How far is Salem, VA from Portsmouth, VA?
The driving distance from Salem, VA to Portsmouth, VA is about 250.5 miles (403.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 28m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 209.5 miles (337.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 57m 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 28m.
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.
County in Virginia, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Salem and Portsmouth.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem and Portsmouth.
-
1
Start on North College Avenue
12 m · 9 sec · North College Avenue
-
2
Turn left onto East Main Street
617 ft · 23 sec · East Main Street
-
3
Turn left onto Thompson Memorial Drive
1.5 mi · 3 min · Thompson Memorial Drive
-
4
Take the ramp right toward I 81 North: Lexington
1154 ft · 28 sec
-
5
Merge slight left
81.1 mi · 1 hr 29 min
-
6
Keep slight right to continue on I 64 East: Richmond
90 mi · 1 hr 38 min
-
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
1.2 mi · 2 min
-
8
Continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi · 25 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
-
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
1.3 mi · 3 min
-
10
Merge slight left
62.7 mi · 1 hr 10 min
-
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 664 South: Downtown Newport News, Suffolk, Chesapeake
2600 ft · 37 sec
-
12
Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway
6.1 mi · 8 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
-
13
Continue on Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
4.3 mi · 5 min · Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
-
14
Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
-
15
Take the exit slight right toward VA 135 South: College Drive, Churchland
1575 ft · 39 sec
-
16
Continue on College Drive
1.4 mi · 2 min · College Drive
-
17
Take the ramp slight left toward VA 164 East: Downtown Portsmouth
1797 ft · 34 sec
-
18
Merge slight left onto Western Freeway
5.8 mi · 8 min · Western Freeway
-
19
Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King Freeway
1.1 km · 46 sec · Martin Luther King Freeway
-
20
Take the exit slight right toward VA 141 South: Downtown Portsmouth
1461 ft · 36 sec
-
21
Turn straight onto London Boulevard
1.2 mi · 2 min · London Boulevard
-
22
Turn right onto Effingham Street
552 ft · 11 sec · Effingham Street
-
23
Turn left onto High Street
2679 ft · 1 min · High Street
-
24
Continue on High Street
61 m · 21 sec · High Street
-
25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · High Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Salem and Portsmouth.
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 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.
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.
Patchy Frost leaving Salem and Sunny near Portsmouth.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Salem to Portsmouth?
The road trip is about 250.5 miles (403.2 km) and usually takes 04h 28m 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?
Louisa is a useful midpoint, sitting about 141.8 miles from Salem and 108.7 miles from Portsmouth.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 209.5 miles (337.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 41 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 8:02 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.02 one way or $70.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 78.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Frost around Salem and Sunny near Portsmouth.
Stop Ideas Near Louisa
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 Louisa.
Charlottesville Union Station
Culpeper station
Ashland
Fredericksburg
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Salem and Portsmouth. Straight-line distance: 209.5 mi (337.15 km).
#1 Salem
Salem is a place in Virginia, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 37.2934700, -80.0547600 |
| Altitude | 325 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Portsmouth
The most populous city in Portsmouth, Virginia.
| Population | 95,094 |
| Coordinates | 36.8354300, -76.2982700 |
| Altitude | 3 |
| Country | United States |
End: High Street (-76.29827, 36.835429)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 403 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 08h 20m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 15m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 00m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 10m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 34m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 07m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $35.02 | $70.03 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $39.15 | $78.30 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $42.24 | $84.48 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $49.72 | $99.43 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.