Origin
Portsmouth Heights, VA
Afternoon in Portsmouth Heights on Thursday
Local time
1:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Portsmouth Heights, VA to Castlewood, VA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
8h 15m
Distance
430.8 mi
693 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$67
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 8m
★
6 AM
8h 16m
8 AM
8h 31m
10 AM
8h 21m
12 PM
8h 20m
3 PM
8h 22m
5 PM
8h 30m
8 PM
8h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portsmouth Heights, VA
Daniel Miller
Castlewood, VA
Eric Joseph
Trip Overview
The drive from Portsmouth Heights, VA to Castlewood, VA covers 430.8 miles and takes about 8h 15m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 64, I 81, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 182.8 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $67.37 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
215.4 miles from Portsmouth Heights, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 5m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 8h 15m highway drive covering 430.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 182.8 miles on I 64.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 33 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 182.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 81. 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
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 430.8 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 2.5 miles (Taylor Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Taylor Road
Turn right onto Taylor Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
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
8
82.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 200
Toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC
7
82.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 295 North: Washington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 295 North: Washington
7
402.6 mi into trip
|
~7h 31m in
|
Valley Street Northwest
At end of road, turn left onto Valley Street Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 Castlewood, VA, road signs point toward Rocky Mount and Holston Dam.
Rocky Mount
82.2 mi in
|
~1h 38m
Holston Dam
401.6 mi in
|
~7h 29m
|
via US 58 ALT
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 182.8 mi | 3h 20m |
| I 81 | 172.9 mi | 3h 9m |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 22.6 mi | 24m |
| US Highway 58 | 12.4 mi | 17m |
| Porterfield Highway | 10.3 mi | 14m |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | 9.7 mi | 12m |
| Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Portsmouth Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 182.8 mi, about 3h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth Heights, VA and Castlewood, 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
61 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 200
Toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 295 North: Washington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 295
23 mi
·
24 min
·
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 53A
Toward I 64 West: Charlottesville
18
Merge onto I 64
120 mi
·
2 hr 10 min
·
I 64
Toward I 64 West: Charlottesville
Use the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
117 mi
·
2 hr 9 min
·
I 81
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on I 77; I 81; US 52
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I 77; I 81; US 52
Use the straight lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81; US 52
56 mi
·
59 min
·
I 81; US 52
Use the straight lane.
22
Take the exit onto US 58 ALT
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
US 58 ALT
Toward US 58 Alternate, VA 75: Abingdon, South Holston Dam
23
Turn right onto US 58 ALT; VA 75
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Cummings Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
At end of road, turn left onto Valley Street Northwest
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Valley Street Northwest
Use the left lane.
25
At end of road, turn right onto US 58 ALT
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Russell Road Northwest
Use the right lane.
26
Turn slight right onto US 19; US 58 ALT
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Porterfield Highway
27
Continue on US 19; US 58 ALT
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 19; US 58 ALT
28
Turn left onto US 58 ALT
12 mi
·
17 min
·
US Highway 58
Use the left lane.
29
Turn right onto SR 683
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Memorial Drive
30
Turn left onto SR 695
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Trout Farm Road
31
Continue on SR 615
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Red Oak Ridge Road
32
Turn slight right onto SR 750
201 ft
·
8 sec
·
Church Street
33
Arrive at destination
SR 750
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 215.4 miles from Portsmouth Heights, VA, or about 4h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 182.8 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 95 miles or 1h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 215.4 miles or 4h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 215.4 miles or 4h 5m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Castlewood, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Portsmouth Heights, VA
Aim for roughly 215 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Castlewood, VA
Aim for roughly 215 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 95 miles from Portsmouth Heights, VA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 182.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 215.4 mi from Portsmouth Heights, VA · 4h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
215 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Martinsville, VAOvernight Options
Night 1
215 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Martinsville, VA after about 215 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 95 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 215.4 miles from Portsmouth Heights, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 182.8 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 215 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.
Arriving in Castlewood, VA
The final approach into Castlewood, 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 Castlewood, VA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Castlewood, VA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
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
$67.37 one way
$134.74 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
151 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $73.66 | $147.32 |
| premium | $4.70 | $79.73 | $159.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $95.12 | $190.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$67
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$197–$307
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 150.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 129.2 | 1 | $45.23 | $20.68 |
| Efficient EV | 107.7 | 1 | $37.70 | $17.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 172.3 | 2 | $60.31 | $27.57 |
Gas CO2
151 kg
EV CO2
50 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Castlewood, VA
Afternoon in Castlewood on Thursday
Local time
1:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
41 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
8h 15m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Portsmouth Heights, VA to Castlewood, VA covers 430.8 miles and takes about 8h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, I 81, Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 215 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 215.4 miles from Portsmouth Heights, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $67.37 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 430.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles (Taylor Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Portsmouth Heights, VA and Castlewood, VA, road signs point toward Rocky Mount and Holston Dam.
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