This 132.8-mile drive from Portsmouth Heights, VA to Chase City, VA will take you about 3 hours and 6 minutes to complete. It's a straightforward, single-day trip, perfect for getting from one point to another without needing an overnight stay. You'll navigate primarily using Portsmouth Boulevard and the Richmond-Raleigh Highway. Expect a fuel cost of around $21 for this journey. The route offers a practical, turn-heavy local drive experience through the Southeast region of Virginia.
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
66.4 miles from Portsmouth Heights, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Portsmouth Boulevard
62.6 mi
1h 22m
Governor Harrison Parkway
22.5 mi
30m
Richmond-Raleigh Highway
13.6 mi
21m
Highway Forty-Seven
6.7 mi
10m
Pleasant Shade Drive
6.3 mi
8m
Courtland Road
5.2 mi
7m
Highway 58
3.5 mi
5m
West Military Highway
2.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Portsmouth Boulevard
— 62.6 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth Heights, VA and Chase City, VA.
1
Start on Vick Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·Vick Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto Shea Street
0.2 mi·47 sec·Shea Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto VA 337
0.5 mi·1 min·Portsmouth Boulevard
4
Turn right onto VA 239
0.6 mi·1 min·Victory Boulevard
Use the right lane.
5
Turn right onto Belmont Avenue
355 ft·7 sec·Belmont Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 264 West: Bowers Hill
7
Merge onto I 264
2.1 mi·2 min·I 264
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·47 sec
Toward I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, RichmondUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 664
0.4 mi·31 sec·Hampton Roads Beltway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·54 sec
Exit 13A-BToward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military HighwayUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
12
Continue on US 13; US 58; US 460
2.4 mi·3 min·West Military Highway
13
Continue on US 13; US 58; US 460
62 mi·1 hr 21 min·Portsmouth Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 58
5.2 mi·7 min·Courtland Road
15
Continue on US 58
6.3 mi·8 min·Pleasant Shade Drive
16
Continue on US 58
23 mi·30 min·Governor Harrison Parkway
17
Continue on US 58
1.2 mi·2 min·Piney Pond Road
18
Continue on US 58
3.5 mi·5 min·Highway 58
19
Continue on US 58
1.1 mi·1 min·East Atlantic Street
20
Continue on US 58 BUS
0.4 mi·51 sec·East Atlantic Street
21
Turn slight left
121 ft·5 sec
22
Turn left onto Maple Lane
396 ft·14 sec·Maple Lane
23
Turn right onto East Main Street
1.1 mi·2 min·East Main Street
24
Turn right onto South Thomas Street
369 ft·18 sec·South Thomas Street
25
Turn left onto VA 47
0.8 mi·1 min·West Atlantic Street
26
Continue on VA 47
6.7 mi·10 min·Highway Forty-Seven
27
Continue on VA 47
14 mi·21 min·Richmond-Raleigh Highway
28
Arrive at destination
VA 47
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to allow for flexibility and to avoid potential midday traffic. With only one recommended stop, you can easily pace yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer stretches on Portsmouth Boulevard, as services might be more spaced out. The $21 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. This route is flexible enough that you can adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.4 miles from Portsmouth Heights, VA, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.6 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 29 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.4 miles or 1h 30m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chase City, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth Heights, VA
This is one driving day of about 132.8 miles and 3h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth Boulevard for about 62.6 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 4.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Shea Street
At end of road, turn right onto Shea Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|VA 239 / Victory Boulevard
Turn right onto VA 239 / Victory Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in|Belmont Avenue
Turn right onto Belmont Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
3.7 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond
8
4.8 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military Highway
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 13A-B
Toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suff...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.77 one way
$41.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$22.71
$45.41
premium
$4.70
$24.58
$49.16
diesel
$5.61
$29.32
$58.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.8
0
$13.94
$6.37
Efficient EV
33.2
0
$11.62
$5.31
EV Truck/SUV
53.1
0
$18.59
$8.50
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (65% 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
Portsmouth Heights, VA
Morning
in Portsmouth Heights on Sunday
Local time
8:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chase City, VA
Morning
in Chase City on Sunday
Local time
8:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
80°F
Emporia, VA
66 mi in
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
36 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
3h 6m 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.
Fort Monroe National Monument
National Monument
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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
Park Closure: Road Closure and Fishing Pier Impact
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this drive is predominantly a turn-heavy local experience, with only 21% of the route on highways. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be 62.6 miles on Portsmouth Boulevard, so you'll experience a good mix of local roads and some faster sections. This isn't a monotonous interstate grind; anticipate frequent turns and changes in speed as you make your way through varied local environments. The journey will feel like a true exploration of Virginia's backroads.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.6 mi on Portsmouth Boulevard.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 0.1 miles in near Shea Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 132.8 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 0.1 miles (Shea Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (VA 239 / Victory Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (Belmont Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
534 ft6 ft
Total Climb
607 ft
Total Descent
80 ft
Highest Point
534 ft
~132.8 mi in
Elevation Range
528 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 6m. Total distance: 132.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.6 miles on Portsmouth Boulevard. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Chase City, 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 0.1 miles (Shea Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (VA 239 / Victory Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (Belmont Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Fort Monroe National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Chase City, VA, but most travelers stay overnight.
