How far is Portsmouth, VA from Front Royal, VA?

The driving distance from Portsmouth, VA to Front Royal, VA is about 215.4 miles (346.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 177.2 miles (285.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 49m 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
215.34 mi
04h 24m
Flight
177.2 mi
285.17 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
177.2 mi
Kilometers
285.17 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
215.34 mi
Kilometers
346.56 km
Drive Time
04h 24m

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 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Front Royal
Sat, Apr 11, 8:44 PM EDT
Return by in Portsmouth
Sun, Apr 12, 1:09 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Portsmouth
2026-04-11T16:19
Arrive Front Royal
Sat, Apr 11, 8:44 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:25 AM to 12:25 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
8:10 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
Ashland
VA

Town in Virginia, United States

From Portsmouth
107.7 mi
02h 12m
To Front Royal
107.7 mi
02h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 13 mph N
Destination
73°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth and Front Royal.

  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

    6 mi · 8 min · Western Freeway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 135: College Drive

    1030 ft · 15 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on VA 135 North: College Drive

    738 ft · 10 sec

  9. 9

    Turn straight onto College Drive

    1.1 mi · 2 min · College Drive

  10. 10

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 664 North: Newport News, Hampton

    2371 ft · 58 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    1.3 km · 1 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  12. 12

    Continue on Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel

    4.3 mi · 5 min · Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel

  13. 13

    Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway

    6.2 mi · 8 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond

    1.1 km · 54 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    1.4 mi · 2 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    61.1 mi · 1 hr 8 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC

    2434 ft · 32 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on I 295 North: Washington

    1.3 mi · 3 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    11.9 mi · 13 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight left toward I 95 North: Washington

    2.4 mi · 3 min

  21. 21

    Merge slight right

    45.7 mi · 50 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight right

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  23. 23

    Keep slight right to continue on US 17 Business: Falmouth

    1635 ft · 42 sec

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Warrenton Road

    22.9 mi · 33 min · Warrenton Road

  25. 25

    Continue on Marsh Road

    4.2 mi · 7 min · Marsh Road

  26. 26

    Turn right onto James Madison Highway

    4.6 mi · 6 min · James Madison Highway

  27. 27

    Continue on Eastern Bypass

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Eastern Bypass

  28. 28

    Keep slight right to continue on Eastern Bypass

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Eastern Bypass

  29. 29

    Continue on James Madison Highway

    6.7 mi · 9 min · James Madison Highway

  30. 30

    Continue on Winchester Road

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Winchester Road

  31. 31

    Turn left

    15.1 mi · 16 min

  32. 32

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 79: Linden, Front Royal

    1334 ft · 38 sec

  33. 33

    Turn left onto Apple Mountain Road

    1209 ft · 24 sec · Apple Mountain Road

  34. 34

    Turn right onto John Marshall Highway

    4.7 mi · 8 min · John Marshall Highway

  35. 35

    Turn slight right

    86 m · 10 sec

  36. 36

    Turn straight onto South Commerce Avenue

    1888 ft · 51 sec · South Commerce Avenue

  37. 37

    Turn left onto East Stonewall Drive

    154 m · 16 sec · East Stonewall Drive

  38. 38

    Turn slight right onto East Jackson Street

    1752 ft · 55 sec · East Jackson Street

  39. 39

    Turn right onto South Royal Avenue

    125 m · 20 sec · South Royal Avenue

  40. 40

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    79 m · 14 sec · West Main Street

  41. 41

    Turn left

    9 m · 2 sec

  42. 42

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
42 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
5 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
19.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 64 West
63.2 mi · 29%
I 95 North
49.7 mi · 23%
Warrenton Road
22.9 mi · 11%
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
11.9 mi · 6%
James Madison Highway
11.3 mi · 5%
Hampton Roads Beltway
7 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 64 West

Keep slight left

61.1 mi · 01h 08m

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 24m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.2 mi
177.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ashland
02h 12m from Portsmouth
Leave By
8:10 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Portsmouth and Mostly Sunny near Front Royal.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Portsmouth to Front Royal?

The road trip is about 215.4 miles (346.6 km) and usually takes 04h 24m 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?

Ashland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 107.7 miles from Portsmouth and 107.7 miles from Front Royal.

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

The direct path is about 177.2 miles (285.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.2 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 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:10 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.10 one way or $60.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 67.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Portsmouth and Mostly Sunny near Front Royal.

Stop Ideas Near Ashland

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

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

RAIL

Ashland

112 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Richmond Staples Mill Road station

16 mi away
7519 Staples Mill Road
RAIL

Richmond Main Street Station

25 mi away
1500 East Main Street
RAIL

Petersburg station

58 mi away
3516 South Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Portsmouth and Front Royal. Straight-line distance: 177.2 mi (285.17 km).

Portsmouth

#1 Portsmouth

The most populous city in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Population95,094
Coordinates36.8354300, -76.2982700
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Front Royal

#2 Front Royal

Town in Warren County, Virginia, United States

Population15,389
Coordinates38.9181700, -78.1944400
Altitude173
CountryUnited States
Start: Portsmouth (-76.29827, 36.83543)
End: Front Royal (-78.19444, 38.91817)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 347 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 18m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 35m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 04m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.6 gal
28.76 L · about $30.10
Round trip
$60.21
15.2 gal · 57.52 L
Estimated CO2
67.5 kg one way
Round trip: 135.1 kg / 298 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $30.10 $60.21
Mid-grade $4.43 $33.66 $67.32
Premium $4.78 $36.31 $72.63
Diesel $5.62 $42.74 $85.48

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

There is no time difference between Portsmouth and Front Royal. The current time is 16:19:46.

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.