Trip from Colonial Heights, VA to Portsmouth, VA

Drive Time

1h 53m

Distance

83.4 mi

134 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

1h 45m ★

6 AM

1h 53m

8 AM

2h 10m

10 AM

1h 59m

12 PM

1h 57m

3 PM

2h 0m

5 PM

2h 9m

8 PM

1h 48m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Colonial Heights, VA

Pavan Sai .D

Portsmouth, VA

Charles Miller

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Colonial Heights to Portsmouth, this 83.4-mile journey is a straightforward trek across Southeast Virginia. Plan for a drive time of approximately 1 hour and 53 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $13, it is an affordable way to reach your destination without breaking the bank. Because the route is relatively short, you won't need to worry about splitting this into an overnight stay. Expect a shift in scenery as you move through the Southeast region, transitioning from the Colonial Heights area toward the coastal environment of Portsmouth. It serves as a practical, efficient connection between these two locations.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

41.7 miles from Colonial Heights, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul, as only 10% of this route takes place on major highways. You will spend much of your time navigating via 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, providing a brief period of steady travel. Because the path relies heavily on local roads, you should prepare for a more engaging, hands-on driving experience compared to a standard highway commute. Stay alert for frequent changes in the road's direction as you navigate the regional network.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

James River Drive is the longest continuous segment at about 14.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 early in the drive near East Ellerslie Avenue.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 83.4 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: near the start (East Ellerslie Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (Conduit Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 61.6 miles (US 258 / Brewers Neck Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Ellerslie Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto East Ellerslie Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

0.9 mi into trip | ~1m in | Conduit Road

Turn right onto Conduit Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

61.6 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in | US 258 / Brewers Neck Boulevard

Keep slight left at fork onto US 258 / Brewers Neck Boulevard

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

73.1 mi into trip | ~1h 38m in | VA 164 / Western Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto VA 164 / Western Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.

81.3 mi into trip | ~1h 49m in

Take the exit toward VA 141 South: Downtown Portsmouth

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward VA 141 South: Downtown Portsmouth

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
Western Freeway	7.4 mi	9m
Bridge Road	6.2 mi	10m
Temple Avenue	3.7 mi	6m
Brewers Neck Boulevard	2.8 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, VA.

Start on this road

257 ft · 20 sec · this road

At end of road, turn right onto East Ellerslie Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Ellerslie Avenue

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto Conduit Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Conduit Road

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto VA 144

3.7 mi · 6 min · Temple Avenue

Use the none lane.

Merge onto VA 36

0.3 mi · 28 sec · East Washington Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on VA 36

2.0 mi · 2 min · Oaklawn Boulevard

Use the none lane.

Continue on VA 36

2.2 mi · 2 min · Winston Churchill Drive

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto VA 10; VA 156 BUS

1.3 mi · 2 min · East Randolph Road

Continue on VA 10; VA 156 BUS

15 mi · 19 min · James River Drive

Continue on VA 10

13 mi · 15 min · Colonial Trail West

At end of road, turn left onto VA 10; VA 31

1.0 mi · 1 min · Rolfe Highway

Take the exit

149 ft · 6 sec

Merge onto VA 10

9.8 mi · 11 min · Colonial Trail East

Continue on VA 10

12 mi · 15 min · Old Stage Highway

Use the left / none lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 258

2.8 mi · 3 min · Brewers Neck Boulevard

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec

Merge onto US 17

2.3 mi · 3 min · Carrollton Boulevard

Continue on US 17

6.2 mi · 10 min · Bridge Road

Use the left / none lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto VA 164

7.4 mi · 9 min · Western Freeway

Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto US 58; VA 164

0.7 mi · 46 sec · Martin Luther King Freeway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Toward VA 141 South: Downtown Portsmouth Use the right lane.

Turn straight onto US 58

1.2 mi · 2 min · London Boulevard

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto VA 141

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Effingham Street

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto High Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · High Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on High Street

201 ft · 20 sec · High Street

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

High Street

Trip Plan

Since this trip requires about two hours of focused driving, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around local traffic patterns. You won't need to schedule formal stops, as the entire distance is manageable in one go, but keep your fuel budget of $13 in mind when planning your refueling strategy. Given the turn-heavy nature of the roads, prioritize staying alert and keeping your focus on the road surface rather than relying on cruise control. One concrete tip for this route: since you are primarily using local roads like Old Stage Highway, check your GPS before leaving to ensure you are comfortable with the specific turns planned for your arrival in Portsmouth. This approach ensures a smooth, stress-free arrival at your destination.

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 41.7 miles from Colonial Heights, VA, or about 55m 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 80 miles or 1h 47m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 41.7 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 34m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Portsmouth, 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.

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 Colonial Heights, VA

This is one driving day of about 83.4 miles and 1h 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Colonial Heights, VA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

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.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 41.7 mi from Colonial Heights, VA · 55m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Middletown, MD

42 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

Princess Anne, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Middletown, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 41.7 miles from Colonial Heights, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Portsmouth, VA

The final approach into Portsmouth, VA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Portsmouth, VA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.35 one way

$26.69 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$14.54	$29.08
premium	$4.78	$15.69	$31.38
diesel	$5.64	$18.53	$37.06

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: 29.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	25	$8.76	$4.00
Efficient EV	20.9	$7.30	$3.34
EV Truck/SUV	33.4	$11.68	$5.34

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Colonial Heights, VA

Evening in Colonial Heights on Sunday

Local time

7:51 PM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Portsmouth, VA

Evening in Portsmouth on Sunday

Local time

7:51 PM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

86°F

Middletown, MD

42 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

1 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 53m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Colonial Heights, VA to Portsmouth, VA covers 83.4 miles and takes about 1h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are James River Drive, Colonial Trail West, Old Stage Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 41.7 miles from Colonial Heights, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.35 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

The route from Colonial Heights, VA to Portsmouth, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Portsmouth, VA to Colonial Heights, VA

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83 mi 1h 52m

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Trip from Colonial Heights, VA to Portsmouth, VA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Portsmouth, VA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Colonial Heights, VA

Portsmouth, VA

Same local time

1 degrees cooler at arrival

1h 53m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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