Origin
Portsmouth Heights, VA
Morning in Portsmouth Heights on Sunday
Local time
10:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Portsmouth Heights, VA to Sandston, 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 46m
Distance
86 mi
138 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portsmouth Heights, VA
Daniel Miller
Sandston, VA
Alfo Medeiros
Trip Overview
Portsmouth Heights, VA to Sandston, VA is 86 miles and takes about 1 hour 46 minutes via I 64, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region, primarily within Virginia, offering a straightforward journey between two points. It’s a practical option if you're looking for a relatively short trip with minimal fuss. Expect a drive that's mostly on major highways, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B without much delay. This route is well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing you to reach your destination with time to spare.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43 miles from Portsmouth Heights, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 58.4 mi | 1h 4m |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | 9.7 mi | 12m |
| East Williamsburg Road | 6.4 mi | 9m |
| Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Portsmouth Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Taylor Road | 2 mi | 4m |
| Pocahontas Trail | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| New Kent Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 58.4 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth Heights, VA and Sandston, 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
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
9
Continue on I 664
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
10
Continue on I 664
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 1A
Toward I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 64
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
57 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto VA 33
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
VA 33
Exit 205
Toward VA 33 West, VA 249 East: Bottoms Bridge, Quinton
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on VA 33
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
New Kent Highway
16
Turn right onto US 60; VA 33
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Pocahontas Trail
17
Continue on US 60; VA 33
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
East Williamsburg Road
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto North Confederate Avenue
26 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Confederate Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
North Confederate Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of about 1 hour 46 minutes, this trip offers a lot of flexibility; you can leave anytime that suits your schedule. There are no recommended stops, suggesting that you can push through to Sandston without needing to break up the journey. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is around $13, and while there are plenty of services along I 64, it's always wise to top up before embarking. A practical tip for this route is to check traffic conditions on I 64 before you depart, as this is a primary artery and can experience congestion during peak hours.
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 43 miles from Portsmouth Heights, VA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.4 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 19 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43 miles or 55m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sandston, 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 86 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Portsmouth Heights, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 58.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 78.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
9
18.9 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 1A
Toward I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond
6
21.1 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
I 64
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
78.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
|
VA 33
Take the exit onto VA 33 toward VA 33 West, VA 249 East: Bottoms Bridge, Quinton
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 205
Toward VA 33 West, VA 249 East: Bottoms Bridge,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.45 one way
$26.90 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $14.70 | $29.41 |
| premium | $4.70 | $15.92 | $31.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.99 | $37.98 |
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: 30.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.03 | $4.13 |
| Efficient EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.52 | $3.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.4 | 0 | $12.04 | $5.50 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Sandston, VA
Morning in Sandston on Sunday
Local time
10:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 46m 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...
0 mi from route
~1 min detour
$15
near mile 38.6
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 17.8
View on nps.gov
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...
25 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 86
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 68% of the journey utilizing major roadways like I 64 and the Hampton Roads Beltway. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 58.4 miles on I 64, which means you can settle in for a solid period of consistent speed. While East Williamsburg Road is part of the route, the overall character leans heavily towards interstate travel. The drive progresses with a steady pace, characterized by the efficiency of major highway systems rather than winding backroads or city navigation.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.4 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Hampton Roads Beltway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near Taylor Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86 miles you will encounter 10 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 2.5 miles (Taylor Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Portsmouth Heights, VA and Sandston, VA, road signs point toward Richmond and Quinton.
Richmond
18.9 mi in
|
~28m
Quinton
78.1 mi in
|
~1h 34m
|
via VA 33
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 86 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.4 miles on I 64. 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 Sandston, 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 2.5 miles (Taylor Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Colonial National Historical Park, Fort Monroe National Monument 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 Sandston, 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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