The drive from Bridgewater, VA to Portsmouth, VA covers 222.5 miles and takes about 4h 15m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, I 81 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 152.2 miles on I 64.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.79 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
111.3 miles from Bridgewater, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 15m. Total distance: 222.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 15m highway drive covering 222.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 152.2 miles on I 64.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 152.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 111.7 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 222.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 111.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 199.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
111.7 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 177
Toward I 295 North: Washington, Norfolk
8
135.8 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 28A
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
8
199.8 mi into trip|~3h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 664 South: Downtown Newport News, Suffolk, Chesapeake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 264
Toward I 664 South: Downtown Newport News, Suff...
8
211.8 mi into trip|~3h 59m in
Take the exit toward VA 135 South: College Drive, Churchland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 8B
Toward VA 135 South: College Drive, Churchland
6
220.4 mi into trip|~4h 11m in
Take the exit toward VA 141 South: Downtown Portsmouth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward VA 141 South: Downtown Portsmouth
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bridgewater, VA and Portsmouth, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Suffolk and Chesapeake.
Norfolk
111.7 mi in|~2h 4m
Virginia Beach
135.8 mi in|~2h 31m
Suffolk
199.8 mi in|~3h 43m
Chesapeake
199.8 mi in|~3h 43m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
152.2 mi
2h 47m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.9 mi
25m
I 81
17.8 mi
19m
Hampton Roads Beltway
7.2 mi
9m
Western Freeway
5.8 mi
7m
Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
4.3 mi
5m
Dinkel Avenue
2.6 mi
5m
College Drive
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 152.2 mi, about 2h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bridgewater, VA and Portsmouth, VA.
1
Start on East College Street
18 ft·5 sec·East College Street
2
Turn right onto VA 42
0.2 mi·33 sec·North Main Street
3
Turn right onto VA 257
2.6 mi·5 min·Dinkel Avenue
4
Continue on VA 257
0.7 mi·1 min·Friedens Church Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
6
Merge onto I 81
18 mi·19 min·I 81
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·53 sec
Toward I 64 East: Richmond
8
Merge onto I 64
90 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 64
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 177Toward I 295 North: Washington, NorfolkUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 295
23 mi·25 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 28AToward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 64
63 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·36 sec
Exit 264Toward I 664 South: Downtown Newport News, Suffolk, ChesapeakeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 664
6.1 mi·7 min·Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 664
4.3 mi·5 min·Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
16
Continue on I 664
1.1 mi·1 min·Hampton Roads Beltway
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 8BToward VA 135 South: College Drive, ChurchlandUse the right lane.
18
Continue on VA 135
1.4 mi·2 min·College Drive
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward VA 164 East: Downtown Portsmouth
20
Merge onto VA 164
5.8 mi·7 min·Western Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto US 58; VA 164
0.7 mi·46 sec·Martin Luther King Freeway
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward VA 141 South: Downtown PortsmouthUse the right lane.
23
Turn straight onto US 58
1.2 mi·2 min·London Boulevard
24
Turn right onto VA 141
0.1 mi·11 sec·Effingham Street
Use the right lane.
25
Turn left onto High Street
0.5 mi·1 min·High Street
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on High Street
201 ft·20 sec·High Street
Use the left lane.
27
Arrive at destination
High Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 111.3 miles from Bridgewater, VA, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 152.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 49 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.3 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Portsmouth, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bridgewater, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bridgewater, VA
This is one driving day of about 222.5 miles and 4h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Bridgewater, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 152.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 111.3 mi from Bridgewater, VA
· 2h 4m into the drive
The midpoint is around 111.3 miles from Bridgewater, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 152.2 miles.
Arriving in Portsmouth, VA
The final approach into Portsmouth, VA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Portsmouth, VA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Colonial National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On May 13, 1607, Jamestown was established as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Three cultures came together – European, Virginia Indian and African–to create a new society that...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
$15
near mile 176.5
Park Closure: Rehabilitation of Colonial Parkway Continues
Fort Monroe's story spans from prehistory to the 2000s. Kecoughtan Indians occupied Old Point Comfort before the arrival of English colonists. The first enslaved Africans arrived in 1619. Those escapi...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 199.5
Two hundred ninety-two days, eight offensives, over 70,000 casualties, U. S. Colored Troops, and the decline of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. U.S. forces c...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 138.1
Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.79 one way
$69.59 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$38.04
$76.09
premium
$4.70
$41.18
$82.36
diesel
$5.61
$49.13
$98.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.8
0
$23.36
$10.68
Efficient EV
55.6
0
$19.47
$8.90
EV Truck/SUV
89
1
$31.15
$14.24
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bridgewater, VA
Night
in Bridgewater on Thursday
Local time
9:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Portsmouth, VA
Night
in Portsmouth on Thursday
Local time
9:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Ashland, VA
111 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 15m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bridgewater, VA to Portsmouth, VA covers 222.5 miles and takes about 4h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, I 81. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 111.3 miles from Bridgewater, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.79 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 222.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 111.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 199.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Bridgewater, VA and Portsmouth, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Suffolk and Chesapeake.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Colonial National Historical Park, Fort Monroe National Monument and Petersburg National Battlefield. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
