How far is Virginia Beach, VA from Salem, VA?

The driving distance from Virginia Beach, VA to Salem, VA is about 224.8 miles (361.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 41m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 187.2 miles (301.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 23m 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
224.82 mi
04h 41m
Flight
187.14 mi
301.18 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Virginia Beach.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
187.14 mi
Kilometers
301.18 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
224.82 mi
Kilometers
361.82 km
Drive Time
04h 41m

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 41m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Salem
Sun, Apr 12, 5:48 AM EDT
Return by in Virginia Beach
Sun, Apr 12, 10:30 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Virginia Beach
2026-04-12T01:07
Arrive Salem
Sun, Apr 12, 5:48 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 41m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:42 AM to 12:42 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
7:36 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Virginia Beach
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
Glen Allen
VA

Town in Alabama, USA

From Virginia Beach
112.3 mi
02h 20m
To Salem
112.5 mi
02h 20m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph E
Destination
76°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Virginia Beach and Salem.

  1. 1

    Start on 25th Street

    37 m · 8 sec · 25th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Pacific Avenue

    1213 ft · 36 sec · Pacific Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 22nd Street

    2796 ft · 46 sec · 22nd Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway

    10.6 mi · 14 min · Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 64 West, US 13: Newtown Road, Richmond, Military Highway

    2141 ft · 52 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 64 West, US 13: Richmond, Military Highway

    1.4 km · 2 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West: Norfolk International Airport, Hampton, Richmond

    2025 ft · 49 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    21.2 mi · 30 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    61.1 mi · 1 hr 8 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC

    2434 ft · 32 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 295 North: Washington

    1.3 mi · 3 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    22.6 mi · 25 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West: Charlottesville

    2936 ft · 55 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto I 64 West: Charlottesville

    40.2 mi · 43 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 15: Gordonsville, Palmyra

    883 ft · 21 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on US 15: Gordonsville, Palmyra

    853 ft · 23 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto James Madison Highway

    10.8 mi · 15 min · James Madison Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Martinsburg Avenue

    2048 ft · 35 sec · Martinsburg Avenue

  19. 19

    Continue on South Main Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · South Main Street

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Main Street

    36 m · 2 sec · North Main Street

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto North Main Street

    830 ft · 14 sec · North Main Street

  22. 22

    Continue on Spotswood Trail

    5.4 mi · 8 min · Spotswood Trail

  23. 23

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Spotswood Trail

    25 m · 1 sec · Spotswood Trail

  24. 24

    Exit the roundabout onto Spotswood Trail

    11.7 mi · 17 min · Spotswood Trail

  25. 25

    Continue on Stanardsville By-Pass

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Stanardsville By-Pass

  26. 26

    Continue on Spotswood Trail

    13.4 mi · 17 min · Spotswood Trail

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right

    820 ft · 23 sec

  28. 28

    Keep slight right

    111 m · 10 sec

  29. 29

    Continue on South Stuart Avenue

    1.3 km · 1 min · South Stuart Avenue

  30. 30

    Continue on North East Side Highway

    4.3 mi · 6 min · North East Side Highway

  31. 31

    Continue on South Third Street

    1378 ft · 23 sec · South Third Street

  32. 32

    Continue on 3rd Street

    642 ft · 18 sec · 3rd Street

  33. 33

    Continue on 4th Street

    11.4 mi · 17 min · 4th Street

  34. 34

    Turn right

    2 mi · 3 min

  35. 35

    Turn left onto Egypt Bend Road

    62 m · 12 sec · Egypt Bend Road

  36. 36

    Turn sharp right

    58 m · 15 sec

  37. 37

    Turn uturn

    68 m · 11 sec

  38. 38

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
38 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
3 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Hampton Roads Beltway
82.3 mi · 37%
I 64 West
42.4 mi · 19%
Spotswood Trail
30.8 mi · 14%
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.6 mi · 10%
4th Street
11.4 mi · 5%
James Madison Highway
10.8 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Hampton Roads Beltway

Keep slight left

61.1 mi · 01h 08m

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 41m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.6 mi
187.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Glen Allen
02h 20m from Virginia Beach
Leave By
7:36 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Virginia Beach and Mostly Sunny near Salem.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Virginia Beach to Salem?

The road trip is about 224.8 miles (361.8 km) and usually takes 04h 41m 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?

Glen Allen is a useful midpoint, sitting about 112.3 miles from Virginia Beach and 112.5 miles from Salem.

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

The direct path is about 187.2 miles (301.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.6 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 7:36 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.41 one way or $62.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 70.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Virginia Beach and Mostly Sunny near Salem.

Stop Ideas Near Glen Allen

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Glen Allen and the surrounding midpoint area.
Town Hall
Food stop 7.8 mi away

Town Hall

Richmond , VA
3123 W Cary St, Richmond, VA 23221
Rating 4.9/5 13 reviews Restaurant
Old City Hall
Scenic stop 9.1 mi away

Old City Hall

Richmond , VA
1001 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219, United States
Rating 4.4/5 32 reviews Tourist attraction,Land surveyor,Historical landmark
City of Richmond Virginia (City Hall)
Meeting point 9 mi away

City of Richmond Virginia (City Hall)

Richmond , VA
900 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219
Rating 2.9/5 40 reviews City government office,Police department,Tax assessor
City Hall
Nearby stop 9 mi away

City Hall

Richmond , VA
900 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219
Rating 3.9/5 85 reviews Bike sharing station

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Glen Allen.

RAIL

Richmond Staples Mill Road station

6 mi away
7519 Staples Mill Road
RAIL

Ashland

11 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Richmond Main Street Station

16 mi away
1500 East Main Street
RAIL

Petersburg station

48 mi away
3516 South Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Virginia Beach and Salem. Straight-line distance: 187.14 mi (301.18 km).

Virginia Beach

#1 Virginia Beach

The most populous city in Virginia, Virginia Beach is a major center for tourism, military, and business.

Population451,231
Coordinates36.8529300, -75.9779900
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Salem

#2 Salem

City in Page County, Virginia, United States

Population25,340
Coordinates38.6442900, -78.5477900
Altitude261
CountryUnited States
Start: Virginia Beach (-75.97799, 36.85293)
End: Salem (-78.54779, 38.64429)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 362 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 37m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 48m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.93 gal
30.03 L · about $31.41
Round trip
$62.82
15.86 gal · 60.06 L
Estimated CO2
70.5 kg one way
Round trip: 140.9 kg / 311 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $31.41 $62.82
Mid-grade $4.43 $35.12 $70.24
Premium $4.78 $37.89 $75.78
Diesel $5.62 $44.60 $89.20

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 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Virginia Beach and Salem. The current time is 01:07:16.

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.