The Cost of a Trip Between Burlington, NC and Portsmouth City, VA

If you're planning a trip from Burlington, North Carolina to Portsmouth City, Virginia, you're likely wondering what the cost will be. The total cost of the trip will depend on a few factors, including the distance, fuel costs, and the route you take. In this article, we'll break down the different route options, highlight their costs and distances, and make a recommendation for the best route based on current gas prices.

Route Options

Before we can dive into cost and distance, we need to know the different route options for your trip. There are a few different routes you can take, so let's explore each one.

Route 1: I-85 N and I-95 N

The first route option is to take Interstate 85 North out of Burlington, then hop onto Interstate 95 North towards Portsmouth City. This route is the most direct, with only one turn required along the entire way. The total distance is about 215 miles, and the estimated driving time is around 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Route 2: NC-86 N and US-58 E

Another route option is to take NC-86 North out of Burlington, then turn onto US-58 East towards Portsmouth City. This route is slightly longer than the first route, with a total distance of about 235 miles. The estimated driving time, however, is only slightly longer, at around 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Route 3: US-501 to VA-165

The final route we'll explore is to take US-501 North out of Burlington, then turn onto VA-165 towards Portsmouth City. This route is the longest of the three, with a total distance of about 250 miles. The estimated driving time, however, is only around 4 hours and 10 minutes.

Cost and Distance Comparison

Now that we know the different route options, let's break down the cost and distance of each one.

Route 1: I-85 N and I-95 N

As mentioned earlier, this route is the most direct. It's also the shortest distance-wise, which means it requires the least amount of fuel. Based on current gas prices averaging around $2.90 per gallon, and assuming a car that gets around 25 miles per gallon, the total fuel cost for this route is around $30. The toll costs for this route are minimal, with only one toll on I-95N in Virginia costing around $5.

Route 2: NC-86 N and US-58 E

This route is only slightly longer than the first route, but it requires more turns and going through smaller towns along the way. This can result in slightly more fuel being used, which in turn increases the overall cost of the trip. Using the same assumptions as before, the total fuel cost for this route is around $33. Tolls for this route are minimal, with only one toll on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel costing around $15.

Route 3: US-501 to VA-165

This route is the longest of the three, and it also requires the most turns and going through smaller towns. This means it will require the most fuel and, in turn, be the most expensive. Based on our assumptions, the total fuel cost for this route is around $38. The toll costs for this route are minimal, with only one toll on the Jordan Bridge costing around $5.

Recommendation

Based on the cost and distance comparison, our recommendation for the best route would be Route 1: I-85 N and I-95 N. This route is the most direct, requires the least amount of fuel, and has the lowest toll costs.

Conclusion

In summary, the total cost of a trip from Burlington, North Carolina to Portsmouth City, Virginia will depend on the route you take, the distance, and fuel costs. With current gas prices around $2.90 per gallon, assuming a car that gets around 25 miles per gallon, the total fuel cost for Route 1 is around $30, Route 2 is around $33, and Route 3 is around $38. We recommend taking Route 1 for the most direct and cost-effective route. Safe travels!