How far is Portsmouth, VA from Herndon, VA?

The driving distance from Portsmouth, VA to Herndon, VA is about 201.6 miles (324.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 158.9 miles (255.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 12m 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
201.61 mi
04h 06m
Flight
158.93 mi
255.77 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
158.93 mi
Kilometers
255.77 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
201.61 mi
Kilometers
324.46 km
Drive Time
04h 06m

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 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Herndon
Wed, May 13, 12:21 PM EDT
Return by in Portsmouth
Wed, May 13, 4:27 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Portsmouth
2026-05-13T08:15
Arrive Herndon
Wed, May 13, 12:21 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:06 AM to 12:06 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
8:48 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
Glen Allen
VA

Town in Alabama, USA

From Portsmouth
100.8 mi
02h 03m
To Herndon
100.8 mi
02h 03m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 14 mph S
Destination
72°F
Wednesday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
14 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 left

    1 mi · 1 min

  24. 24

    Merge slight left

    26.4 mi · 31 min

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 123 North: Occoquan, Lake Ridge

    1400 ft · 34 sec

  26. 26

    Keep slight left to continue on VA 123 North: Occoquan, Lake Ridge

    709 ft · 17 sec

  27. 27

    Continue on Gordon Boulevard

    1 mi · 2 min · Gordon Boulevard

  28. 28

    Continue on Ox Road

    8.9 mi · 13 min · Ox Road

  29. 29

    Take the exit straight toward VA 286 North: Fairfax County Parkway

    2049 ft · 1 min

  30. 30

    Merge slight left onto Fairfax County Parkway

    13 mi · 20 min · Fairfax County Parkway

  31. 31

    Turn left onto Fox Mill Road

    3278 ft · 2 min · Fox Mill Road

  32. 32

    Turn right onto Monroe Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Monroe Street

  33. 33

    Continue on Van Buren Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Van Buren Street

  34. 34

    Turn left onto Spring Street

    2204 ft · 1 min · Spring Street

  35. 35

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Spring Street

Car Route Details

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

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
35 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
7 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 95 North
77.1 mi · 38%
I 64 West
63.2 mi · 31%
Fairfax County Parkway
13 mi · 6%
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
11.9 mi · 6%
Ox Road
8.88 mi · 4%
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 06m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+42.7 mi
158.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Glen Allen
02h 03m from Portsmouth
Leave By
8:48 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Portsmouth and Showers And Thunderstorms near Herndon.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 201.6 miles (324.5 km) and usually takes 04h 06m 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?

Glen Allen is a useful midpoint, sitting about 100.8 miles from Portsmouth and 100.8 miles from Herndon.

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

The direct path is about 158.9 miles (255.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.7 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 8:48 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.16 one way or $56.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 63.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Portsmouth and Showers And Thunderstorms near Herndon.

Stop Ideas Near Glen Allen

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Glen Allen and the surrounding midpoint area.
Town Hall
Food stop 8.7 mi away

Town Hall

Richmond , VA
3123 W Cary St, Richmond, VA 23221
Rating 4.9/5 13 reviews Restaurant
Old City Hall
Scenic stop 9.4 mi away

Old City Hall

Richmond , VA
1001 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219, United States
Rating 4.4/5 32 reviews Tourist attraction,Land surveyor,Historical landmark
City of Richmond Virginia (City Hall)
Meeting point 9.3 mi away

City of Richmond Virginia (City Hall)

Richmond , VA
900 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219
Rating 2.9/5 40 reviews City government office,Police department,Tax assessor
City Hall
Nearby stop 9.3 mi away

City Hall

Richmond , VA
900 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219
Rating 3.9/5 85 reviews Bike sharing station

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Glen Allen.

RAIL

Richmond Staples Mill Road station

6 mi away
7519 Staples Mill Road
RAIL

Ashland

11 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Richmond Main Street Station

16 mi away
1500 East Main Street
RAIL

Petersburg station

48 mi away
3516 South Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Portsmouth and Herndon. Straight-line distance: 158.93 mi (255.77 km).

Portsmouth

#1 Portsmouth

The most populous city in Portsmouth, Virginia.

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

#2 Herndon

Town in Virginia, United States

Population24,573
Coordinates38.9695500, -77.3861000
Altitude110
CountryUnited States
Start: Portsmouth (-76.29827, 36.83543)
End: Herndon (-77.3861, 38.96955)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 324 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 52m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.11 gal
26.93 L · about $28.16
Round trip
$56.33
14.22 gal · 53.86 L
Estimated CO2
63.2 kg one way
Round trip: 126.4 kg / 279 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $28.16 $56.33
Mid-grade $4.43 $31.49 $62.98
Premium $4.78 $33.97 $67.94
Diesel $5.62 $39.99 $79.97

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 · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Portsmouth and Herndon. The current time is 08:15:07.

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.