Drive Time
7h 48m
Distance
419.8 mi
676 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$67
one way
The drive from Portsmouth, VA to Bristol, VA covers 419.8 miles and takes about 7h 48m 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 $67.18 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
209.9 miles from Portsmouth, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 54m into the drive .
Expect a 7h 48m drive with frequent turns across 419.8 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
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 48m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Portsmouth, VA to Bristol, 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 |
| VA 135 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| VA 135 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| College Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth, VA and Bristol, 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
Take the exit slight right toward VA 135: College Drive
Keep slight right to continue on VA 135 North: College Drive
Turn straight onto College Drive
Take the ramp slight right toward I 664 North: Newport News, Hampton
Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway
Continue on Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway
Keep slight left to continue on I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond
Merge slight left
Keep slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC
Keep slight right to continue on I 295 North: Washington
Merge slight left onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West: Charlottesville
Merge slight left onto I 64 West: Charlottesville
Keep slight left
Continue straight
Keep slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I 381: Bristol
Continue straight
Continue on Commonwealth Avenue
Turn left onto Sullins Street
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 92 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 209.9 miles or 3h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bristol, 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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Portsmouth, VA
This is one driving day of about 419.8 miles and 7h 48m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 209.9 mi from Portsmouth, VA · 3h 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
210 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 92 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 209.9 miles from Portsmouth, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Bristol, 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 Bristol, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$67.18 one way
$134.37 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $73.20 | $146.40 |
| premium | $4.78 | $78.97 | $157.94 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $93.27 | $186.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$67
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$92–$117
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 146.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 125.9 | 1 | $44.08 | $20.15 |
| Efficient EV | 105 | 1 | $36.73 | $16.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 167.9 | 2 | $58.77 | $26.87 |
Gas CO2
147 kg
EV CO2
49 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
7:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Bristol on Saturday
Local time
7:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
76°F
Oakland, MD
210 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
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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