Traveling from Colonial Heights to Lynchburg covers 117.8 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 31 minutes. Since the entire journey stays within the Southeast region of Virginia, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $19 on fuel for the round trip, making it a budget-friendly excursion. You will primarily navigate via US 460, New Cox Road, and Richmond Highway. This route is straightforward enough to serve as a quick getaway or a necessary transit, offering a balanced mix of road types that transition you from the outskirts of the Richmond area toward the heart of Lynchburg.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
58.9 miles from Colonial Heights, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 460
29.4 mi
35m
New Cox Road
23 mi
26m
Richmond Highway
18.6 mi
22m
West Colonial Trail Highway
13.1 mi
16m
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
8 mi
10m
East Colonial Trail
7.5 mi
11m
East Colonial Trail Road
6.9 mi
7m
East Colonial Trail Highway
4.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 460
— 29.4 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colonial Heights, VA and Lynchburg, VA.
1
Start on this road
257 ft·20 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto East Ellerslie Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·East Ellerslie Avenue
3
Turn right onto Conduit Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Conduit Road
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto West Roslyn Road
0.8 mi·1 min·West Roslyn Road
5
Take the ramp
382 ft·9 sec
Toward I 95 South
6
Merge onto I 95
1.3 mi·1 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
6.6 mi·8 min·Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Exit 51Toward I 85 South, US 460 West: DurhamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto US 460
0.2 mi·25 sec·US 460
Exit 61Toward US 460 West: Blackstone, LynchburgUse the slight right lane.
9
Continue on US 460
1.1 mi·1 min·Airport Street
10
Continue on US 460
23 mi·26 min·New Cox Road
11
Continue on US 460
4.3 mi·5 min·East Colonial Trail Highway
12
Continue on US 460
6.9 mi·7 min·East Colonial Trail Road
13
Continue on US 460
7.5 mi·11 min·East Colonial Trail
14
Merge onto US 360; US 460
1.5 mi·2 min·West Colonial Trail Highway
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
12 mi·14 min·West Colonial Trail Highway
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 460
29 mi·34 min·US 460
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
19 mi·22 min·Richmond Highway
Toward US 460 West: Lynchburg
18
Turn right onto Concord Turnpike
2.9 mi·6 min·Concord Turnpike
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Washington Street
20
At end of road, turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi·48 sec·Main Street
21
Turn left onto 11th Street
324 ft·12 sec·11th Street
22
Turn right onto Church Street
365 ft·14 sec·Church Street
23
Turn right onto 10th Street
98 ft·4 sec·10th Street
24
Arrive at destination
10th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around traffic patterns. You only need to account for one planned stop to keep your energy levels high throughout the 2-hour and 31-minute transit. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $19 estimated cost is a good baseline, but local fluctuations can change your actual expenses. Because the route relies on a mix of US 460 and smaller roads, stay alert for transitions between higher-speed highway segments and slower local intersections. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to ensure your journey remains efficient and stress-free.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58.9 miles from Colonial Heights, VA, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.4 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 26 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.9 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lynchburg, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Colonial Heights, 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 Colonial Heights, VA
This is one driving day of about 117.8 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Colonial Heights, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 460 for about 29.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The Exchange Building and Petersburg Visitors Center
4.2
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
Petersburg, Virginia
+18048359630
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 114.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|Conduit Road
Turn right onto Conduit Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
2.6 mi into trip|~5m in|I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Merge onto I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
3.9 mi into trip|~7m in|I 85 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 51
Toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham
8
10.6 mi into trip|~15m in|US 460
Take the exit onto US 460 toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg
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 61
Toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg
6
114.4 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|Concord Turnpike
Turn right onto Concord Turnpike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.42 one way
$36.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$20.14
$40.28
premium
$4.70
$21.80
$43.60
diesel
$5.61
$26.01
$52.02
Estimated Tolls: $0.75
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(6.6 mi)$0.46
Concord Turnpike
(2.9 mi)$0.20
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(1.3 mi)$0.09
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.3
0
$12.37
$5.65
Efficient EV
29.5
0
$10.31
$4.71
EV Truck/SUV
47.1
0
$16.49
$7.54
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
Colonial Heights, VA
Afternoon
in Colonial Heights on Sunday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lynchburg, VA
Afternoon
in Lynchburg on Sunday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°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
26 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 31m 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.
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the effective end of the nation's largest war. Question...
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 117.8-mile drive offers a mixed-road profile, alternating between local thoroughfares and faster stretches of pavement. With a highway share of 34%, you won't be stuck on monotonous interstates for the entire duration, allowing for a more varied driving experience. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on US 460, where you will cover 29.4 miles of continuous driving. As you move away from your starting point, the road character shifts from regional highways to the local roads that define this corridor. Expect a drive that feels practical and functional rather than strictly high-speed, requiring you to stay attentive as the scenery and road conditions evolve.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.4 mi on US 460.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near Conduit Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 117.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (Conduit Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (I 85 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 31m. Total distance: 117.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.4 miles on US 460. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.75 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 Lynchburg, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (Conduit Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (I 85 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Appomattox Court House National Historical Park 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 Lynchburg, VA before heading back.
