Origin
Portsmouth Heights, VA
Night in Portsmouth Heights on Tuesday
Local time
11:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Portsmouth Heights, VA to Wattsville, VA
Data updated 4 hours ago
Drive Time
2h 30m
Distance
103.7 mi
167 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 20m
★
6 AM
2h 30m
8 AM
2h 50m
10 AM
2h 37m
12 PM
2h 35m
3 PM
2h 38m
5 PM
2h 49m
8 PM
2h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portsmouth Heights, VA
Daniel Miller
Wattsville, VA
Faruk Tokluoğlu
Trip Overview
The drive from Portsmouth Heights, VA to Wattsville, VA covers 103.7 miles and takes about 2h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Lankford Highway, Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel, Northampton Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 65.1 miles on Lankford Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.22 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
51.8 miles from Portsmouth Heights, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 30m drive with frequent turns across 103.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lankford Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 65.1 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 around 0.1 miles in near Shea Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 103.7 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 0.1 miles (Shea Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles (I 264; VA 337): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Shea Street
At end of road, turn right onto Shea Street
Navigation decision point
6
5.9 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 264; VA 337
Keep slight right at fork onto I 264; VA 337
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
10.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward I 64 West: Richmond, Norfolk International Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 14 С
Toward I 64 West: Richmond, Norfolk Internation...
8
13 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward US 13: Northampton Boulevard, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
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 282
Toward US 13: Northampton Boulevard, Chesapeake...
8
13.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 13 North: Wesleyan Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 13 North: Wesleyan Drive
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Portsmouth Heights, VA to Wattsville, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Norfolk International Airport along the way.
Norfolk International Airport
10.8 mi in
|
~18m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lankford Highway | 65.1 mi | 1h 32m |
| Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel | 17.7 mi | 24m |
| Northampton Boulevard | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| I 264 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| US 460 ALT | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| Chincoteague Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Hampton Roads Beltway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Portsmouth Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Lankford Highway
— 65.1 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth Heights, VA and Wattsville, VA.
1
Start on Vick Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Vick Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto Shea Street
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
Shea Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto VA 337
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Portsmouth Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on US 460 ALT; VA 337
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Portsmouth Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
5
Take the ramp onto US 460 ALT
4.6 mi
·
7 min
·
US 460 ALT
Toward I 264 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 264; VA 337
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
I 264; VA 337
Use the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 14 С
Toward I 64 West: Richmond, Norfolk International Airport
8
Merge onto I 64
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Hampton Roads Beltway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 282
Toward US 13: Northampton Boulevard, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
350 ft
·
8 sec
Toward US 13 North: Wesleyan Drive
Use the right lane.
11
Merge onto US 13; VA 166
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Northampton Boulevard
Use the right lane.
12
Merge onto US 13
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Northampton Boulevard
13
Continue on US 13
18 mi
·
24 min
·
Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
14
Continue on US 13
65 mi
·
1 hr 32 min
·
Lankford Highway
15
Turn right onto VA 175
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Chincoteague Road
16
Arrive at destination
VA 175
Trip Plan
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 51.8 miles from Portsmouth Heights, VA, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.1 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 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.8 miles or 1h 16m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wattsville, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Portsmouth Heights, VA
This is one driving day of about 103.7 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Portsmouth Heights, 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 Lankford Highway for about 65.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51.8 mi from Portsmouth Heights, VA · 1h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.8 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 Lankford Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.1 miles.
Arriving in Wattsville, VA
The final approach into Wattsville, 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 Wattsville, 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
$16.22 one way
$32.43 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $17.73 | $35.46 |
| premium | $4.70 | $19.19 | $38.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.90 | $45.79 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.00
Chesapeake Bay Bridge
$4.00
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
$16
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.1 | 0 | $10.89 | $4.98 |
| Efficient EV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.07 | $4.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.5 | 0 | $14.52 | $6.64 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Wattsville, VA
Night in Wattsville on Tuesday
Local time
11:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°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
5 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
2h 30m 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 Portsmouth Heights, VA to Wattsville, VA covers 103.7 miles and takes about 2h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lankford Highway, Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel, Northampton Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.8 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 $16.22 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 103.7 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 0.1 miles (Shea Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles (I 264; VA 337): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Portsmouth Heights, VA to Wattsville, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Norfolk International Airport along the way.
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