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

The driving distance from Portsmouth Heights, VA to Bristow, VA is about 181.9 miles (292.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 146 miles (235 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 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
181.97 mi
03h 39m
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 Portsmouth Heights.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
181.97 mi
Kilometers
292.85 km
Drive Time
03h 39m

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 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bristow
Sun, Apr 12, 3:06 AM EDT
Return by in Portsmouth Heights
Sun, Apr 12, 6:45 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Portsmouth Heights
2026-04-11T23:26
Arrive Bristow
Sun, Apr 12, 3:06 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:40 AM to 11:40 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
9:40 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Portsmouth 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
Mechanicsville
VA

Town in Frederick County, Maryland, United States

From Portsmouth Heights
91 mi
01h 49m
To Bristow
91 mi
01h 49m

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
5 to 14 mph N
Destination
71°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Vick Street

    44 m · 7 sec · Vick Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Vick Street

    98 m · 18 sec · Vick Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Byers Avenue

    1359 ft · 1 min · Byers Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Portsmouth Boulevard

    2.1 mi · 5 min · Portsmouth Boulevard

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Taylor Road

    2 mi · 4 min · Taylor Road

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Pughsville Road

    525 ft · 17 sec · Pughsville Road

  7. 7

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 664 North: Newport News

    1954 ft · 48 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  9. 9

    Continue on Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel

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

  10. 10

    Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway

    6.2 mi · 8 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond

    1.1 km · 54 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    1.4 mi · 2 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left

    61.1 mi · 1 hr 8 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC

    2434 ft · 32 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 295 North: Washington

    1.3 mi · 3 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    11.9 mi · 13 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight left toward I 95 North: Washington

    2.4 mi · 3 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight right

    45.7 mi · 50 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight right

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight left

    1 mi · 1 min

  21. 21

    Merge slight left

    18.6 mi · 21 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 234 North: Manassas

    1717 ft · 42 sec

  23. 23

    Continue on Dumfries Road

    7.3 mi · 11 min · Dumfries Road

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Bristow Road

    9.2 mi · 16 min · Bristow Road

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Bristow Road

Car Route Details

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

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
25 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
5 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 95 North
69.3 mi · 38%
I 64 West
63.2 mi · 35%
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
11.9 mi · 7%
Hampton Roads Beltway
9.68 mi · 5%
Bristow Road
9.16 mi · 5%
Dumfries Road
7.31 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 64 West

Keep slight left

61.1 mi · 01h 08m

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 39m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+35.9 mi
146 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mechanicsville
01h 49m from Portsmouth Heights
Leave By
9:40 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Portsmouth Heights and Sunny near Bristow.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 181.9 miles (292.8 km) and usually takes 03h 39m 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 miles from Portsmouth Heights and 91 miles from Bristow.

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 35.9 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 9:40 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.43 one way or $50.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 57.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 7.6 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 6.2 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 6.2 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 6.2 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 Portsmouth Heights and Bristow. Straight-line distance: 146.05 mi (235.05 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Portsmouth Heights

A census-designated place in Newport News, Virginia.

Population99,049
Coordinates36.8209800, -76.3688300
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Bristow

Bristow is a place in Virginia, United States.

Population0
Coordinates38.7228900, -77.5361000
Altitude60
CountryUnited States
Start: Portsmouth Heights (-76.36883, 36.82098)
End: Bristow (-77.5361, 38.72289)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 293 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.42 gal
24.31 L · about $25.43
Round trip
$50.86
12.84 gal · 48.62 L
Estimated CO2
57.1 kg one way
Round trip: 114.1 kg / 252 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $25.43 $50.86
Mid-grade $4.43 $28.43 $56.87
Premium $4.78 $30.67 $61.35
Diesel $5.62 $36.11 $72.21

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 Portsmouth Heights and Bristow. The current time is 23:26:25.

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.