Best Time to Drive from Portsmouth to South Boston

Right now (8:51 pm EDT): about 71 minutes via I-95 South and I-93 South, usually 73 at this time.

Only 68% of this drive is measured by working traffic sensors right now. The rest is estimated from nearby sensors, typical speeds and street traffic, so times can be off. Why so few sensors work.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Portsmouth to South Boston by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	72	88	100	93	82	74	77	78	88	103	96	90	88	75	71	72	74
Tue	73	97	121	115	97	81	76	75	89	106	104	104	100	79	73	73	73
Wed	72	89	113	114	96	83	76	75	91	108	109	107	103	82	74	73	73
Thu	72	91	112	108	92	82	76	78	93	110	108	108	106	85	75	73	74
Fri	71	79	84	80	76	77	77	84	99	100	98	92	87	80	74	72	72
Sat	68	69	69	70	74	75	79	81	83	83	84	82	82	79	75	72	71
Sun	69	68	68	68	71	72	77	81	80	82	81	79	78	77	73	73	73

About this drive

On weekdays the 67-mile drive from Portsmouth to South Boston (via I-95 South and I-93 South) usually takes as little as 71 minutes and up to 122 minutes, when leaving around 7:30 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 5:30 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 87 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 2:30 pm on Saturdays (85 minutes).

About 52 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 15 miles surface streets (11 to 12 minutes on weekdays), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from central Portsmouth to central South Boston along the route on the map. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

Simulated from typical freeway speeds at each point of the drive for the time you would reach it, from every 5-minute reading we have recorded. We don't have sensors on surface streets yet, so the time on them is estimated from how congested the freeways around each end of the drive are at that time, in both directions: streets jam when the freeways do.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from Portsmouth to South Boston?

On weekdays, leave before 5:30 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 71 minutes then, versus up to 122 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Portsmouth to South Boston?

The 67-mile drive usually takes 71 to 122 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 87 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Portsmouth to South Boston?

Leaving around 7:30 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 122 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-95 South in Boston (32 miles) · I-93 South in Boston (20 miles)

Boston traffic right now · Boston traffic tomorrow

More drives

South Boston to Portsmouth (return trip) · Portsmouth to Boston

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	72	88	100	93	82	74	77	78	88	103	96	90	88	75	71	72	74
Tue	73	97	121	115	97	81	76	75	89	106	104	104	100	79	73	73	73
Wed	72	89	113	114	96	83	76	75	91	108	109	107	103	82	74	73	73
Thu	72	91	112	108	92	82	76	78	93	110	108	108	106	85	75	73	74
Fri	71	79	84	80	76	77	77	84	99	100	98	92	87	80	74	72	72
Sat	68	69	69	70	74	75	79	81	83	83	84	82	82	79	75	72	71
Sun	69	68	68	68	71	72	77	81	80	82	81	79	78	77	73	73	73

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	72	88	100	93	82	74	77	78	88	103	96	90	88	75	71	72	74
Tue	73	97	121	115	97	81	76	75	89	106	104	104	100	79	73	73	73
Wed	72	89	113	114	96	83	76	75	91	108	109	107	103	82	74	73	73
Thu	72	91	112	108	92	82	76	78	93	110	108	108	106	85	75	73	74
Fri	71	79	84	80	76	77	77	84	99	100	98	92	87	80	74	72	72
Sat	68	69	69	70	74	75	79	81	83	83	84	82	82	79	75	72	71
Sun	69	68	68	68	71	72	77	81	80	82	81	79	78	77	73	73	73

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	72	88	100	93	82	74	77	78	88	103	96	90	88	75	71	72	74
Tue	73	97	121	115	97	81	76	75	89	106	104	104	100	79	73	73	73
Wed	72	89	113	114	96	83	76	75	91	108	109	107	103	82	74	73	73
Thu	72	91	112	108	92	82	76	78	93	110	108	108	106	85	75	73	74
Fri	71	79	84	80	76	77	77	84	99	100	98	92	87	80	74	72	72
Sat	68	69	69	70	74	75	79	81	83	83	84	82	82	79	75	72	71
Sun	69	68	68	68	71	72	77	81	80	82	81	79	78	77	73	73	73