How far is Altavista, VA from Portsmouth Heights, VA?

The driving distance from Altavista, VA to Portsmouth Heights, VA is about 193.1 miles (310.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 162.2 miles (261.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 27m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
193.08 mi
03h 43m
Flight
162.26 mi
261.13 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Altavista.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
162.26 mi
Kilometers
261.13 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
193.08 mi
Kilometers
310.74 km
Drive Time
03h 43m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Portsmouth Heights
Tue, May 26, 12:42 PM EDT
Return by in Altavista
Tue, May 26, 4:26 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Altavista
2026-05-26T08:58
Arrive Portsmouth Heights
Tue, May 26, 12:42 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:44 AM to 11:44 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:32 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Altavista
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Chesterfield Court House
VA

Census designated place in Virginia, USA

From Altavista
103.5 mi
01h 51m
To Portsmouth Heights
89.6 mi
01h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph SW
Destination
82°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Altavista and Portsmouth Heights.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Altavista and Portsmouth Heights.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    9 m · 5 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Franklin Avenue

    111 m · 14 sec · Franklin Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 7th Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · 7th Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Main Street

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Main Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp right toward US 29 North

    9.4 mi · 12 min

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Colonial Highway

    4.3 mi · 8 min · Colonial Highway

  7. 7

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Brookneal Highway

    104 m · 8 sec · Brookneal Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Village Highway

    9.2 mi · 17 min · Village Highway

  9. 9

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Village Highway

    34 m · 2 sec · Village Highway

  10. 10

    Exit the roundabout onto Village Highway

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Village Highway

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Richmond Highway

    20.1 mi · 25 min · Richmond Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on Prince Edward Highway

    24.1 mi · 29 min · Prince Edward Highway

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Holly Farms Road

    9.3 mi · 13 min · Holly Farms Road

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Patrick Henry Highway

    17.2 mi · 22 min · Patrick Henry Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Hull Street Road

    13.7 mi · 20 min · Hull Street Road

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Commonwealth Centre Parkway

    1.5 km · 2 min · Commonwealth Centre Parkway

  17. 17

    Take the ramp straight

    19 m · 2 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on VA 288 South

    1577 ft · 40 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto World War II Veterans Memorial Highway

    12.1 mi · 14 min · World War II Veterans Memorial Highway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on I 95 South: Petersburg

    1495 ft · 37 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 10 East: Hopewell

    1605 ft · 39 sec

  23. 23

    Continue on West Hundred Road

    6.8 mi · 10 min · West Hundred Road

  24. 24

    Continue on West Randolph Road

    2.9 mi · 4 min · West Randolph Road

  25. 25

    Continue on James River Drive

    14.6 mi · 19 min · James River Drive

  26. 26

    Continue on Colonial Trail West

    13.3 mi · 15 min · Colonial Trail West

  27. 27

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Rolfe Highway

    1 mi · 2 min · Rolfe Highway

  28. 28

    Take the exit right

    45 m · 6 sec

  29. 29

    Merge slight left onto Colonial Trail East

    9.8 mi · 11 min · Colonial Trail East

  30. 30

    Continue on Old Stage Highway

    12 mi · 16 min · Old Stage Highway

  31. 31

    Keep slight left to continue on Brewers Neck Boulevard

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Brewers Neck Boulevard

  32. 32

    Take the exit slight right

    713 ft · 20 sec

  33. 33

    Merge slight left onto Carrollton Boulevard

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Carrollton Boulevard

  34. 34

    Continue on Bridge Road

    6.2 mi · 11 min · Bridge Road

  35. 35

    Keep slight left to continue on Bridge Road

    1 km · 1 min · Bridge Road

  36. 36

    Take the exit straight

    1520 ft · 37 sec

  37. 37

    Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  38. 38

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 337 East: Portsmouth Boulevard, Portsmouth

    1463 ft · 36 sec

  39. 39

    Turn straight onto Portsmouth Boulevard

    3.5 mi · 7 min · Portsmouth Boulevard

  40. 40

    Turn left onto Byers Avenue

    1398 ft · 1 min · Byers Avenue

  41. 41

    Turn right onto Vick Street

    141 m · 20 sec · Vick Street

  42. 42

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Vick Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Altavista and Portsmouth Heights.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
42 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
5 merges, 9 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
21.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Prince Edward Highway
24.1 mi · 12%
Richmond Highway
20.1 mi · 10%
Patrick Henry Highway
17.2 mi · 9%
James River Drive
14.6 mi · 8%
Hull Street Road
13.7 mi · 7%
Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Prince Edward Highway

Continue on Prince Edward Highway

24.1 mi · 00h 30m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 43m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+30.9 mi
162.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chesterfield Court House
01h 51m from Altavista
Leave By
9:32 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Altavista and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Portsmouth Heights.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Altavista to Portsmouth Heights?

The road trip is about 193.1 miles (310.7 km) and usually takes 03h 43m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Chesterfield Court House is a useful midpoint, sitting about 103.5 miles from Altavista and 89.6 miles from Portsmouth Heights.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 162.2 miles (261.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:32 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.97 one way or $53.95 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 60.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Altavista and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Portsmouth Heights.

Stop Ideas Near Chesterfield Court House

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Chesterfield Court House, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Chesterfield Court House.

RAIL

Petersburg station

16 mi away
3516 South Street
RAIL

Richmond Main Street Station

19 mi away
1500 East Main Street
RAIL

Richmond Staples Mill Road station

26 mi away
7519 Staples Mill Road
RAIL

Ashland

43 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Altavista and Portsmouth Heights. Straight-line distance: 162.26 mi (261.13 km).

Altavista

#1 Altavista

Town in Virginia

Population3,422
Coordinates37.1118100, -79.2855800
Altitude169
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Portsmouth Heights

A census-designated place in Newport News, Virginia.

Population99,049
Coordinates36.8209800, -76.3688300
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-79.285547, 37.111781)
End: Vick Street (-76.368598, 36.821321)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 311 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.81 gal
25.79 L · about $26.97
Round trip
$53.95
13.62 gal · 51.58 L
Estimated CO2
60.5 kg one way
Round trip: 121 kg / 267 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $26.97 $53.95
Mid-grade $4.43 $30.16 $60.32
Premium $4.78 $32.54 $65.08
Diesel $5.62 $38.30 $76.60

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Virginia · May 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Altavista and Portsmouth Heights. The current time is 08:58:33.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.