Trip from Portsmouth, VA to Colonial Heights, VA

Drive Time

1h 52m

Distance

83 mi

134 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

Downtown Colonial Heights, VA, VA

Photo: Pavan Sai .D

Trip Overview

The drive from Portsmouth, VA to Colonial Heights, VA covers 83 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Effingham Street, London Boulevard, US 58 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.94 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

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

41.5 miles from Portsmouth, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 52m drive with frequent turns across 83 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Effingham Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Effingham Street Unavailable Refreshing
London Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing
US 58 Unavailable Refreshing
Martin Luther King Freeway Unavailable Refreshing
Western Freeway Unavailable Refreshing
Bridge Road Unavailable Refreshing
Carrollton Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing
Brewers Neck Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Effingham Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on High Street

0.5 mi · 56 sec · High Street
2

Turn right onto Effingham Street

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Effingham Street
3

Turn left onto London Boulevard

1.1 mi · 1 min · London Boulevard
4

Take the ramp slight right toward US 58, VA 164: Western Freeway, Midtown Tunnel

0.2 mi · 19 sec · US 58, VA 164: Western Freeway, Midtown Tunnel
5

Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King Freeway

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Martin Luther King Freeway
6

Continue on Western Freeway

7.4 mi · 9 min · Western Freeway
7

Continue on Bridge Road

6.5 mi · 11 min · Bridge Road
8

Continue on Carrollton Boulevard

2.4 mi · 3 min · Carrollton Boulevard
9

Turn left onto Brewers Neck Boulevard

2.9 mi · 4 min · Brewers Neck Boulevard
10

Merge slight left onto Benns Church Boulevard

12 mi · 15 min · Benns Church Boulevard
11

Continue on Colonial Trail East

9.9 mi · 11 min · Colonial Trail East
12

Turn left onto Rolfe Highway

1.0 mi · 1 min · Rolfe Highway
13

Turn right onto Colonial Trail West

13 mi · 15 min · Colonial Trail West
14

Continue on James River Drive

15 mi · 19 min · James River Drive
15

Continue on East Randolph Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · East Randolph Road
16

Turn left onto Winston Churchill Drive

1.8 mi · 2 min · Winston Churchill Drive
17

Continue on Oaklawn Boulevard

0.4 mi · 27 sec · Oaklawn Boulevard
18

Continue on Woodlawn Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · Woodlawn Street
19

Continue on Oaklawn Boulevard

1.0 mi · 1 min · Oaklawn Boulevard
20

Continue on East Washington Street

0.2 mi · 19 sec · East Washington Street
21

Turn right

3.7 mi · 6 min
22

Turn right onto Conduit Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Conduit Road
23

Turn left onto East Ellerslie Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Ellerslie Avenue
24

Turn left

256 ft · 19 sec
25

Arrive at your destination

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.5 miles from Portsmouth, VA, or about 56m into the drive.

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 48m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 41.5 miles or 56m 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 35m

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 Portsmouth, 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, VA

This is one driving day of about 83 miles and 1h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Portsmouth, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 41.5 mi from Portsmouth, VA · 56m 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

Middletown, 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 41.5 miles from Portsmouth, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.94 one way

$25.89 round trip

$3.96/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $14.47 $28.95
premium $4.78 $15.61 $31.23
diesel $5.62 $18.38 $36.76

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 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.9 0 $8.71 $3.98
Efficient EV 20.8 0 $7.26 $3.32
EV Truck/SUV 33.2 0 $11.62 $5.31

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

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Portsmouth, VA

Morning in Portsmouth on Saturday

Local time

10:21 AM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Forecast unavailable right now

EDT Live mapsof forecast

Destination

Colonial Heights, VA

Morning in Colonial Heights on Saturday

Local time

10:21 AM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Forecast unavailable right now

EDT Live mapsof forecast

Along the Route

88°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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 52m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Portsmouth, VA to Colonial Heights, VA covers 83 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Effingham Street, London Boulevard, US 58. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.5 miles from Portsmouth, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.94 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.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Colonial Heights, VA to Portsmouth, VA

Plan the drive back the other way.

78.9 mi 1h 32m

Explore more options from Portsmouth, VA or browse trips ending in Colonial Heights, VA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VA road trips.

Explore maps for Portsmouth, VA or Colonial Heights, VA on MapSof.net.