Drive Time
4h 14m
Distance
238 mi
383 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
Photo: Charles Miller
The drive from Vinton, VA to Portsmouth, VA covers 238 miles and takes about 4h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Gus Nicks Boulevard, Gus W Nicks Boulevard Northeast, Orange Avenue Northeast for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.09 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
119 miles from Vinton, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 7m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 14m drive with frequent turns across 238 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 14m 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 Vinton, VA to Portsmouth, VA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Gus Nicks Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Gus W Nicks Boulevard Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Orange Avenue Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Challenger Avenue Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Blue Ridge Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Blue Ridge Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 460 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Vinton, VA and Portsmouth, VA.
Start on Washington Avenue
Continue on Gus Nicks Boulevard
Continue on Gus W Nicks Boulevard Northeast
Turn right onto Orange Avenue Northeast
Continue on Challenger Avenue Northeast
Continue on Blue Ridge Boulevard
Continue on West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
Continue on Blue Ridge Avenue
Keep slight right to continue on US 460 East
Turn left onto Holly Farms Road
Turn left onto Patrick Henry Highway
Continue on Hull Street Road
Turn right onto Commonwealth Centre Parkway
Take the ramp straight
Keep slight right to continue on VA 288 South
Merge slight left onto World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
Keep slight right to continue on I 95 South: Petersburg
Merge slight left onto Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Take the exit slight right toward VA 10 East: Hopewell
Continue on West Hundred Road
Continue on West Randolph Road
Continue on James River Drive
Continue on Colonial Trail West
At the end of the road, turn left onto Rolfe Highway
Take the exit right
Merge slight left onto Colonial Trail East
Continue on Old Stage Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Brewers Neck Boulevard
Take the exit slight right
Merge slight left onto Carrollton Boulevard
Continue on Bridge Road
Keep slight right to continue on Western Freeway
Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward VA 141 South: Downtown Portsmouth
Turn straight onto London Boulevard
Turn right onto Effingham Street
Turn left onto High Street
Continue on High 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 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119 miles or 2h 7m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Portsmouth, VA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Vinton, 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 Vinton, VA
This is one driving day of about 238 miles and 4h 14m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 119 mi from Vinton, VA · 2h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
119 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 119 miles from Vinton, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$38.09 one way
$76.18 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $41.50 | $83.00 |
| premium | $4.78 | $44.77 | $89.54 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $52.88 | $105.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 71.4 | 0 | $24.99 | $11.42 |
| Efficient EV | 59.5 | 0 | $20.83 | $9.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 95.2 | 1 | $33.32 | $15.23 |
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Night in Vinton on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Night in Portsmouth on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
88°F
Middletown, MD
119 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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