Bensley, VA to Portsmouth Heights, VA is 97.3 miles and takes about 1h 59m via I 64, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, moving from one part of Virginia to another. Expect a drive that's predominantly on major highways, so it's a fairly straightforward journey. With a duration under two hours and a low fuel cost, this route is well-suited for a quick same-day trip, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.6 miles from Bensley, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
62.7 mi
1h 9m
Hampton Roads Beltway
12.1 mi
15m
Pocahontas Parkway
8.1 mi
9m
Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
4.3 mi
5m
Portsmouth Boulevard
3.5 mi
6m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
2.1 mi
2m
Route 1
0.3 mi
<1m
Byers Avenue
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 62.7 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bensley, VA and Portsmouth Heights, VA.
1
Start on this road
237 ft·17 sec·this road
2
Turn right
306 ft·24 sec
3
Turn right
444 ft·34 sec
4
Turn right onto US 1; US 301
0.3 mi·29 sec·Route 1
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward VA 150 South: Richmond International
6
Continue on VA 150
8.1 mi·9 min·Pocahontas Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward I 295 North: WashingtonUse the slight left lane.
8
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·45 sec·this road
9
Merge onto I 295
2.1 mi·2 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 28Toward I 64, US 60: Norfolk, Richmond, Richmond International AirportUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 64, US 60 West: Norfolk, Richmond, Seven Pines
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 64: Richmond, Norfolk
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 64 East: NorfolkUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 64
63 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·36 sec
Exit 264Toward I 664 South: Downtown Newport News, Suffolk, ChesapeakeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 664
6.1 mi·7 min·Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 664
4.3 mi·5 min·Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
18
Continue on I 664
5.9 mi·7 min·Hampton Roads Beltway
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 11BToward VA 337 East: Portsmouth Boulevard, PortsmouthUse the right lane.
20
Turn straight onto VA 337
3.5 mi·6 min·Portsmouth Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto Byers Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Byers Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto Vick Street
464 ft·20 sec·Vick Street
23
Arrive at destination
Vick Street
Trip Plan
Given the short drive time of under two hours, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid peak traffic, especially as you approach the Hampton Roads area. With only 97.3 miles, you won't need extensive breaks, but a quick stop for fuel or a restroom is always a good idea. Keep an eye on traffic conditions on I 64 as it's the longest stretch of your journey, and delays can occur.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.6 miles from Bensley, VA, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.7 miles.
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 21 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.6 miles or 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Portsmouth Heights, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bensley, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bensley, VA
This is one driving day of about 97.3 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Bensley, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 62.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.8 and 93.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
8.8 mi into trip|~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 295 North: Washington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 295 North: Washington
8
11.7 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward I 64, US 60: Norfolk, Richmond, Richmond International Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 28
Toward I 64, US 60: Norfolk, Richmond, Richmond...
7
12.8 mi into trip|~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 64 East: Norfolk
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 64 East: Norfolk
8
76.3 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward I 664 South: Downtown Newport News, Suffolk, Chesapeake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 264
Toward I 664 South: Downtown Newport News, Suff...
8
93.1 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward VA 337 East: Portsmouth Boulevard, Portsmouth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 11B
Toward VA 337 East: Portsmouth Boulevard, Ports...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.22 one way
$30.43 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$16.64
$33.27
premium
$4.70
$18.01
$36.02
diesel
$5.61
$21.48
$42.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.2
0
$10.22
$4.67
Efficient EV
24.3
0
$8.51
$3.89
EV Truck/SUV
38.9
0
$13.62
$6.23
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Bensley, VA
Afternoon
in Bensley on Sunday
Local time
1:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Portsmouth Heights, VA
Afternoon
in Portsmouth Heights on Sunday
Local time
1:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°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
1h 59m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Colonial National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On May 13, 1607, Jamestown was established as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Three cultures came together – European, Virginia Indian and African–to create a new society that...
0 mi from route
~1 min detour
$15
near mile 57
Park Closure: Rehabilitation of Colonial Parkway Continues
Fort Monroe's story spans from prehistory to the 2000s. Kecoughtan Indians occupied Old Point Comfort before the arrival of English colonists. The first enslaved Africans arrived in 1619. Those escapi...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 77.2
Two hundred ninety-two days, eight offensives, over 70,000 casualties, U. S. Colored Troops, and the decline of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. U.S. forces c...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is largely highway-focused, with 73% of the drive utilizing major interstates. You'll spend a significant amount of time on I 64, including a continuous stretch of 62.7 miles. The Pocahontas Parkway and Hampton Roads Beltway also contribute to the highway experience. The character of the drive is consistent, offering a high-speed transit between your starting and ending points with minimal scenic detours or changes in road type.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.7 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Hampton Roads Beltway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.8 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 97.3 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bensley, VA and Portsmouth Heights, VA, road signs point toward Richmond, Richmond International Airport, Seven Pines, Norfolk, Suffolk and Chesapeake.
Richmond
11.7 mi in|~15m
Richmond International Airport
11.7 mi in|~15m
Seven Pines
12 mi in|~16m
Norfolk
12.4 mi in|~17m
Suffolk
76.3 mi in|~1h 29m
Chesapeake
76.3 mi in|~1h 29m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 97.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.7 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Portsmouth Heights, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Colonial National Historical Park, Fort Monroe National Monument and Petersburg National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Portsmouth Heights, VA before heading back.
