How far is Portsmouth, VA from Galax, VA?
The driving distance from Portsmouth, VA to Galax, VA is about 323.3 miles (520.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 34m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 256.4 miles (412.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 08m 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 06h 34m.
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.
Town of the United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Clear
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Portsmouth and Galax.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth and Galax.
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1
Start on High Street
2505 ft · 54 sec · High Street
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2
Turn left onto Effingham Street
1482 ft · 41 sec · Effingham Street
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3
Take the ramp slight right toward I 264 West
1015 ft · 16 sec
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4
Merge slight left
5.5 mi · 8 min
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5
Keep slight right to continue on I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond
1 km · 47 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway
2197 ft · 31 sec · Hampton Roads Beltway
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7
Take the exit slight right toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military Highway
1598 ft · 54 sec
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8
Keep slight left
3155 ft · 1 min
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9
Continue on West Military Highway
2.4 mi · 3 min · West Military Highway
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10
Continue on Portsmouth Boulevard
62.1 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Portsmouth Boulevard
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11
Continue on Courtland Road
4.5 mi · 6 min · Courtland Road
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12
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Rocky Mt N.C.
909 ft · 22 sec
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13
Merge slight left
19.5 mi · 21 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward US 158: Roanoke Rapids, Murfreesboro, Weldon
901 ft · 27 sec
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15
Turn right onto Julian R Allsbrook Highway
1.2 km · 1 min · Julian R Allsbrook Highway
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16
Turn straight onto East Littleton Road
2.9 mi · 3 min · East Littleton Road
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17
Continue on Julian R Allsbrook Highway
24.2 mi · 28 min · Julian R Allsbrook Highway
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18
Continue straight
5.1 mi · 6 min
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19
Continue straight
1.2 mi · 1 min
-
20
At the end of the road, turn left
8.7 mi · 11 min
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21
Turn right onto Flemingtown Road
821 ft · 11 sec · Flemingtown Road
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22
Take the exit slight right
1114 ft · 28 sec
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23
Merge slight left
1.9 mi · 2 min
-
24
Keep slight right
44.1 mi · 49 min
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25
Keep slight left
42.3 mi · 49 min
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26
Keep slight right
7.7 mi · 9 min
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27
Keep slight right
12.6 mi · 15 min
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28
Keep slight right to continue on Salem Parkway
6.5 mi · 8 min · Salem Parkway
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29
Take the exit slight right toward NC 74 West
1.3 km · 2 min
-
30
Continue on Winston-Salem Northern Beltway
11.1 mi · 13 min · Winston-Salem Northern Beltway
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31
Keep slight left to continue on US 52 North: Mount Airy
1.8 mi · 2 min
-
32
Merge slight left onto John Gold Memorial Expressway
20.9 mi · 24 min · John Gold Memorial Expressway
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33
Keep slight left to continue on I 74 West: Wytheville
11.7 mi · 13 min
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34
Take the exit slight left toward I 77 South: Statesville, Charlotte
1.1 km · 43 sec
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35
Merge slight right onto Charles M Shelton Highway
3234 ft · 39 sec · Charles M Shelton Highway
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36
Take the exit slight right toward NC 89: Galax, Mount Airy
914 ft · 28 sec
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37
Turn left onto West Pine Street
12.4 mi · 19 min · West Pine Street
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38
Continue on Skyline Highway
4.9 mi · 7 min · Skyline Highway
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39
Continue on South Main Street
2.5 mi · 4 min · South Main Street
-
40
Turn right onto East Oldtown Street
48 m · 12 sec · East Oldtown Street
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41
Turn left
11 m · 3 sec
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42
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Portsmouth and Galax.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Portsmouth Boulevard
Continue on Portsmouth Boulevard
62.1 mi · 01h 21m
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.
Clear leaving Portsmouth and Mostly Clear near Galax.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Portsmouth to Galax?
The road trip is about 323.3 miles (520.3 km) and usually takes 06h 34m 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?
Virgilina is a useful midpoint, sitting about 161.5 miles from Portsmouth and 161.8 miles from Galax.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 256.4 miles (412.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 66.9 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 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 $45.20 one way or $90.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 101.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Clear around Portsmouth and Mostly Clear near Galax.
Stop Ideas Near Virgilina
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 Virgilina.
Danville
Durham
Burlington
Cary
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Portsmouth and Galax. Straight-line distance: 256.35 mi (412.55 km).
#1 Portsmouth
The most populous city in Portsmouth, Virginia.
| Population | 95,094 |
| Coordinates | 36.8354300, -76.2982700 |
| Altitude | 3 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Galax
Independent city in Virginia, United States
| Population | 6,296 |
| Coordinates | 36.6612400, -80.9239700 |
| Altitude | 723 |
| Country | United States |
End: Galax (-80.92397, 36.66124)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 520 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 46m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 04m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 27m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 23m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 37m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 02m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $45.20 | $90.39 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $50.53 | $101.07 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $54.52 | $109.03 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $64.17 | $128.34 |
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 16, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.