Drive Time
1h 59m
Distance
98.4 mi
158 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
The drive from Portsmouth, VA to Bensley, VA covers 98.4 miles and takes about 1h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, Pocahontas Parkway, Hampton Roads Beltway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 62.5 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.75 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
49.2 miles from Portsmouth, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
This is a 1h 59m highway drive covering 98.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and Pocahontas Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 62.5 miles on I 64.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Pocahontas Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.5 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 98.4 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 8.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight right at fork toward VA 135 North: College Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 295 South, US 60: Rocky Mount NC
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward US 60: Seven Pines, Bottoms Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Between Portsmouth, VA and Bensley, VA, road signs point toward Hampton, Richmond, Rocky Mount and Richmond International Airport.
Hampton
Richmond
Rocky Mount
Richmond International Airport
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 62.5 mi | 1h 9m |
| Pocahontas Parkway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | 7 mi | 8m |
| Western Freeway | 6 mi | 8m |
| Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| London Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| College Drive | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth, VA and Bensley, VA.
Start on High Street
Turn right onto VA 141
Turn left onto VA 141
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 58; VA 164
Continue on VA 164
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto VA 135
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 664
Continue on I 664
Continue on I 664
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 64
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 295
Take the exit
Continue on VA 895
Take the exit
Turn straight onto US 1; US 301
Turn left
Turn left
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.2 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bensley, 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 98.4 miles and 1h 59m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 49.2 mi from Portsmouth, VA · 1h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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 49.2 miles from Portsmouth, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.5 miles.
The final approach into Bensley, 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 Bensley, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$15.75 one way
$31.50 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $17.16 | $34.32 |
| premium | $4.78 | $18.51 | $37.02 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $21.86 | $43.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.5 | 0 | $10.33 | $4.72 |
| Efficient EV | 24.6 | 0 | $8.61 | $3.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.4 | 0 | $13.78 | $6.30 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (65% 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
6:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Bensley on Saturday
Local time
6:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
88°F
Middletown, MD
49 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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Portsmouth, VA or browse trips ending in Bensley, VA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VA road trips.
Explore maps for Portsmouth, VA or Bensley, VA on MapSof.net.
