How far is Portsmouth, VA from Salem, VA?
The driving distance from Portsmouth, VA to Salem, VA is about 214.1 miles (344.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 24m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 175.3 miles (282.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 48m 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 24m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Census designated place in Virginia, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Portsmouth and Salem.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth and Salem.
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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
-
20
Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West: Charlottesville
2936 ft · 55 sec
-
21
Merge slight left onto I 64 West: Charlottesville
40.2 mi · 43 min
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22
Take the exit slight right toward US 15: Gordonsville, Palmyra
883 ft · 21 sec
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23
Keep slight right to continue on US 15: Gordonsville, Palmyra
853 ft · 23 sec
-
24
Turn straight onto James Madison Highway
10.8 mi · 15 min · James Madison Highway
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25
Continue on Martinsburg Avenue
2048 ft · 35 sec · Martinsburg Avenue
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26
Continue on South Main Street
1.1 km · 1 min · South Main Street
-
27
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Main Street
36 m · 2 sec · North Main Street
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28
Exit the roundabout onto North Main Street
830 ft · 14 sec · North Main Street
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29
Continue on Spotswood Trail
5.4 mi · 8 min · Spotswood Trail
-
30
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Spotswood Trail
25 m · 1 sec · Spotswood Trail
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31
Exit the roundabout onto Spotswood Trail
11.7 mi · 17 min · Spotswood Trail
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32
Continue on Stanardsville By-Pass
2.2 mi · 3 min · Stanardsville By-Pass
-
33
Continue on Spotswood Trail
13.4 mi · 17 min · Spotswood Trail
-
34
Take the exit slight right
820 ft · 23 sec
-
35
Keep slight right
111 m · 12 sec
-
36
Continue on South Stuart Avenue
1.3 km · 1 min · South Stuart Avenue
-
37
Continue on North East Side Highway
4.3 mi · 6 min · North East Side Highway
-
38
Continue on South Third Street
1378 ft · 23 sec · South Third Street
-
39
Continue on 3rd Street
642 ft · 18 sec · 3rd Street
-
40
Continue on 4th Street
11.4 mi · 17 min · 4th Street
-
41
Turn right
2 mi · 3 min
-
42
Turn left onto Egypt Bend Road
62 m · 12 sec · Egypt Bend Road
-
43
Turn sharp right
58 m · 15 sec
-
44
Turn uturn
68 m · 11 sec
-
45
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Portsmouth and Salem.
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 Slight Chance Rain Showers near Salem.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Portsmouth to Salem?
The road trip is about 214.1 miles (344.6 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?
Wyndham is a useful midpoint, sitting about 107 miles from Portsmouth and 107.1 miles from Salem.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 175.3 miles (282.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.8 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 8:12 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.95 one way or $59.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 67.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Portsmouth and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Salem.
Stop Ideas Near Wyndham
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 Wyndham.
Ashland
Richmond Staples Mill Road station
Richmond Main Street Station
Petersburg station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Portsmouth and Salem. Straight-line distance: 175.28 mi (282.09 km).
#1 Portsmouth
The most populous city in Portsmouth, Virginia.
| Population | 95,094 |
| Coordinates | 36.8354300, -76.2982700 |
| Altitude | 3 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Salem
City in Page County, Virginia, United States
| Population | 25,340 |
| Coordinates | 38.6442900, -78.5477900 |
| Altitude | 261 |
| Country | United States |
End: Salem (-78.54779, 38.64429)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 345 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 08m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 21m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 16m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 34m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 03m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 40m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $29.95 | $59.89 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $33.48 | $66.97 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $36.12 | $72.24 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $42.52 | $85.03 |
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 17, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.