How far is Salem, VA from Hampton, VA?

The driving distance from Salem, VA to Hampton, VA is about 263.8 miles (424.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 205.1 miles (330 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 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.
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
263.83 mi
04h 05m
Flight
205.05 mi
330 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Salem.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
205.05 mi
Kilometers
330 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
263.83 mi
Kilometers
424.59 km
Drive Time
04h 05m

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 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hampton
Tue, Apr 21, 4:21 PM EDT
Return by in Salem
Tue, Apr 21, 8:26 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Salem
2026-04-21T12:15
Arrive Hampton
Tue, Apr 21, 4:21 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 05m
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 Salem
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
Lake Monticello
VA

Census-designated place in Virginia, United States

From Salem
131.8 mi
02h 02m
To Hampton
132 mi
02h 02m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
30°F
Overnight

Patchy Frost

Starts
Tue, Apr 21 1:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph W
Destination
63°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 21 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Salem and Hampton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Salem and Hampton.

  1. 1

    Start on North College Avenue

    12 m · 9 sec · North College Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    617 ft · 23 sec · East Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Thompson Memorial Drive

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Thompson Memorial Drive

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right toward I 81 North: Lexington

    1154 ft · 28 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    81.1 mi · 1 hr 29 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 East: Richmond

    90 mi · 1 hr 38 min

  7. 7

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

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  8. 8

    Continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    22.9 mi · 25 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  9. 9

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

    1.3 mi · 3 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    64.2 mi · 1 hr 12 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base

    757 ft · 26 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Armistead Avenue, Langley Air Force Base

    61 m · 7 sec

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto Rip Rap Road

    805 ft · 21 sec · Rip Rap Road

  14. 14

    Turn sharp left onto North Armistead Avenue

    2084 ft · 1 min · North Armistead Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn left onto West Pembroke Avenue

    1465 ft · 40 sec · West Pembroke Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn right onto North King Street

    160 m · 20 sec · North King Street

  17. 17

    Continue on North King Street

    132 m · 19 sec · North King Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North King Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Salem and Hampton.

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
18 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 64 East
155 mi · 59%
I 81 North
81.4 mi · 31%
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi · 9%
Thompson Memorial Drive
1.49 mi · 1%
I 295 North
1.23 mi
North Armistead Avenue
0.39 mi
Longest Stretch

I 64 East

Keep slight right to continue on I 64 East: Richmond

90 mi · 01h 38m

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 05m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+58.7 mi
205.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lake Monticello
02h 02m from Salem
Leave By
8:48 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Patchy Frost leaving Salem and Sunny near Hampton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Salem to Hampton?

The road trip is about 263.8 miles (424.6 km) and usually takes 04h 05m 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?

Lake Monticello is a useful midpoint, sitting about 131.8 miles from Salem and 132 miles from Hampton.

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

The direct path is about 205.1 miles (330 km), while the road route adds roughly 58.7 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 $36.88 one way or $73.75 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 82.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Frost around Salem and Sunny near Hampton.

Stop Ideas Near Lake Monticello

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lake Monticello, 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 Lake Monticello.

RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

18 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Culpeper station

68 mi away
109 South Commerce Street
RAIL

Staunton station

69 mi away
1 Middlebrook Avenue
RAIL

Ashland

77 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Salem and Hampton. Straight-line distance: 205.05 mi (330 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Salem

Salem is a place in Virginia, United States.

Population0
Coordinates37.2934700, -80.0547600
Altitude325
CountryUnited States
Hampton

#2 Hampton

The second most populous city in Virginia.

Population135,464
Coordinates37.0298700, -76.3452200
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Start: High (-80.054704, 37.293483)
End: North King Street (-76.345318, 37.02985)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 425 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 46m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.31 gal
35.24 L · about $36.88
Round trip
$73.75
18.62 gal · 70.48 L
Estimated CO2
82.7 kg one way
Round trip: 165.5 kg / 365 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $36.88 $73.75
Mid-grade $4.43 $41.23 $82.47
Premium $4.78 $44.48 $88.97
Diesel $5.62 $52.36 $104.72

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 21, 2026

There is no time difference between Salem and Hampton. The current time is 12:15:19.

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.