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

The driving distance from Bristow, VA to Portsmouth Heights, VA is about 182.9 miles (294.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 146 miles (235 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 19m 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
182.93 mi
03h 09m
Flight
146.05 mi
235.05 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bristow.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
146.05 mi
Kilometers
235.05 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
182.93 mi
Kilometers
294.4 km
Drive Time
03h 09m

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 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Portsmouth Heights
Sun, Apr 12, 12:44 AM EDT
Return by in Bristow
Sun, Apr 12, 3:54 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bristow
2026-04-11T21:35
Arrive Portsmouth Heights
Sun, Apr 12, 12:44 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:10 AM to 11:10 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
10:40 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bristow
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
Mechanicsville
VA

Town in Frederick County, Maryland, United States

From Bristow
91.6 mi
01h 34m
To Portsmouth Heights
91.3 mi
01h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph N
Destination
71°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 14 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Bristow Road

    9.1 mi · 16 min · Bristow Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Dumfries Road

    7 mi · 11 min · Dumfries Road

  3. 3

    Take the exit slight right

    2284 ft · 58 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    18.2 mi · 21 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight left

    48.6 mi · 53 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight left toward I 295 South: Williamsburg, Norfolk, Va Beach

    1.9 mi · 2 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight right onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    13 mi · 14 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East: Norfolk, Virginia Beach

    1.3 mi · 3 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    62.7 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 664 South: Downtown Newport News, Suffolk, Chesapeake

    2600 ft · 37 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    6.1 mi · 8 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  12. 12

    Continue on Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel

    4.3 mi · 5 min · Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel

  13. 13

    Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway

    5.9 mi · 7 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  14. 14

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

    1463 ft · 36 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto Portsmouth Boulevard

    3.5 mi · 7 min · Portsmouth Boulevard

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Byers Avenue

    1398 ft · 1 min · Byers Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Vick Street

    141 m · 20 sec · Vick Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Vick Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
18 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dumfries Road
74.2 mi · 41%
I 64 East
63.9 mi · 35%
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
13 mi · 7%
Hampton Roads Beltway
12.1 mi · 7%
Bristow Road
9.14 mi · 5%
Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
4.31 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 64 East

Merge slight left

62.7 mi · 01h 10m

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 09m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.9 mi
146 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mechanicsville
01h 34m from Bristow
Leave By
10:40 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Bristow and Sunny near Portsmouth Heights.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 182.9 miles (294.4 km) and usually takes 03h 09m 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?

Mechanicsville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 91.6 miles from Bristow and 91.3 miles from Portsmouth Heights.

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

The direct path is about 146 miles (235 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.9 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 10:40 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.59 one way or $51.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 57.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Bristow and Sunny near Portsmouth Heights.

Stop Ideas Near Mechanicsville

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 Mechanicsville and the surrounding midpoint area.
Town Hall
Food stop 7.8 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 6 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 5.9 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 5.9 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 Mechanicsville.

RAIL

Richmond Main Street Station

10 mi away
1500 East Main Street
RAIL

Richmond Staples Mill Road station

11 mi away
7519 Staples Mill Road
RAIL

Ashland

19 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Petersburg station

41 mi away
3516 South Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bristow and Portsmouth Heights. Straight-line distance: 146.05 mi (235.05 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Bristow

Bristow is a place in Virginia, United States.

Population0
Coordinates38.7228900, -77.5361000
Altitude60
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: Bristow Road (-77.53628, 38.722802)
End: Vick Street (-76.368598, 36.821321)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 294 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 05m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 02m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.46 gal
24.44 L · about $25.59
Round trip
$51.18
12.92 gal · 48.88 L
Estimated CO2
57.4 kg one way
Round trip: 114.8 kg / 253 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $25.59 $51.18
Mid-grade $4.43 $28.61 $57.22
Premium $4.78 $30.87 $61.73
Diesel $5.62 $36.33 $72.66

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 · Apr 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Bristow and Portsmouth Heights. The current time is 21:35:27.

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.