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Create accountDrive Time
5h 19m
Distance
238.4 mi
384 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portsmouth Heights, VA
Daniel Miller
Cedar Bluff, VA
Jon Eliya
The drive from Portsmouth Heights, VA to Cedar Bluff, VA covers 238.4 miles and takes about 5h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 460, Richmond Highway, New Cox Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 79.8 miles on US 460. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.15 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
119.2 miles from Portsmouth Heights, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 46m into the drive .
The drive from Portsmouth Heights, VA to Cedar Bluff, VA covers 238.4 miles and takes about 5h 19m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
480 ft
Total Descent
0 ft
Highest Point
486 ft
~119.2 mi in
Elevation Range
480 ft
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 238.4 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: at 3.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.5 miles (US 460): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight right at fork toward I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460 toward US 460 West: Petersburg, Albert G Horton Junior Memorial, Veterans Cemetery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 460 toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham, Blackstone
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 460 toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Between Portsmouth Heights, VA and Cedar Bluff, VA, road signs point toward Albert G Horton Junior Memorial, Veterans Cemetery, Blackstone and Lynchburg.
Albert G Horton Junior Memorial
Veterans Cemetery
Blackstone
Lynchburg
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 460 | 79.8 mi | 1h 51m |
| Richmond Highway | 31.1 mi | 38m |
| New Cox Road | 23 mi | 26m |
| East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike | 16 mi | 20m |
| West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike | 14.6 mi | 18m |
| West Colonial Trail Highway | 13.1 mi | 16m |
| Portsmouth Boulevard | 8.7 mi | 11m |
| East Colonial Trail | 7.5 mi | 11m |
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth Heights, VA and Cedar Bluff, VA.
Start on Vick Street
At end of road, turn right onto Shea Street
At end of road, turn left onto VA 337
Turn right onto VA 239
Turn right onto Belmont Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 264
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 664
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on US 13; US 58; US 460
Continue on US 13; US 58; US 460
Take the exit onto US 460
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
Turn left onto SR 630
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit onto US 460
Merge onto I 85; US 460
Take the exit onto US 460
Continue on US 460
Continue on US 460
Continue on US 460
Continue on US 460
Continue on US 460
Merge onto US 360; US 460
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
Keep slight left at fork onto US 460
Keep slight right at fork onto US 460
Continue on US 460
Continue on US 221; US 460
Continue on US 221; US 460
Continue on US 221; US 460
Continue on US 221; US 460; US 220 Alternate
Turn left onto Gus W Nicks Boulevard Northeast
Continue on Gus Nicks Boulevard
Turn right onto South Pollard Street
Turn slight right onto VA 24
Continue on VA 24
Continue on VA 24
Continue on VA 24
Turn left onto 4th Street Southeast
Turn slight left onto Highland Avenue Southeast
Turn left onto 5th Street Southeast
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.2 miles or 2h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar Bluff, VA than in the middle of the route.
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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Portsmouth Heights, VA
This is one driving day of about 238.4 miles and 5h 19m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 119.2 mi from Portsmouth Heights, VA · 2h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
119 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 119.2 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 US 460 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.8 miles.
The final approach into Cedar Bluff, 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 Cedar Bluff, VA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$38.15 one way
$76.31 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $41.57 | $83.14 |
| premium | $4.78 | $44.85 | $89.69 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $52.96 | $105.93 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.56
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
$38
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 71.5 | 0 | $25.03 | $11.44 |
| Efficient EV | 59.6 | 0 | $20.86 | $9.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 95.4 | 1 | $33.38 | $15.26 |
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Portsmouth Heights on Sunday
Local time
4:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Cedar Bluff on Sunday
Local time
4:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Cloudy
Along the Route
86°F
Middletown, MD
119 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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Return Trip
Cedar Bluff, VA to Portsmouth Heights, VAPlan the drive back the other way.
Explore more options from Portsmouth Heights, VA or browse trips ending in Cedar Bluff, VA.
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