Drive Time
4h 40m
Distance
212 mi
341 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
The drive from Portsmouth, VA to Altavista, VA covers 212 miles and takes about 4h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Effingham Street, London Boulevard, US 58 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.93 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
106 miles from Portsmouth, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 20m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 40m drive with frequent turns across 212 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 40m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Portsmouth, VA to Altavista, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Effingham Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| London Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 58 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Martin Luther King Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Western Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bridge Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Carrollton Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Brewers Neck Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth, VA and Altavista, VA.
Start on High Street
Turn right onto Effingham Street
Turn left onto London Boulevard
Take the ramp slight right toward US 58, VA 164: Western Freeway, Midtown Tunnel
Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King Freeway
Continue on Western Freeway
Continue on Bridge Road
Continue on Carrollton Boulevard
Turn left onto Brewers Neck Boulevard
Merge slight left onto Benns Church Boulevard
Continue on Colonial Trail East
Turn left onto Rolfe Highway
Turn right onto Colonial Trail West
Continue on James River Drive
Continue on East Randolph Road
Turn left onto Winston Churchill Drive
Continue on Oaklawn Boulevard
Continue on Woodlawn Street
Continue on Oaklawn Boulevard
Continue on East Washington Street
Take the exit left toward I 85 South, I 95 South
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham
Merge slight left onto Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Take the exit slight right toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg
Continue on Airport Street
Continue on New Cox Road
Continue on East Colonial Trail Highway
Continue on East Colonial Trail Road
Continue on East Colonial Trail
Merge slight left onto West Colonial Trail Highway
Keep slight right to continue on West Colonial Trail Highway
Keep slight left
Keep slight right to continue on Richmond Highway
Turn left onto Village Highway
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Village Highway
Exit the roundabout onto Village Highway
Take the exit slight right
Turn left onto Wards Road
Take the exit slight right toward US 29 Business South
Turn left onto Main Street
Turn right onto 7th Street
Turn left onto Franklin Avenue
Turn left onto Main Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106 miles or 2h 20m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altavista, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Portsmouth, 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 Portsmouth, VA
This is one driving day of about 212 miles and 4h 40m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 106 mi from Portsmouth, VA · 2h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
106 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 106 miles from Portsmouth, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Altavista, 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 Altavista, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$33.93 one way
$67.86 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $36.97 | $73.93 |
| premium | $4.78 | $39.88 | $79.76 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $47.10 | $94.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.6 | 0 | $22.26 | $10.18 |
| Efficient EV | 53 | 0 | $18.55 | $8.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.8 | 1 | $29.68 | $13.57 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Portsmouth on Saturday
Local time
7:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Altavista on Saturday
Local time
7:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
88°F
Middletown, MD
106 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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