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Trip from Colonial Heights, VA to Richmond, VA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

33m

Distance

23 mi

37 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 30m ★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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independent city in Virginia, United States

Colonial Heights, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Richmond, VA, VA

Richmond, VA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick and straightforward transit between Colonial Heights and Richmond, this 23-mile stretch is a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. Expect to spend about 33 minutes behind the wheel, making it an incredibly efficient way to move through the Southeast region of Virginia. With a modest fuel budget of $4, this route is as economical as it is fast. Because the drive is so short, there is no need for an overnight stay, allowing you the flexibility to complete your business or leisure travel and return home within hours. You will primarily navigate the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, the Downtown Expressway, and Route 1 to complete your journey. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection that gets you from point A to point B without any unnecessary complexity.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike 15.5 mi 19m
Downtown Expressway 1.6 mi 2m
Route 1 1.6 mi 2m
Woods Edge Road 0.9 mi 1m
Boulevard 0.8 mi 1m
South Meadow Street 0.6 mi 1m
East Ellerslie Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Monument Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike — 15.5 mi, about 19m

Traffic on I-95

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 64 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

7 AM

~3,532 veh/hr typical

Quietest

2 AM

~457 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.7×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Colonial Heights, VA and Richmond, VA.

1

Start on this road

257 ft · 24 sec · this road
2

At end of road, turn left onto East Ellerslie Avenue

0.3 mi · 37 sec · East Ellerslie Avenue
3

Turn right onto US 1; US 301; VA 144

0.8 mi · 1 min · Boulevard
Use the right lane.
4

Continue on US 1; US 301; VA 144

1.6 mi · 2 min · Route 1
Use the left lane.
5

Turn right onto SR 620

0.9 mi · 1 min · Woods Edge Road
Use the right lane.
6

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min
7

Merge onto I 95

16 mi · 19 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Exit 74A Toward VA 195 Toll: Downtown Expressway Use the slight right lane.
9

Continue on VA 195

1.6 mi · 2 min · Downtown Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Toward Cash Toll, Meadow Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on this road

373 ft · 9 sec · this road
12

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward Meadow Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Turn right onto South Meadow Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Meadow Street
14

Turn right onto Monument Avenue

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Monument Avenue
15

Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle

81 ft · 2 sec · Marcus-David Peters Circle
16

Arrive at destination

Marcus-David Peters Circle

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 22.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Ellerslie Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto East Ellerslie Avenue

Navigation decision point

6
2.7 mi into trip | ~5m in | SR 620 / Woods Edge Road

Turn right onto SR 620 / Woods Edge Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
19.8 mi into trip | ~27m in

Take the exit toward VA 195 Toll: Downtown Expressway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 74A Toward VA 195 Toll: Downtown Expressway
7
21.7 mi into trip | ~30m in

Take the exit toward Cash Toll, Meadow Street

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. Toward Cash Toll, Meadow Street
8
22.1 mi into trip | ~30m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Meadow Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Meadow Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.65 one way

$7.31 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 8 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $3.98 $7.97
premium $4.78 $4.33 $8.66
diesel $6.18 $5.60 $11.19

Estimated Tolls: $1.09

Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike (15.5 mi) $1.09

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Tolls

$1

Total

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 6.9 0 $2.42 $1.10
Efficient EV 5.8 0 $2.01 $0.92
EV Truck/SUV 9.2 0 $3.22 $1.47

Gas CO2

8 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (63% 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 Oct 19, 2026

Origin

Colonial Heights, VA

Afternoon in Colonial Heights on Monday

Local time

4:37 PM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Sunny

N 7 to 14 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued October 19 at 5:03AM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC

Coastal Flood Watch

Coastal Flood Watch issued October 19 at 4:09AM EDT until October 22 at 1:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA

Destination

Richmond, VA

Afternoon in Richmond on Monday

Local time

4:37 PM

EDT

Current temp

40°F

Clear

N 7 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued October 19 at 5:03AM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC

Coastal Flood Watch

Coastal Flood Watch issued October 19 at 4:09AM EDT until October 22 at 1:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA

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

27 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

33m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This 23-mile drive is heavily highway-focused, with roughly 81% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 15.5 miles. While the experience is dominated by high-speed interstate driving, the transition onto the Downtown Expressway and Route 1 provides a shift in the road's personality as you approach your destination. Do not expect winding backroads or leisurely scenic overlooks; instead, prepare for a functional, steady pace that prioritizes speed and directness. Navigating this route feels like a standard commute, requiring consistent attention to traffic flow as you transition between these primary roads.

81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.5 mi on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and Downtown Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Ellerslie Avenue.

Driving Effort 7/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 23 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 33m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Ellerslie Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (SR 620 / Woods Edge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

213 ft 0 ft

Total Climb

414 ft

Total Descent

263 ft

Highest Point

213 ft

~23 mi in

Elevation Range

212 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Colonial Heights, VA to Richmond, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Cash Toll along the way.

Cash Toll

21.7 mi in | ~30m

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Shockoe Espresso & Roastery

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

29min in 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Richmond, VA

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Urban Farmhouse Market & Cafe

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

29min in 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Richmond, VA

Hours: Mo-Su 07:00-19:00

Visit website

Jamra Specialty Coffee

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

33min in 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Richmond, VA

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-17:00; PH,Su...

Visit website

821 Cafe

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

33min in 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Richmond, VA

Hours: Mo-We 08:00-22:00; Th-Fr 08:00-23:00; Sa...

Visit website

Lift Coffee Shop

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

29min in 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Richmond, VA

Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-19:00;Sa 07:00-20:00;Su 08:0...

Visit website

Sugar & Twine

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

33min in 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

VA

Hours: Mo-Th 07:00-15:00; Fr-Su 07:00-16:00

Visit website

Casa del Barco

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

29min in 0.1 mi from route

Richmond, VA

Cuisine: mexican

Visit website

Garnett’s Cafe

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

33min in 0.2 mi from route

Richmond, VA

Cuisine: sandwich

Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-14:30, 16:00-21:00

Visit website

Tops China

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route

Colonial Heights, VA

Cuisine: chinese

Visit website

The Tobacco Company Restaurant

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

29min in 0.2 mi from route

Richmond, VA

Cuisine: american

Visit website

Assante's Pizza

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

33min in 0.2 mi from route

Richmond, VA

Cuisine: pizza

Visit website

Sam Miller's

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

29min in 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Richmond, VA

Cuisine: seafood

Visit website

Pipeline Overlook

Viewpoint

Near the end, right off the route

29min in 0.2 mi from route

Oregon Hill Overlook

Viewpoint

Near the end, right off the route

29min in 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour
Visit website

TDIA 1895 James River Overlook

Viewpoint

Near the end, right off the route

29min in 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Old Manchester Bridge Overlook

Viewpoint

Near the end, right off the route

29min in 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Floodwall Overlook

Viewpoint

Near the end, right off the route

29min in 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

John Tyler's Grave

Attraction

Near the end, short detour

29min in 1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Richmond, VA

First Freedom Center

Museum

Near the end, right off the route

29min in 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Richmond, VA

Hours: Mo off; Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 12:00-17:0...

Visit website

Christopher Newport Cross

Memorial

Near the end, right off the route

29min in 0.1 mi from route

Virginia Center for Architecture

Museum

Near the end, right off the route

33min in 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-17:00

Visit website

Manchester & Free Bridges

Memorial

Near the end, right off the route

29min in 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

John Jasper

Memorial

Near the end, right off the route

29min in 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Tredegar Iron Works

Memorial

Near the end, right off the route

29min in 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

About the Cities

Starting in Colonial Heights, VA

Full guide →

Top landmarks

  • • Violet Bank Museum — historic plantation house and museum in Colonial Heights, Virginia

Arriving in Richmond, VA

Full guide →

Founded 1607

Richmond is the capital of Virginia. Richmond has a population of 227,000 (2020) and the adjacent counties of Henrico and Chesterfield combine to create a local population of more than 1.3 million people.

Top landmarks

  • • Virginia Museum of Fine Arts — art museum in Richmond, Virginia
  • • Virginia State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Virginia
  • • Monument Avenue — thoroughfare in Richmond, United States

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 33m. Total distance: 23 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

33m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 15.5 miles on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.09 in tolls one way, starting with Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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 Richmond, 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: near the start (East Ellerslie Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (SR 620 / Woods Edge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — 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 Richmond, VA before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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