How far is Portsmouth, VA from Roanoke, VA?
The driving distance from Portsmouth, VA to Roanoke, VA is about 239.6 miles (385.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 20m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 203.1 miles (326.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 40m 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 04h 20m.
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.
Town of the United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Rain Showers Likely
Chance Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Portsmouth and Roanoke.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth and Roanoke.
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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
7.4 mi · 10 min · Western Freeway
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7
Continue on Bridge Road
6.5 mi · 11 min · Bridge Road
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8
Continue on Carrollton Boulevard
2.4 mi · 3 min · Carrollton Boulevard
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9
Turn left onto Brewers Neck Boulevard
2.9 mi · 4 min · Brewers Neck Boulevard
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10
Merge slight left onto Benns Church Boulevard
12.1 mi · 16 min · Benns Church Boulevard
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11
Continue on Colonial Trail East
9.9 mi · 11 min · Colonial Trail East
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12
Turn left onto Rolfe Highway
1 mi · 2 min · Rolfe Highway
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13
Turn right onto Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi · 15 min · Colonial Trail West
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14
Continue on James River Drive
14.6 mi · 19 min · James River Drive
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15
Continue on East Randolph Road
1.2 mi · 2 min · East Randolph Road
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16
Turn left onto Winston Churchill Drive
1.8 mi · 2 min · Winston Churchill Drive
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17
Continue on Oaklawn Boulevard
1909 ft · 27 sec · Oaklawn Boulevard
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18
Continue on Woodlawn Street
1 mi · 1 min · Woodlawn Street
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19
Continue on Oaklawn Boulevard
1.6 km · 1 min · Oaklawn Boulevard
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20
Continue on East Washington Street
4.3 mi · 5 min · East Washington Street
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21
Take the exit left toward I 85 South, I 95 South
2402 ft · 58 sec
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22
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham
1087 ft · 26 sec
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23
Merge slight left onto Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
6.3 mi · 8 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
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24
Take the exit slight right toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg
1060 ft · 26 sec
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25
Continue on Airport Street
1.1 mi · 1 min · Airport Street
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26
Continue on New Cox Road
23 mi · 27 min · New Cox Road
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27
Continue on East Colonial Trail Highway
4.3 mi · 5 min · East Colonial Trail Highway
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28
Continue on East Colonial Trail Road
6.9 mi · 8 min · East Colonial Trail Road
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29
Continue on East Colonial Trail
7.5 mi · 11 min · East Colonial Trail
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30
Merge slight left onto West Colonial Trail Highway
1.5 mi · 2 min · West Colonial Trail Highway
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31
Keep slight right to continue on West Colonial Trail Highway
11.6 mi · 15 min · West Colonial Trail Highway
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32
Keep slight left
29.2 mi · 35 min
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33
Keep slight right to continue on Richmond Highway
31.1 mi · 38 min · Richmond Highway
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34
Continue on East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
16 mi · 21 min · East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
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35
Continue on West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
14.6 mi · 19 min · West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
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36
Continue on Blue Ridge Boulevard
5.5 mi · 7 min · Blue Ridge Boulevard
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37
Continue on Challenger Avenue Northeast
2 mi · 4 min · Challenger Avenue Northeast
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38
Continue on Orange Avenue Northeast
3.1 mi · 7 min · Orange Avenue Northeast
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39
Turn left onto Williamson Road Northeast
1.2 km · 2 min · Williamson Road Northeast
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40
Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast
849 ft · 31 sec · Salem Avenue Southeast
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41
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
145 m · 20 sec · South Jefferson Street
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42
Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest
115 m · 22 sec · Kirk Avenue Southwest
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43
Turn left
35 m · 14 sec
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44
Turn left
40 m · 10 sec
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45
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Portsmouth and Roanoke.
Interchange-aware route
The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.
Richmond Highway
Keep slight right to continue on Richmond Highway
31.1 mi · 00h 38m
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.
Rain Showers Likely leaving Portsmouth and Chance Rain Showers near Roanoke.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Portsmouth to Roanoke?
The road trip is about 239.6 miles (385.6 km) and usually takes 04h 20m 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?
Crewe is a useful midpoint, sitting about 123.7 miles from Portsmouth and 115.9 miles from Roanoke.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 203.1 miles (326.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.5 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 8:20 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.47 one way or $66.94 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 75.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Portsmouth and Chance Rain Showers near Roanoke.
Stop Ideas Near Crewe
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 Crewe.
Petersburg station
Richmond Main Street Station
Richmond Staples Mill Road station
Ashland
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Portsmouth and Roanoke. Straight-line distance: 203.12 mi (326.89 km).
#1 Portsmouth
The most populous city in Portsmouth, Virginia.
| Population | 95,094 |
| Coordinates | 36.8354300, -76.2982700 |
| Altitude | 3 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Roanoke
The most populous city in Roanoke County, Virginia.
| Population | 99,058 |
| Coordinates | 37.2709700, -79.9414300 |
| Altitude | 285 |
| Country | United States |
End: Kirk Avenue Southwest (-79.941424, 37.271173)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 386 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 58m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 59m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 47m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 59m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 25m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 59m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $33.47 | $66.94 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $37.43 | $74.85 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $40.37 | $80.75 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $47.52 | $95.05 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.