Origin
Richmond, VA
Evening in Richmond on Sunday
Local time
6:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richmond, VA to Colonial Heights, VA
Drive Time
32m
Distance
22 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colonial Heights, VA
Pavan Sai .D
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Richmond to Colonial Heights, you are looking at a straightforward 22-mile journey. This trip typically takes about 32 minutes to complete, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day outing. You will primarily utilize the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, Route 1, and the Boulevard to navigate the Southeast region. With a fuel budget of just $4, this drive is exceptionally budget-friendly and requires no overnight stops. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a change of scenery, the route is efficient and keeps you within the state of Virginia for the duration of your travel.
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
11 miles from Richmond, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 82% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will experience a significant, uninterrupted 15.6-mile stretch along the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, which serves as the backbone of your trip. While the route transitions between fast-paced highway segments and local road connections like the Boulevard, the overall pace remains consistent. Expect a functional, efficient drive that prioritizes speed over winding backroads. Because the majority of the trip takes place on high-speed infrastructure, you can anticipate a steady and predictable time behind the wheel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 15.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and Route 1. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near East Byrd Street.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 22 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 1.2 miles (East Byrd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (VA 195 / Downtown Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
East Byrd Street
Turn left onto East Byrd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward VA 195 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward VA 195 East
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
VA 195 / Downtown Expressway
Merge onto VA 195 / Downtown Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South: Petersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Toward I 95 South: Petersburg
7
18.1 mi into trip
|
~25m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike | 15.6 mi | 19m |
| Route 1 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Downtown Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Woods Edge Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Franklin Street | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| North Belvidere Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Ellerslie Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
— 15.6 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, VA and Colonial Heights, VA.
1
Start on Marcus-David Peters Circle
139 ft
·
4 sec
·
Marcus-David Peters Circle
2
Continue on Monument Avenue
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Monument Avenue
3
Turn slight right onto West Franklin Street
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
West Franklin Street
4
Turn right onto US 1; US 301
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Belvidere Street
5
Turn left onto East Byrd Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Byrd Street
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward VA 195 East
Use the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto VA 195
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Downtown Expressway
Use the none lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 95 South: Petersburg
Use the none lane.
9
Merge onto I 95
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
Use the none lane.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 58B
Toward SR 620 West: Woods Edge Road
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto SR 620
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Woods Edge Road
12
Turn left onto US 1; US 301
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Route 1
Use the left / none lanes.
13
Continue on US 1; US 301; VA 144
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Boulevard
Use the none / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto East Ellerslie Avenue
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
East Ellerslie Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right
257 ft
·
18 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Because this is a short 32-minute sprint, you have maximum flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning for rest stops, as the distance is easily manageable in one sitting. Since the longest stretch occurs on the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, keep an eye on traffic patterns along that corridor before you head out to ensure a smooth transition. Given the low $4 fuel cost, you have the freedom to be spontaneous with your travel timing. Aim to avoid standard rush hour windows to keep your transit time as close to the 32-minute estimate as possible.
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 11 miles from Richmond, VA, or about 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.6 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 22 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 11 miles or 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 26m
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 Richmond, 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 Richmond, VA
This is one driving day of about 22 miles and 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Richmond, 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.
The longest stretch is on Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike for about 15.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11 mi from Richmond, VA · 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 11 miles from Richmond, 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
$3.52 one way
$7.04 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $3.84 | $7.67 |
| premium | $4.78 | $4.14 | $8.28 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.89 | $9.78 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.09
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
(15.6 mi)
$1.09
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
$4
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.31 | $1.06 |
| Efficient EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.08 | $1.41 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Colonial Heights, VA
Evening in Colonial Heights on Sunday
Local time
6:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
86°F
Middletown, MD
11 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
32m 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 Richmond, VA to Colonial Heights, VA covers 22 miles and takes about 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, Route 1, Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11 miles from Richmond, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.52 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 22 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 1.2 miles (East Byrd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (VA 195 / Downtown Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Richmond, VA to Colonial Heights, VA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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