How far is Fairfax, VA from Portsmouth, VA?
The driving distance from Fairfax, VA to Portsmouth, VA is about 192.1 miles (309.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 07m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 149.4 miles (240.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 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 03h 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.
Town in Frederick County, Maryland, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Fairfax and Portsmouth.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfax and Portsmouth.
-
1
Start on Main Street
21 m · 10 sec · Main Street
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2
Turn left onto Chain Bridge Road
1.2 km · 2 min · Chain Bridge Road
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3
Continue on Ox Road
12.4 mi · 19 min · Ox Road
-
4
Continue on Gordon Boulevard
1.4 km · 2 min · Gordon Boulevard
-
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Fredericksburg
1350 ft · 33 sec
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6
Merge slight left
26 mi · 31 min
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7
Keep slight left
48.6 mi · 53 min
-
8
Take the exit slight left toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach
1.9 mi · 2 min
-
9
Merge slight right onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
13 mi · 14 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
-
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
1.3 mi · 3 min
-
11
Merge slight left
62.7 mi · 1 hr 10 min
-
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 664 South: Downtown Newport News, Suffolk, Chesapeake
2600 ft · 37 sec
-
13
Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway
6.1 mi · 8 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
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14
Continue on Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
4.3 mi · 5 min · Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
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15
Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
-
16
Take the exit slight right toward VA 135 South: College Drive, Churchland
1575 ft · 39 sec
-
17
Continue on College Drive
1.4 mi · 2 min · College Drive
-
18
Take the ramp slight left toward VA 164 East: Downtown Portsmouth
1797 ft · 34 sec
-
19
Merge slight left onto Western Freeway
5.8 mi · 8 min · Western Freeway
-
20
Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King Freeway
1.1 km · 46 sec · Martin Luther King Freeway
-
21
Take the exit slight right toward VA 141 South: Downtown Portsmouth
1461 ft · 36 sec
-
22
Turn straight onto London Boulevard
1.2 mi · 2 min · London Boulevard
-
23
Turn right onto Effingham Street
552 ft · 11 sec · Effingham Street
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24
Turn left onto High Street
2679 ft · 1 min · High Street
-
25
Continue on High Street
61 m · 21 sec · High Street
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · High Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Fairfax 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
Merge slight left
62.7 mi · 01h 10m
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.
Mostly Clear leaving Fairfax and Sunny near Portsmouth.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Fairfax to Portsmouth?
The road trip is about 192.1 miles (309.1 km) and usually takes 03h 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?
Mechanicsville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 95.3 miles from Fairfax and 96.8 miles from Portsmouth.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 149.4 miles (240.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.7 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 10:46 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.86 one way or $53.71 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 60.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around Fairfax and Sunny near Portsmouth.
Stop Ideas Near Mechanicsville
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Town Hall
Old City Hall
City of Richmond Virginia (City Hall)
City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Mechanicsville.
Richmond Main Street Station
Richmond Staples Mill Road station
Ashland
Petersburg station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Fairfax and Portsmouth. Straight-line distance: 149.42 mi (240.47 km).
#1 Fairfax
Independent city in Virginia, United States
| Population | 23,429 |
| Coordinates | 38.8462200, -77.3063700 |
| Altitude | 131 |
| 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: 309 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 24m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 48m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 50m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 12m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 44m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 23m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $26.86 | $53.71 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $30.03 | $60.06 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $32.39 | $64.79 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $38.13 | $76.26 |
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 13, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.