straight onto London Boulevard
1.2 mi · 2 min · London Boulevard
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22
Turn right onto Effingham Street
552 ft · 11 sec · Effingham Street
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23
Turn left onto High Street
2679 ft · 1 min · High Street
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24
Continue on High Street
61 m · 21 sec · High Street
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25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · High Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Covington 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.
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.
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.
Isolated Rain Showers leaving Covington and Partly Cloudy near Portsmouth.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Covington to Portsmouth?
The road trip is about 275.2 miles (442.9 km) and usually takes 04h 07m 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?
Louisa is a useful midpoint, sitting about 137.3 miles from Covington and 137.9 miles from Portsmouth.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 213.6 miles (343.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 61.6 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 8:46 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.46 one way or $76.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 86.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Isolated Rain Showers around Covington and Partly Cloudy near Portsmouth.
Stop Ideas Near Louisa
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 Louisa.
Charlottesville Union Station
Culpeper station
Ashland
Fredericksburg
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Covington and Portsmouth. Straight-line distance: 213.58 mi (343.72 km).
#1 Covington
Independent city in Virginia, United States
| Population | 5,639 |
| Coordinates | 37.7934600, -79.9939500 |
| Altitude | 381 |
| 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: 443 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 10m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 52m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 30m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 35m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 55m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 26m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $38.46 | $76.92 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $43.01 | $86.01 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $46.39 | $92.79 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $54.61 | $109.22 |
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 · Apr 29, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.