How far is Portsmouth, VA from Bristol, VA?
The driving distance from Portsmouth, VA to Bristol, VA is about 419.8 miles (675.6 km), with a travel time of about 07h 48m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 326.6 miles (525.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 36m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 07h 48m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Census designated place
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Portsmouth and Bristol.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth and Bristol.
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1
Start on High Street
2505 ft · 56 sec · High Street
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2
Turn right onto Effingham Street
552 ft · 11 sec · Effingham Street
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3
Turn left onto London Boulevard
1.1 mi · 2 min · London Boulevard
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4
Take the ramp slight right toward US 58, VA 164: Western Freeway, Midtown Tunnel
996 ft · 19 sec
-
5
Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King Freeway
1826 ft · 35 sec · Martin Luther King Freeway
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6
Continue on Western Freeway
6 mi · 8 min · Western Freeway
-
7
Take the exit slight right toward VA 135: College Drive
1030 ft · 15 sec
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8
Keep slight right to continue on VA 135 North: College Drive
738 ft · 10 sec
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9
Turn straight onto College Drive
1.1 mi · 2 min · College Drive
-
10
Take the ramp slight right toward I 664 North: Newport News, Hampton
2371 ft · 58 sec
-
11
Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway
1.3 km · 1 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
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12
Continue on Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
4.3 mi · 5 min · Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
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13
Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway
6.2 mi · 8 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
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14
Keep slight left to continue on I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond
1.1 km · 54 sec
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15
Merge slight left
1.4 mi · 2 min
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16
Keep slight left
61.1 mi · 1 hr 8 min
-
17
Take the exit slight right toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC
2434 ft · 32 sec
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18
Keep slight right to continue on I 295 North: Washington
1.3 mi · 3 min
-
19
Merge slight left onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.6 mi · 25 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
-
20
Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West: Charlottesville
2936 ft · 55 sec
-
21
Merge slight left onto I 64 West: Charlottesville
120.3 mi · 2 hr 11 min
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22
Keep slight left
117.1 mi · 2 hr 10 min
-
23
Continue straight
1.3 mi · 1 min
-
24
Keep slight left
68.6 mi · 1 hr 14 min
-
25
Take the exit slight right toward I 381: Bristol
1.2 km · 1 min
-
26
Continue straight
1 mi · 2 min
-
27
Continue on Commonwealth Avenue
1.1 mi · 2 min · Commonwealth Avenue
-
28
Turn left onto Sullins Street
35 m · 5 sec · Sullins Street
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29
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Sullins Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Portsmouth and Bristol.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving Portsmouth and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Bristol.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Portsmouth to Bristol?
The road trip is about 419.8 miles (675.6 km) and usually takes 07h 48m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Stuarts Draft is a useful midpoint, sitting about 209.7 miles from Portsmouth and 210.1 miles from Bristol.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 326.6 miles (525.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 93.2 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 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $53.87 one way or $107.74 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 120.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Portsmouth and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Bristol.
Stop Ideas Near Stuarts Draft
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 Stuarts Draft.
Staunton station
Charlottesville Union Station
Kemper Street station
Clifton Forge
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Portsmouth and Bristol. Straight-line distance: 326.6 mi (525.61 km).
#1 Portsmouth
The most populous city in Portsmouth, Virginia.
| Population | 95,094 |
| Coordinates | 36.8354300, -76.2982700 |
| Altitude | 3 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Bristol
Independent city in Virginia, United States
| Population | 17,329 |
| Coordinates | 36.5964900, -82.1884700 |
| Altitude | 512 |
| Country | United States |
End: Bristol (-82.18847, 36.59649)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 676 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 13h 59m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 29m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 23m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 59m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 59m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 14m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $53.87 | $107.74 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $60.23 | $120.47 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $64.98 | $129.96 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $76.49 | $152.97 |
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 11, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.