Origin
Portsmouth Heights, VA
Morning in Portsmouth Heights on Sunday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Portsmouth Heights, VA to Prince George, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 44m
Distance
71.8 mi
115 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 37m
★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
2h 0m
8 PM
1h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portsmouth Heights, VA
Daniel Miller
Prince George, VA
R. Fera
Trip Overview
Portsmouth Heights, VA to Prince George, VA is 71.8 miles and takes about 1h 44m via Colonial Trail West, Benns Church Boulevard, and James River Drive, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region and covers ground in Virginia. Expect a local driving experience with plenty of turns, which means you’ll be actively navigating for most of the journey. It's a straightforward, same-day drive, perfect for when you want to get from point A to point B without a lot of fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.9 miles from Portsmouth Heights, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Colonial Trail West | 13.3 mi | 15m |
| Benns Church Boulevard | 12.1 mi | 15m |
| James River Drive | 10.4 mi | 14m |
| Colonial Trail East | 9.9 mi | 11m |
| Bridge Road | 6.5 mi | 11m |
| Brewers Neck Boulevard | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Merchants Hope Road | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| Carrollton Boulevard | 2.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Colonial Trail West
— 13.3 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth Heights, VA and Prince George, VA.
1
Start on Vick Street
143 ft
·
6 sec
·
Vick Street
2
Continue on Vick Street
320 ft
·
17 sec
·
Vick Street
3
Turn left onto Byers Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Byers Avenue
4
Turn right onto VA 337
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Portsmouth Boulevard
5
Turn right onto Taylor Road
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Taylor Road
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto Pughsville Road
525 ft
·
16 sec
·
Pughsville Road
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 664 North: Newport News
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 664
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 9A
Toward US 17 North: Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto VA 164
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
Western Freeway
11
Continue on US 17
6.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Bridge Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 17
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Carrollton Boulevard
13
Turn left onto Brewers Neck Boulevard
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Brewers Neck Boulevard
14
Merge onto US 258; VA 10
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Benns Church Boulevard
15
Continue on VA 10
9.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Colonial Trail East
16
Turn left onto VA 10; VA 31
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Rolfe Highway
17
Turn right onto VA 10
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Colonial Trail West
18
Continue on VA 10
10 mi
·
14 min
·
James River Drive
19
Turn left onto SR 641
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Merchants Hope Road
20
At end of road, turn left onto VA 106; VA 156
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Ruffin Road
21
Continue on VA 106
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Courthouse Road
22
Arrive at destination
VA 106
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 44 minutes and a low fuel cost of around $11, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You could easily depart in the morning and arrive with plenty of time for the rest of your day, or even leave in the afternoon. There are no specific stops noted, so plan your own breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your navigation, as the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests you'll be making frequent adjustments. A good tip is to ensure your GPS is set to avoid highways if you're looking for the most direct, local route, though this route data indicates a 100% highway share, so pay close attention to your map.
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 35.9 miles from Portsmouth Heights, VA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.3 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 16 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.9 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Prince George, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Portsmouth Heights, VA
This is one driving day of about 71.8 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Portsmouth Heights, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Colonial Trail West for about 13.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.9 miles from Portsmouth Heights, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 40.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Byers Avenue
Turn left onto Byers Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
2.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Taylor Road
Turn right onto Taylor Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
4.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the ramp toward I 664 North: Newport News
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 664 North: Newport News
7
6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward US 17 North: Bridge Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 9A
Toward US 17 North: Bridge Road
4
40.6 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
VA 10; VA 31 / Rolfe Highway
Turn left onto VA 10; VA 31 / Rolfe Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.23 one way
$22.46 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.28 | $24.55 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.29 | $26.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.85 | $31.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.54 | $3.45 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.28 | $2.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.7 | 0 | $10.05 | $4.60 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Prince George, VA
Morning in Prince George on Sunday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°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
2 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 44m 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.
Colonial National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
$15
near mile 34.6
Park Closure: Rehabilitation of Colonial Parkway Continues
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...
11 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 71.8
View on nps.gov
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 12.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route leans heavily into a turn-heavy local drive, with a highway share of 100%, meaning you'll be on main roads but not necessarily high-speed interstates for the entire duration. The longest stretch without a turn is 13.3 miles on Colonial Trail West. As you progress, you'll transition through different local roads like Benns Church Boulevard and James River Drive, each offering a slightly different feel. Be prepared for frequent adjustments to your steering and speed, as this isn't a straight shot but rather a connected series of local pathways.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.3 mi on Colonial Trail West.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Byers Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (Byers Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (Taylor Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 71.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.3 miles on Colonial Trail West. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (Byers Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (Taylor Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Colonial National Historical Park, Petersburg National Battlefield 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 Prince George, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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