How far is Portsmouth, VA from Lexington, VA?
The driving distance from Portsmouth, VA to Lexington, VA is about 178.8 miles (287.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 35m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 152.2 miles (245 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 11m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 03h 35m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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 Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Portsmouth and Lexington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth and Lexington.
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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
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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
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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
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10
Take the ramp slight right toward I 664 North: Newport News, Hampton
2371 ft · 58 sec
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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
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19
Merge slight left onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.6 mi · 25 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
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20
Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West: Charlottesville
2936 ft · 55 sec
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21
Merge slight left onto I 64 West: Charlottesville
52.7 mi · 57 min
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22
Take the exit slight right toward US 250
1929 ft · 49 sec
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23
Merge slight left onto Richmond Road
1.8 mi · 3 min · Richmond Road
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24
Continue on Long Street
1703 ft · 44 sec · Long Street
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25
Continue on U.S. 250 Bypass
2.1 mi · 4 min · U.S. 250 Bypass
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26
Turn right onto Hydraulic Road
1341 ft · 34 sec · Hydraulic Road
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27
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Hydraulic Road
29 m · 3 sec · Hydraulic Road
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28
Exit the roundabout onto Hydraulic Road
1.9 mi · 4 min · Hydraulic Road
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29
Turn left onto Earlysville Road
3.8 mi · 6 min · Earlysville Road
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30
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Earlysville Road
46 m · 3 sec · Earlysville Road
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31
Exit the roundabout onto Earlysville Road
2.6 mi · 4 min · Earlysville Road
-
32
Continue on Buck Mountain Road
1.4 mi · 2 min · Buck Mountain Road
-
33
Turn right onto Simmons Gap Road
2540 ft · 51 sec · Simmons Gap Road
-
34
Keep slight right to continue on Buffalo River Road
1.4 mi · 3 min · Buffalo River Road
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35
Turn left onto Lexington Lane
132 m · 19 sec · Lexington Lane
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Lexington Lane
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Portsmouth and Lexington.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
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.
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.
Sunny leaving Portsmouth and Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Lexington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Portsmouth to Lexington?
The road trip is about 178.8 miles (287.7 km) and usually takes 03h 35m 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?
Highland Springs is a useful midpoint, sitting about 89.4 miles from Portsmouth and 89.5 miles from Lexington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 152.2 miles (245 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.6 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 9:48 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.99 one way or $49.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 56.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Portsmouth and Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Lexington.
Stop Ideas Near Highland Springs
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Town Hall
Old City Hall
City of Richmond Virginia (City Hall)
City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Highland Springs.
Richmond Main Street Station
Richmond Staples Mill Road station
Ashland
Petersburg station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Portsmouth and Lexington. Straight-line distance: 152.24 mi (245.01 km).
#1 Portsmouth
The most populous city in Portsmouth, Virginia.
| Population | 95,094 |
| Coordinates | 36.8354300, -76.2982700 |
| Altitude | 3 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Lexington
Independent city in Virginia, United States
| Population | 7,279 |
| Coordinates | 38.1973500, -78.4822300 |
| Altitude | 185 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lexington (-78.48223, 38.19735)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 288 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 57m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 28m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 34m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 58m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 33m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 13m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $24.99 | $49.99 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $27.95 | $55.89 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $30.15 | $60.30 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $35.49 | $70.97 |
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 · Jun 12, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.