Origin
Portsmouth, VA
Late night in Portsmouth on Thursday
Local time
12:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Portsmouth, VA to Galax, VA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
6h 34m
Distance
323.3 mi
520 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$51
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 22m
★
6 AM
6h 34m
8 AM
6h 59m
10 AM
6h 43m
12 PM
6h 40m
3 PM
6h 44m
5 PM
6h 57m
8 PM
6h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portsmouth, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Galax, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Portsmouth, VA to Galax, VA covers 323.3 miles and takes about 6h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Effingham Street, I 264 West, I 664 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.56 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
161.7 miles from Portsmouth, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 34m drive with frequent turns across 323.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Effingham Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 34m, 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 Galax, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Effingham Street | — | — |
| I 264 West | — | — |
| I 664 | — | — |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | — | — |
| US 13 | — | — |
| West Military Highway | — | — |
| Portsmouth Boulevard | — | — |
| Courtland Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Effingham Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth, VA and Galax, VA.
1
Start on High Street
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
High Street
2
Turn left onto Effingham Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Effingham Street
3
Take the ramp slight right toward I 264 West
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
I 264 West
4
Merge slight left
5.5 mi
·
7 min
5
Keep slight right to continue on I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond
6
Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
7
Take the exit slight right toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military Highway
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military Highway
8
Keep slight left
0.6 mi
·
1 min
9
Continue on West Military Highway
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West Military Highway
10
Continue on Portsmouth Boulevard
62 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
Portsmouth Boulevard
11
Continue on Courtland Road
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Courtland Road
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Rocky Mt N.C.
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
I 95 South: Rocky Mt N.C
13
Merge slight left
19 mi
·
20 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward US 158: Roanoke Rapids, Murfreesboro, Weldon
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 158: Roanoke Rapids, Murfreesboro, Weldon
15
Turn right onto Julian R Allsbrook Highway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Julian R Allsbrook Highway
16
Turn straight onto East Littleton Road
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East Littleton Road
17
Continue on Julian R Allsbrook Highway
24 mi
·
28 min
·
Julian R Allsbrook Highway
18
Continue straight
5.1 mi
·
5 min
19
Continue straight
1.2 mi
·
1 min
20
At the end of the road, turn left
8.7 mi
·
10 min
21
Turn right onto Flemingtown Road
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
Flemingtown Road
22
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
23
Merge slight left
1.9 mi
·
2 min
24
Keep slight right
44 mi
·
48 min
25
Keep slight left
42 mi
·
48 min
26
Keep slight right
7.7 mi
·
9 min
27
Keep slight right
13 mi
·
15 min
28
Keep slight right to continue on Salem Parkway
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Salem Parkway
29
Take the exit slight right toward NC 74 West
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
NC 74 West
30
Continue on Winston-Salem Northern Beltway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Winston-Salem Northern Beltway
31
Keep slight left to continue on US 52 North: Mount Airy
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
US 52 North: Mount Airy
32
Merge slight left onto John Gold Memorial Expressway
21 mi
·
23 min
·
John Gold Memorial Expressway
33
Keep slight left to continue on I 74 West: Wytheville
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 74 West: Wytheville
34
Take the exit slight left toward I 77 South: Statesville, Charlotte
0.7 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 77 South: Statesville, Charlotte
35
Merge slight right onto Charles M Shelton Highway
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
Charles M Shelton Highway
36
Take the exit slight right toward NC 89: Galax, Mount Airy
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
NC 89: Galax, Mount Airy
37
Turn left onto West Pine Street
12 mi
·
19 min
·
West Pine Street
38
Continue on Skyline Highway
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Skyline Highway
39
Continue on South Main Street
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
40
Turn right onto East Oldtown Street
157 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Oldtown Street
41
Turn left
36 ft
·
3 sec
42
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 161.7 miles from Portsmouth, VA, or about 3h 17m into the drive.
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 71 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161.7 miles or 3h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Galax, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 323.3 miles and 6h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Portsmouth, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 161.7 mi from Portsmouth, VA · 3h 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
162 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 71 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 161.7 miles from Portsmouth, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Galax, VA
The final approach into Galax, 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 Galax, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.56 one way
$101.11 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
113 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $55.28 | $110.56 |
| premium | $4.70 | $59.84 | $119.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $71.38 | $142.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 97 | 1 | $33.95 | $15.52 |
| Efficient EV | 80.8 | 0 | $28.29 | $12.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 129.3 | 1 | $45.26 | $20.69 |
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Galax, VA
Late night in Galax on Thursday
Local time
12:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
6h 34m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Portsmouth, VA to Galax, VA covers 323.3 miles and takes about 6h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Effingham Street, I 264 West, I 664. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 161.7 miles from Portsmouth, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $50.56 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 34m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Portsmouth, VA to Galax, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Portsmouth, VA to Galax, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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