If you are looking to travel from Colonial Heights to Portsmouth Heights, this 81.3-mile journey serves as a straightforward day trip within Southeast Virginia. Expect to spend approximately 1 hour and 52 minutes behind the wheel as you navigate a path defined by local roads rather than major interstates. With a fuel budget of about $13, it is an affordable excursion that does not require an overnight stay. Since the route avoids highways entirely, you will have a consistent, steady pace throughout the drive. This itinerary is ideal for travelers who prefer backroads over the high-speed intensity of major thoroughfares.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.6 miles from Colonial Heights, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
James River Drive
14.6 mi
19m
Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi
15m
Old Stage Highway
12 mi
15m
Colonial Trail East
9.8 mi
11m
Bridge Road
6.8 mi
11m
Temple Avenue
3.7 mi
6m
Portsmouth Boulevard
3.5 mi
6m
Hampton Roads Beltway
3.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
James River Drive
— 14.6 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colonial Heights, VA and Portsmouth Heights, 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
0.5 mi·1 min·Conduit Road
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto VA 144
3.7 mi·6 min·Temple Avenue
5
Merge onto VA 36
0.3 mi·28 sec·East Washington Street
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on VA 36
2.0 mi·2 min·Oaklawn Boulevard
7
Continue on VA 36
2.2 mi·2 min·Winston Churchill Drive
8
Turn right onto VA 10; VA 156 BUS
1.3 mi·2 min·East Randolph Road
9
Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS
15 mi·19 min·James River Drive
10
Continue on VA 10
13 mi·15 min·Colonial Trail West
11
At end of road, turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
1.0 mi·1 min·Rolfe Highway
12
Take the exit
149 ft·6 sec
13
Merge onto VA 10
9.8 mi·11 min·Colonial Trail East
14
Continue on VA 10
12 mi·15 min·Old Stage Highway
Use the left lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 258
2.8 mi·3 min·Brewers Neck Boulevard
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
17
Merge onto US 17
2.3 mi·3 min·Carrollton Boulevard
18
Continue on US 17
6.2 mi·10 min·Bridge Road
Use the left lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 17
0.6 mi·1 min·Bridge Road
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
21
Merge onto I 664
3.1 mi·3 min·Hampton Roads Beltway
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 11BToward VA 337 East: Portsmouth Boulevard, PortsmouthUse the right lane.
23
Turn straight onto VA 337
3.5 mi·6 min·Portsmouth Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn left onto Byers Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Byers Avenue
Use the left lane.
25
Turn right onto Vick Street
464 ft·20 sec·Vick Street
26
Arrive at destination
Vick Street
Trip Plan
Since this trip is a manageable sub-two-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 81.3-mile distance in one go, so there is no urgent need to plan for intermediate stops unless you prefer to stretch your legs. Keep in mind that because you are navigating local roads, your travel time can be sensitive to local traffic patterns. Ensure your tank is ready for the journey, as the $13 fuel estimate assumes a steady flow without excessive idling. My top tip for this specific route is to stay alert for turn changes, as the reliance on local highways like Old Stage Highway means you will be navigating intersections more frequently than on a standard interstate trek.
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 40.6 miles from Colonial Heights, VA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.6 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 18 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.6 miles or 54m 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 31m
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 Colonial Heights, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Colonial Heights, VA
This is one driving day of about 81.3 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Colonial Heights, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on James River Drive for about 14.6 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 0.9 and 80.9 — 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
5.1 mi into trip|~9m in|VA 36 / East Washington Street
Merge onto VA 36 / East Washington Street
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
73.1 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|US 17 / Bridge Road
Keep slight left at fork onto US 17 / Bridge Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
77.1 mi into trip|~1h 43m 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...
5
80.9 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|Byers Avenue
Turn left onto Byers Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.71 one way
$25.43 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.90
$27.80
premium
$4.70
$15.05
$30.09
diesel
$5.61
$17.95
$35.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.4
0
$8.54
$3.90
Efficient EV
20.3
0
$7.11
$3.25
EV Truck/SUV
32.5
0
$11.38
$5.20
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (64% 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
Morning
in Colonial Heights on Sunday
Local time
9:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Portsmouth Heights, VA
Morning
in Portsmouth Heights on Sunday
Local time
9:29 AM
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
25 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
1h 52m 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.
Petersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
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...
7 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
Park Closure: Eastern Front Tour Road south of Route 36 - Closed
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
$15
near mile 47.7
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 67.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that favors rural exploration over interstate efficiency. Because this route maintains a 0% highway share, your focus will remain on James River Drive, Colonial Trail West, and Old Stage Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 14.6-mile segment on James River Drive, which provides a brief reprieve from the frequent turns characterizing the rest of the trip. Behind the wheel, you should anticipate a hands-on driving experience that requires your constant attention. The road's personality is defined by these local connections, offering a departure from the monotonous rhythm of typical highway travel.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.6 mi on James River Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.3 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 0.9 miles (Conduit Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles (VA 36 / East Washington Street): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.1 miles (US 17 / Bridge Road): 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.
On the drive from Colonial Heights, VA to Portsmouth Heights, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Portsmouth along the way.
Portsmouth
77.1 mi in|~1h 43m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 81.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.6 miles on James River Drive. 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 0.9 miles (Conduit Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles (VA 36 / East Washington Street): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.1 miles (US 17 / Bridge Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Petersburg National Battlefield, Colonial National Historical Park and Fort Monroe National Monument. 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.
