How far is Portsmouth Heights, VA from Salem, VA?
The driving distance from Portsmouth Heights, VA to Salem, VA is about 280.7 miles (451.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 19m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 205.8 miles (331.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 38m 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 05h 19m.
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.
Patchy Frost
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Portsmouth Heights and Salem.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth Heights and Salem.
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1
Start on Vick Street
44 m · 7 sec · Vick Street
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2
Continue on Vick Street
98 m · 18 sec · Vick Street
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3
Turn left onto Byers Avenue
1359 ft · 1 min · Byers Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Portsmouth Boulevard
2.1 mi · 5 min · Portsmouth Boulevard
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5
Turn right onto Taylor Road
2 mi · 4 min · Taylor Road
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6
Turn left onto Pughsville Road
525 ft · 17 sec · Pughsville Road
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7
Take the ramp slight right toward I 664 North: Newport News
1954 ft · 48 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway
3.5 mi · 4 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
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9
Continue on Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
4.3 mi · 5 min · Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
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10
Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway
6.2 mi · 8 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond
1.1 km · 54 sec
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12
Merge slight left
1.4 mi · 2 min
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13
Keep slight left
61.1 mi · 1 hr 8 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC
2434 ft · 32 sec
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15
Keep slight right to continue on I 295 North: Washington
1.3 mi · 3 min
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16
Merge slight left onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.6 mi · 25 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West: Charlottesville
2936 ft · 55 sec
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18
Merge slight left onto I 64 West: Charlottesville
120.3 mi · 2 hr 11 min
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19
Keep slight left
51.5 mi · 57 min
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20
Take the exit slight right toward VA 311: Salem
157 m · 13 sec
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21
Keep slight right
129 m · 10 sec
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22
Turn straight onto Thompson Memorial Drive
1.5 mi · 3 min · Thompson Memorial Drive
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23
Turn right onto East Main Street
617 ft · 25 sec · East Main Street
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24
Turn right onto North College Avenue
12 m · 2 sec · North College Avenue
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25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North College Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Portsmouth Heights and Salem.
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 West
Merge slight left onto I 64 West: Charlottesville
120 mi · 02h 11m
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.
Sunny leaving Portsmouth Heights and Patchy Frost near Salem.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Portsmouth Heights to Salem?
The road trip is about 280.7 miles (451.7 km) and usually takes 05h 19m 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 140.2 miles from Portsmouth Heights and 140.4 miles from Salem.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 205.8 miles (331.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 74.9 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 6:22 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.21 one way or $78.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Portsmouth Heights and Patchy Frost near Salem.
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 Portsmouth Heights and Salem. Straight-line distance: 205.83 mi (331.25 km).
#1 Portsmouth Heights
A census-designated place in Newport News, Virginia.
| Population | 99,049 |
| Coordinates | 36.8209800, -76.3688300 |
| Altitude | 3 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Salem
Salem is a place in Virginia, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 37.2934700, -80.0547600 |
| Altitude | 325 |
| Country | United States |
End: Salem (-80.05476, 37.29347)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 452 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 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.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $39.21 | $78.43 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $43.85 | $87.69 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $47.30 | $94.60 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $55.68 | $111.36 |
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 21, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.