Trip from Harrisonburg, VA to Colonial Heights, VA

Drive Time

2h 56m

Distance

150.4 mi

242 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Photo: Pavan Sai .D

Trip Overview

Connecting Harrisonburg to Colonial Heights, this 150.4-mile journey takes you across the heart of Virginia in approximately 2 hours and 56 minutes. Since the route is entirely within the Southeast region, you can easily complete this trip in a single day, making it an efficient choice for those traveling between the Shenandoah Valley and the Richmond-Petersburg area. You should budget roughly $24 for fuel, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because the itinerary is straightforward, you won't need to plan for an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. It is a highly practical drive that prioritizes speed and directness over secondary roads.

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

75.2 miles from Harrisonburg, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a classic highway-focused experience, as 97% of your travel occurs on major interstates. You will navigate a combination of I-81 and I-64 before transitioning onto the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike to reach your destination. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel will be spent on a 102.6-mile stretch along I-64, which serves as the backbone of this trip. While the route is largely efficient, the constant interstate travel means you should prepare for a consistent, high-speed pace. It is a functional drive designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal deviation.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 102.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 81. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 33 / Court Square.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 150.4 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: near the start (US 33 / Court Square): Navigation decision point; at 26.6 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 129.3 miles (I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 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 | US 33 / Court Square

Turn left onto US 33 / Court Square

Navigation decision point

26.6 mi into trip | ~32m in | I 64

Merge onto I 64

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

129.3 mi into trip | ~2h 27m in | I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

146.6 mi into trip | ~2h 49m in

Take the exit toward SR 620 West: Woods Edge Road

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 58B Toward SR 620 West: Woods Edge Road

150.1 mi into trip | ~2h 55m in | East Ellerslie Avenue

Turn left onto East Ellerslie Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 64	102.6 mi	1h 54m
I 81	23.8 mi	26m
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike	17.3 mi	21m
Route 1	1.6 mi	2m
South High Street	0.9 mi	2m
Boulevard	0.8 mi	1m
Woods Edge Road	0.8 mi	1m
Port Republic Road	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 64 — 102.6 mi, about 1h 54m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Harrisonburg, VA and Colonial Heights, VA.

Start on US 11; US 33

114 ft · 9 sec · North Main Street

Turn left onto US 33

260 ft · 7 sec · Court Square

Continue on US 33

169 ft · 5 sec · Court Square

Turn right onto US 33

0.2 mi · 18 sec · West Market Street

Turn left onto VA 42

0.9 mi · 2 min · South High Street

Turn left onto Maryland Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · Maryland Avenue

Continue on VA 253

0.5 mi · 1 min · Port Republic Road

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec

Merge onto I 81

24 mi · 26 min · I 81

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 53 sec

Toward I 64 East: Richmond

Merge onto I 64

103 mi · 1 hr 54 min · I 64

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95

17 mi · 21 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Exit 58B Toward SR 620 West: Woods Edge Road Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto SR 620

0.8 mi · 1 min · Woods Edge Road

Turn left onto US 1; US 301

1.6 mi · 2 min · Route 1

Use the left / none lanes.

Continue on US 1; US 301; VA 144

0.8 mi · 1 min · Boulevard

Use the none / right lanes.

Turn left onto East Ellerslie Avenue

0.3 mi · 37 sec · East Ellerslie Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn right

257 ft · 18 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the nearly three-hour duration, a single stop is all you really need to stay refreshed and focused. Plan your departure to avoid peak traffic hours, especially as you approach the busier Richmond-Petersburg corridor. Since the longest stretch covers over 100 miles, ensure your fuel tank is topped off before leaving Harrisonburg to avoid unnecessary stops during that primary transit phase. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as the relatively short distance allows you to depart in the morning and arrive in Colonial Heights by midday. Keep an eye on the traffic flow when transitioning between the major interstates to ensure you maintain your projected arrival time.

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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 75.2 miles from Harrisonburg, VA, or about 1h 26m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.6 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 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 75.2 miles or 1h 26m 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 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colonial Heights, VA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Harrisonburg, 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 Harrisonburg, VA

This is one driving day of about 150.4 miles and 2h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Harrisonburg, 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 I 64 for about 102.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 75.2 mi from Harrisonburg, VA · 1h 26m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

La Plata, MD

75 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

Middletown, MD

Fuel and coffee

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

La Plata, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 75.2 miles from Harrisonburg, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 102.6 miles.

Arriving in Colonial Heights, VA

The final approach into Colonial Heights, 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 Colonial Heights, VA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$24.07 one way

$48.14 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 53 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$26.23	$52.45
premium	$4.78	$28.29	$56.58
diesel	$5.64	$33.41	$66.83

Estimated Tolls: $1.21

Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike (17.3 mi) $1.21

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 52.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	45.1	$15.79	$7.22
Efficient EV	37.6	$13.16	$6.02
EV Truck/SUV	60.2	$21.06	$9.63

Gas CO2

53 kg

EV CO2

18 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 2 days ago

Origin

Harrisonburg, VA

Afternoon in Harrisonburg on Sunday

Local time

2:38 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Colonial Heights, VA

Afternoon in Colonial Heights on Sunday

Local time

2:38 PM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

62°F

La Plata, MD

75 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

7 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

2h 56m 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 Harrisonburg, VA to Colonial Heights, VA covers 150.4 miles and takes about 2h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 64, I 81, Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 75.2 miles from Harrisonburg, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.07 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

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

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Return Trip

Colonial Heights, VA to Harrisonburg, VA

Plan the drive back the other way.

150.3 mi 2h 56m

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Trip from Harrisonburg, VA to Colonial Heights, VA

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 Colonial Heights, VA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Harrisonburg, VA

Colonial Heights, VA

Same local time

7 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 56m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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