How far is Portsmouth, VA from Bedford, VA?

The driving distance from Portsmouth, VA to Bedford, VA is about 219 miles (352.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 181.1 miles (291.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 18m 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
219 mi
04h 39m
Flight
181.05 mi
291.37 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Portsmouth.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
181.05 mi
Kilometers
291.37 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
219 mi
Kilometers
352.45 km
Drive Time
04h 39m

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 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bedford
Fri, Apr 17, 5:36 AM EDT
Return by in Portsmouth
Fri, Apr 17, 10:15 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Portsmouth
2026-04-17T00:57
Arrive Bedford
Fri, Apr 17, 5:36 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:39 AM to 12:39 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
7:42 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Portsmouth
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
Blackstone
VA

Town in Virginia

From Portsmouth
109.4 mi
02h 19m
To Bedford
109.6 mi
02h 19m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 mph W
Destination
86°F
Friday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on High Street

    2505 ft · 56 sec · High Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Effingham Street

    552 ft · 11 sec · Effingham Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto London Boulevard

    1.1 mi · 2 min · London Boulevard

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward US 58, VA 164: Western Freeway, Midtown Tunnel

    996 ft · 19 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King Freeway

    1826 ft · 35 sec · Martin Luther King Freeway

  6. 6

    Continue on Western Freeway

    7.4 mi · 10 min · Western Freeway

  7. 7

    Continue on Bridge Road

    6.5 mi · 11 min · Bridge Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Carrollton Boulevard

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Carrollton Boulevard

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Brewers Neck Boulevard

    2.9 mi · 4 min · Brewers Neck Boulevard

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Benns Church Boulevard

    12.1 mi · 16 min · Benns Church Boulevard

  11. 11

    Continue on Colonial Trail East

    9.9 mi · 11 min · Colonial Trail East

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Rolfe Highway

    1 mi · 2 min · Rolfe Highway

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Colonial Trail West

    13.3 mi · 15 min · Colonial Trail West

  14. 14

    Continue on James River Drive

    14.6 mi · 19 min · James River Drive

  15. 15

    Continue on East Randolph Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · East Randolph Road

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Winston Churchill Drive

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Winston Churchill Drive

  17. 17

    Continue on Oaklawn Boulevard

    1909 ft · 27 sec · Oaklawn Boulevard

  18. 18

    Continue on Woodlawn Street

    1 mi · 1 min · Woodlawn Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Oaklawn Boulevard

    1.6 km · 1 min · Oaklawn Boulevard

  20. 20

    Continue on East Washington Street

    4.3 mi · 5 min · East Washington Street

  21. 21

    Take the exit left toward I 85 South, I 95 South

    2402 ft · 58 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham

    1087 ft · 26 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left onto Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

    6.3 mi · 8 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg

    1060 ft · 26 sec

  25. 25

    Continue on Airport Street

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Airport Street

  26. 26

    Continue on New Cox Road

    23 mi · 27 min · New Cox Road

  27. 27

    Continue on East Colonial Trail Highway

    4.3 mi · 5 min · East Colonial Trail Highway

  28. 28

    Continue on East Colonial Trail Road

    6.9 mi · 8 min · East Colonial Trail Road

  29. 29

    Continue on East Colonial Trail

    7.5 mi · 11 min · East Colonial Trail

  30. 30

    Merge slight left onto West Colonial Trail Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · West Colonial Trail Highway

  31. 31

    Keep slight right to continue on West Colonial Trail Highway

    11.6 mi · 15 min · West Colonial Trail Highway

  32. 32

    Keep slight left

    29.2 mi · 35 min

  33. 33

    Keep slight right to continue on Richmond Highway

    31.1 mi · 38 min · Richmond Highway

  34. 34

    Continue on East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

    12.3 mi · 16 min · East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

  35. 35

    Take the exit slight right toward US 460 Business, VA 122

    803 ft · 22 sec

  36. 36

    Keep slight right

    1.3 mi · 2 min

  37. 37

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Main Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
37 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Colonial Trail Highway
42.3 mi · 19%
Richmond Highway
31.1 mi · 14%
New Cox Road
23 mi · 10%
James River Drive
14.6 mi · 7%
Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi · 6%
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
12.3 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Richmond Highway

Keep slight right to continue on Richmond Highway

31.1 mi · 00h 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
04h 39m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.9 mi
181.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Blackstone
02h 19m from Portsmouth
Leave By
7:42 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Portsmouth and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Bedford.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 219 miles (352.5 km) and usually takes 04h 39m 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?

Blackstone is a useful midpoint, sitting about 109.4 miles from Portsmouth and 109.6 miles from Bedford.

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

The direct path is about 181.1 miles (291.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.9 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 7:42 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.62 one way or $61.24 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 68.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Portsmouth and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Bedford.

Stop Ideas Near Blackstone

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

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

RAIL

Petersburg station

53 mi away
3516 South Street
RAIL

Richmond Main Street Station

71 mi away
1500 East Main Street
RAIL

Richmond Staples Mill Road station

74 mi away
7519 Staples Mill Road
RAIL

Ashland

88 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Portsmouth and Bedford. Straight-line distance: 181.05 mi (291.37 km).

Portsmouth

#1 Portsmouth

The most populous city in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Population95,094
Coordinates36.8354300, -76.2982700
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Bedford

#2 Bedford

Town in Bedford County, Virginia, United States

Population6,644
Coordinates37.3343100, -79.5230900
Altitude306
CountryUnited States
Start: Portsmouth (-76.29827, 36.83543)
End: Bedford (-79.52309, 37.33431)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 352 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 17m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 22m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.73 gal
29.25 L · about $30.62
Round trip
$61.24
15.46 gal · 58.5 L
Estimated CO2
68.7 kg one way
Round trip: 137.4 kg / 303 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $30.62 $61.24
Mid-grade $4.43 $34.24 $68.47
Premium $4.78 $36.93 $73.87
Diesel $5.62 $43.47 $86.95

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Portsmouth and Bedford. The current time is 00:57:16.

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.