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

The driving distance from Amherst, VA to Portsmouth Heights, VA is about 196.5 miles (316.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 156.8 miles (252.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 04m 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
196.56 mi
03h 32m
Flight
156.78 mi
252.31 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Amherst.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
156.78 mi
Kilometers
252.31 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
196.56 mi
Kilometers
316.34 km
Drive Time
03h 32m

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 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Portsmouth Heights
Sat, May 23, 1:34 PM EDT
Return by in Amherst
Sat, May 23, 5:06 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Amherst
2026-05-23T10:01
Arrive Portsmouth Heights
Sat, May 23, 1:34 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:32 AM to 11:32 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
9:56 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Amherst
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 Amherst
93.1 mi
01h 46m
To Portsmouth Heights
103.5 mi
01h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Saturday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sat, May 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph E
Destination
81°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Goodwin Street

    44 m · 11 sec · Goodwin Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto 2nd Street

    1250 ft · 40 sec · 2nd Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Washington Street

    96 m · 9 sec · Washington Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Richmond Highway

    14.7 mi · 20 min · Richmond Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Anderson Highway

    4.1 mi · 6 min · Anderson Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on West James Anderson Highway

    17.1 mi · 22 min · West James Anderson Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on East James Anderson Highway

    8.1 mi · 9 min · East James Anderson Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Anderson Highway

    36.7 mi · 48 min · Anderson Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on Midlothian Turnpike

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Midlothian Turnpike

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right

    1.4 km · 2 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    2486 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto World War II Veterans Memorial Highway

    19.3 mi · 22 min · World War II Veterans Memorial Highway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 95 South: Petersburg

    1495 ft · 37 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 10 East: Hopewell

    1605 ft · 39 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on West Hundred Road

    6.8 mi · 10 min · West Hundred Road

  17. 17

    Continue on West Randolph Road

    2.9 mi · 4 min · West Randolph Road

  18. 18

    Continue on James River Drive

    14.6 mi · 19 min · James River Drive

  19. 19

    Continue on Colonial Trail West

    13.3 mi · 15 min · Colonial Trail West

  20. 20

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

    1 mi · 2 min · Rolfe Highway

  21. 21

    Take the exit right

    45 m · 6 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left onto Colonial Trail East

    9.8 mi · 11 min · Colonial Trail East

  23. 23

    Continue on Old Stage Highway

    12 mi · 16 min · Old Stage Highway

  24. 24

    Keep slight left to continue on Brewers Neck Boulevard

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Brewers Neck Boulevard

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right

    713 ft · 20 sec

  26. 26

    Merge slight left onto Carrollton Boulevard

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Carrollton Boulevard

  27. 27

    Continue on Bridge Road

    6.2 mi · 11 min · Bridge Road

  28. 28

    Keep slight left to continue on Bridge Road

    1 km · 1 min · Bridge Road

  29. 29

    Take the exit straight

    1520 ft · 37 sec

  30. 30

    Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  31. 31

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

    1463 ft · 36 sec

  32. 32

    Turn straight onto Portsmouth Boulevard

    3.5 mi · 7 min · Portsmouth Boulevard

  33. 33

    Turn left onto Byers Avenue

    1398 ft · 1 min · Byers Avenue

  34. 34

    Turn right onto Vick Street

    141 m · 20 sec · Vick Street

  35. 35

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Vick Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Amherst 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
35 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
5 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Anderson Highway
40.8 mi · 21%
World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
19.3 mi · 10%
West James Anderson Highway
17.1 mi · 9%
Richmond Highway
14.7 mi · 7%
James River Drive
14.6 mi · 7%
Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Anderson Highway

Continue on Anderson Highway

36.7 mi · 00h 48m

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 32m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+39.7 mi
156.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chesterfield Court House
01h 46m from Amherst
Leave By
9:56 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Amherst and Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Portsmouth Heights.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 196.5 miles (316.3 km) and usually takes 03h 32m 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 93.1 miles from Amherst and 103.5 miles from Portsmouth Heights.

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

The direct path is about 156.8 miles (252.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 39.7 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 9:56 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.49 one way or $54.98 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Amherst and Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 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
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Chesterfield Court House and the surrounding midpoint area.
Town Hall
Food stop 11.7 mi away

Town Hall

Richmond , VA
3123 W Cary St, Richmond, VA 23221
Rating 4.9/5 13 reviews Restaurant
Old City Hall
Scenic stop 12.7 mi away

Old City Hall

Richmond , VA
1001 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219, United States
Rating 4.4/5 32 reviews Tourist attraction,Land surveyor,Historical landmark
City of Richmond Virginia (City Hall)
Meeting point 12.8 mi away

City of Richmond Virginia (City Hall)

Richmond , VA
900 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219
Rating 2.9/5 40 reviews City government office,Police department,Tax assessor
City Hall
Nearby stop 12.8 mi away

City Hall

Richmond , VA
900 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219
Rating 3.9/5 85 reviews Bike sharing station

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 Amherst and Portsmouth Heights. Straight-line distance: 156.78 mi (252.31 km).

Amherst

#1 Amherst

Town in Virginia, USA

Population2,182
Coordinates37.5851400, -79.0514100
Altitude232
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: Goodwin Street (-79.05153, 37.585172)
End: Vick Street (-76.368598, 36.821321)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 316 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.94 gal
26.26 L · about $27.49
Round trip
$54.98
13.88 gal · 52.52 L
Estimated CO2
61.7 kg one way
Round trip: 123.4 kg / 272 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $27.49 $54.98
Mid-grade $4.43 $30.74 $61.47
Premium $4.78 $33.16 $66.32
Diesel $5.62 $39.03 $78.06

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Amherst and Portsmouth Heights. The current time is 10:01:55.

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.