How far is Radford, VA from Portsmouth, VA?

The driving distance from Radford, VA to Portsmouth, VA is about 285.1 miles (458.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 237 miles (381.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 05m 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
285.12 mi
05h 02m
Flight
236.99 mi
381.4 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Radford.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
236.99 mi
Kilometers
381.4 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
285.12 mi
Kilometers
458.85 km
Drive Time
05h 02m

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 05h 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Portsmouth
Sat, May 30, 4:51 PM EDT
Return by in Radford
Sat, May 30, 9:54 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Radford
2026-05-30T11:48
Arrive Portsmouth
Sat, May 30, 4:51 PM EDT
Route Timing
05h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:03 AM to 1:03 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
6:54 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Radford
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
Franklin
VA

Independent city in Virginia, United States

From Radford
159.3 mi
02h 31m
To Portsmouth
125.9 mi
02h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW
Destination
77°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 15 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Berkley Street

    28 m · 5 sec · Berkley Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Arlington Avenue

    815 ft · 36 sec · Arlington Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn slight right onto West Main Street

    2931 ft · 2 min · West Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn slight right onto Grove Avenue

    1.2 km · 2 min · Grove Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Tyler Avenue

    2 mi · 4 min · Tyler Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on Tyler Road

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Tyler Road

  7. 7

    Turn left

    1315 ft · 32 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    111.9 mi · 2 hr 4 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 East: Richmond

    90 mi · 1 hr 38 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  11. 11

    Continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    22.9 mi · 25 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach

    1.3 mi · 3 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    62.7 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 664 South: Downtown Newport News, Suffolk, Chesapeake

    2600 ft · 37 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    6.1 mi · 8 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  16. 16

    Continue on Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel

    4.3 mi · 5 min · Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel

  17. 17

    Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 135 South: College Drive, Churchland

    1575 ft · 39 sec

  19. 19

    Continue on College Drive

    1.4 mi · 2 min · College Drive

  20. 20

    Take the ramp slight left toward VA 164 East: Downtown Portsmouth

    1797 ft · 34 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Western Freeway

    5.8 mi · 8 min · Western Freeway

  22. 22

    Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King Freeway

    1.1 km · 46 sec · Martin Luther King Freeway

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 141 South: Downtown Portsmouth

    1461 ft · 36 sec

  24. 24

    Turn straight onto London Boulevard

    1.2 mi · 2 min · London Boulevard

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Effingham Street

    552 ft · 11 sec · Effingham Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto High Street

    2679 ft · 1 min · High Street

  27. 27

    Continue on High Street

    61 m · 21 sec · High Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · High Street

Car Route Details

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

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
28 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
5 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 64 East
154 mi · 54%
Tyler Road
114 mi · 40%
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi · 8%
Hampton Roads Beltway
7.25 mi · 3%
Western Freeway
5.83 mi · 2%
Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
4.31 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Tyler Road

Merge slight left

112 mi · 02h 04m

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
05h 02m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+48.1 mi
237 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Franklin
02h 31m from Radford
Leave By
6:54 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Radford and Mostly Sunny near Portsmouth.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 285.1 miles (458.8 km) and usually takes 05h 02m 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?

Franklin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 159.3 miles from Radford and 125.9 miles from Portsmouth.

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

The direct path is about 237 miles (381.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.1 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 6:54 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.85 one way or $79.70 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 89.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Radford and Mostly Sunny near Portsmouth.

Stop Ideas Near Franklin

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Franklin, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Franklin.

RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

5 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Staunton station

56 mi away
1 Middlebrook Avenue
RAIL

Culpeper station

62 mi away
109 South Commerce Street
RAIL

Ashland

90 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Radford and Portsmouth. Straight-line distance: 236.99 mi (381.4 km).

Radford

#1 Radford

Independent city in Commonwealth of Virginia, United States

Population18,255
Coordinates37.1317900, -80.5764500
Altitude567
CountryUnited States
Portsmouth

#2 Portsmouth

The most populous city in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Population95,094
Coordinates36.8354300, -76.2982700
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Start: Berkley Street (-80.576473, 37.131775)
End: High Street (-76.29827, 36.835429)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 459 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 04m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.06 gal
38.08 L · about $39.85
Round trip
$79.70
20.12 gal · 76.16 L
Estimated CO2
89.4 kg one way
Round trip: 178.8 kg / 394 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $39.85 $79.70
Mid-grade $4.43 $44.56 $89.11
Premium $4.78 $48.07 $96.13
Diesel $5.62 $56.58 $113.15

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Radford and Portsmouth. The current time is 11:48:46.

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.