How far is Portsmouth Heights, VA from Amherst, VA?
The driving distance from Portsmouth Heights, VA to Amherst, VA is about 185.7 miles (298.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 08m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 156.8 miles (252.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 17m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 08m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Census designated place in Virginia, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Portsmouth Heights and Amherst.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth Heights and Amherst.
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1
Start on Vick Street
44 m · 7 sec · Vick Street
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2
Continue on Vick Street
98 m · 18 sec · Vick Street
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3
Turn left onto Byers Avenue
1359 ft · 1 min · Byers Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Portsmouth Boulevard
2.1 mi · 5 min · Portsmouth Boulevard
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5
Turn right onto Taylor Road
2 mi · 4 min · Taylor Road
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6
Turn left onto Pughsville Road
525 ft · 17 sec · Pughsville Road
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7
Take the ramp slight right toward I 664 North: Newport News
1954 ft · 48 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Hampton Roads Beltway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward US 17 North: Bridge Road
1578 ft · 54 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Western Freeway
3104 ft · 44 sec · Western Freeway
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11
Continue on Bridge Road
6.5 mi · 11 min · Bridge Road
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12
Continue on Carrollton Boulevard
2.4 mi · 3 min · Carrollton Boulevard
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13
Turn left onto Brewers Neck Boulevard
2.9 mi · 4 min · Brewers Neck Boulevard
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14
Merge slight left onto Benns Church Boulevard
12.1 mi · 16 min · Benns Church Boulevard
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15
Continue on Colonial Trail East
9.9 mi · 11 min · Colonial Trail East
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16
Turn left onto Rolfe Highway
1 mi · 2 min · Rolfe Highway
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17
Turn right onto Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi · 15 min · Colonial Trail West
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18
Continue on James River Drive
14.6 mi · 19 min · James River Drive
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19
Continue on East Randolph Road
2.9 mi · 4 min · East Randolph Road
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20
Continue on East Hundred Road
6.6 mi · 9 min · East Hundred Road
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21
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 North: Richmond
1753 ft · 43 sec
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22
Merge slight left onto Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
1.1 mi · 1 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
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23
Take the exit slight right toward VA 288 North: Chesterfield
1.1 km · 2 min
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24
Continue on World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
19.6 mi · 23 min · World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
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25
Take the exit slight right toward US 60: Midlothian, Powhatan
1527 ft · 37 sec
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26
Keep slight left to continue on US 60: Powhatan
1623 ft · 40 sec
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27
Keep slight right to continue on US 60 West: Powhatan
1729 ft · 43 sec
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28
Merge slight left onto Midlothian Turnpike
2.8 mi · 4 min · Midlothian Turnpike
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29
Continue on Anderson Highway
36.7 mi · 48 min · Anderson Highway
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30
Continue on East James Anderson Highway
8.1 mi · 9 min · East James Anderson Highway
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31
Continue on West James Anderson Highway
17.1 mi · 22 min · West James Anderson Highway
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32
Continue on Anderson Highway
4.1 mi · 6 min · Anderson Highway
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33
Continue on Richmond Highway
14.7 mi · 20 min · Richmond Highway
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34
Turn sharp left onto Washington Street
132 m · 14 sec · Washington Street
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35
Turn right onto 2nd Street
1250 ft · 36 sec · 2nd Street
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36
Turn right onto Goodwin Street
44 m · 6 sec · Goodwin Street
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37
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Goodwin Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Portsmouth Heights and Amherst.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
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.
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.
Sunny leaving Portsmouth Heights and Mostly Sunny near Amherst.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Portsmouth Heights to Amherst?
The road trip is about 185.7 miles (298.9 km) and usually takes 04h 08m 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 92.8 miles from Portsmouth Heights and 93 miles from Amherst.
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 28.9 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 8:42 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.94 one way or $51.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 58.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Portsmouth Heights and Mostly Sunny near Amherst.
Stop Ideas Near Chesterfield Court House
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Town Hall
Old City Hall
City of Richmond Virginia (City Hall)
City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Chesterfield Court House.
Petersburg station
Richmond Main Street Station
Richmond Staples Mill Road station
Ashland
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Portsmouth Heights and Amherst. Straight-line distance: 156.78 mi (252.31 km).
#1 Portsmouth Heights
A census-designated place in Newport News, Virginia.
| Population | 99,049 |
| Coordinates | 36.8209800, -76.3688300 |
| Altitude | 3 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Amherst
Town in Virginia, USA
| Population | 2,182 |
| Coordinates | 37.5851400, -79.0514100 |
| Altitude | 232 |
| Country | United States |
End: Amherst (-79.05141, 37.58514)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 299 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 11m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 38m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 42m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 05m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 39m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 19m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $25.94 | $51.89 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $29.01 | $58.02 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $31.30 | $62.59 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $36.84 | $73.67 |
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 15, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.