Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
52.4 mi
84 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gloucester Courthouse, VA
Phil Evenden
Portsmouth Heights, VA
Daniel Miller
Gloucester Courthouse, VA to Portsmouth Heights, VA is 52.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 18 minutes via George Washington Memorial Highway and I-64, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Virginia, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a route that involves frequent turns and local road navigation for a portion of the journey. It's a manageable drive, perfect for a single day, and offers a practical way to traverse this part of the state.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| George Washington Memorial Highway | 21.6 mi | 33m |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | 12.1 mi | 15m |
| I 64 | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Portsmouth Boulevard | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Main Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Coleman Bridge | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| J Clyde Morris Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Gloucester Courthouse, VA and Portsmouth Heights, VA.
Start on SR 1014
Turn right onto US 17 BUS; VA 14
Turn left onto US 17
Continue on US 17
Continue on US 17
Continue on US 17
Take the exit
Merge onto I 64
Take the exit
Merge onto I 664
Continue on I 664
Continue on I 664
Take the exit
Turn straight onto VA 337
Turn left onto Byers Avenue
Turn right onto Vick Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26.2 miles from Gloucester Courthouse, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 25.3 and 48.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward US 64 East: Hampton, Norfolk
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 64
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
Merge onto I 664 / Hampton Roads Beltway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
Regular Gas
$8.19 one way
$16.39 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.96 | $17.92 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.70 | $19.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.57 | $23.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.50 | $2.52 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.59 | $2.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21 | 0 | $7.34 | $3.35 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Gloucester Courthouse on Sunday
Local time
9:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Portsmouth Heights on Sunday
Local time
9:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route presents a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, with only 11% of the total mileage on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 21.6 miles along the George Washington Memorial Highway. Be prepared for a driving experience that frequently transitions between local roads and quicker highway segments. The majority of your travel will be on roads where you'll need to pay close attention to navigation and speed limits.
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 25.3 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 25.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.6 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gloucester Courthouse, VA and Portsmouth Heights, VA, road signs point toward Norfolk, Suffolk, Chesapeake and Portsmouth.
Norfolk
Suffolk
Chesapeake
Portsmouth
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 52.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Gloucester Courthouse, VA or browse trips ending in Portsmouth Heights, VA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VA road trips.
