How far is Colonial Heights, VA from Richmond, VA?

The driving distance from Colonial Heights, VA to Richmond, VA is about 316.8 miles (509.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 264.6 miles (425.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 29m 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
316.76 mi
04h 44m
Flight
264.55 mi
425.76 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Colonial Heights.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
264.55 mi
Kilometers
425.76 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
316.76 mi
Kilometers
509.77 km
Drive Time
04h 44m

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 04h 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Richmond
Sun, Apr 19, 10:33 AM EDT
Return by in Colonial Heights
Sun, Apr 19, 3:18 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Colonial Heights
2026-04-19T05:48
Arrive Richmond
Sun, Apr 19, 10:33 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:45 AM to 12:45 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:30 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Colonial Heights
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
Buchanan
VA

Town in Virginia, United States

From Colonial Heights
158.2 mi
02h 22m
To Richmond
158.6 mi
02h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
57°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
15 mph NW
Destination
79°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 13 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Colonial Heights and Richmond.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Colonial Heights and Richmond.

  1. 1

    Start on Lee Highway

    154 m · 16 sec · Lee Highway

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Old Airport Road

    965 ft · 31 sec · Old Airport Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp sharp left

    1362 ft · 33 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight right

    66.6 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    7.1 mi · 8 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke

    139.7 mi · 2 hr 34 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    1353 ft · 18 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 East: Richmond

    99.3 mi · 1 hr 50 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 195 South: Laburnum Avenue

    953 ft · 15 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 195 South

    1076 ft · 17 sec

  11. 11

    Continue on Beltline Expressway

    1.2 km · 1 min · Beltline Expressway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 33, US 250: Broad Street, Hamilton Street

    969 ft · 24 sec

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto North Hamilton Street

    866 ft · 32 sec · North Hamilton Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto West Broad Street

    1.5 mi · 4 min · West Broad Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto North Allen Avenue

    651 ft · 18 sec · North Allen Avenue

  16. 16

    Enter the roundabout toward Marcus-David Peters Circle

    84 m · 8 sec · Marcus-David Peters Circle

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Marcus-David Peters Circle

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Colonial Heights and Richmond.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
17 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 81 North
140 mi · 44%
I 64 East
99.3 mi · 31%
Old Airport Road
74.2 mi · 23%
West Broad Street
1.53 mi
Beltline Expressway
0.73 mi
I 195 South
0.38 mi
Longest Stretch

I 81 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North, US 11 North: Roanoke

140 mi · 02h 34m

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
04h 44m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+52.2 mi
264.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Buchanan
02h 22m from Colonial Heights
Leave By
7:30 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Colonial Heights and Chance Rain Showers near Richmond.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Colonial Heights to Richmond?

The road trip is about 316.8 miles (509.8 km) and usually takes 04h 44m 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?

Buchanan is a useful midpoint, sitting about 158.2 miles from Colonial Heights and 158.6 miles from Richmond.

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

The direct path is about 264.6 miles (425.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 52.2 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 7:30 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.28 one way or $88.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Colonial Heights and Chance Rain Showers near Richmond.

Stop Ideas Near Buchanan

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Buchanan, 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 Buchanan.

RAIL

Clifton Forge

35 mi away
400 Ridgeway Street
BUS

Roanoke

36 mi away
710 Williamson Road NE
RAIL

Kemper Street station

48 mi away
825 Kemper St
RAIL

White Sulphur Springs

62 mi away
315 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Colonial Heights and Richmond. Straight-line distance: 264.55 mi (425.76 km).

Colonial Heights

#1 Colonial Heights

Independent city in Virginia, United States

Population17,205
Coordinates36.6334400, -82.1204100
Altitude546
CountryUnited States
Richmond

#2 Richmond

The capital of Virginia.

Population232,226
Coordinates37.5537600, -77.4602600
Altitude64
CountryUnited States
Start: Lee Highway (-82.120486, 36.633488)
End: Robert E. Lee Circle (-77.460437, 37.553637)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 510 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.18 gal
42.31 L · about $44.28
Round trip
$88.57
22.36 gal · 84.62 L
Estimated CO2
99.4 kg one way
Round trip: 198.7 kg / 438 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $44.28 $88.57
Mid-grade $4.43 $49.52 $99.03
Premium $4.78 $53.42 $106.84
Diesel $5.62 $62.88 $125.75

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Colonial Heights and Richmond. The current time is 05:48:21.

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.