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

The driving distance from Portsmouth Heights, VA to Forest, VA is about 194.8 miles (313.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 165.3 miles (266 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 48m 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
194.79 mi
04h 24m
Flight
165.28 mi
266 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
165.28 mi
Kilometers
266 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
194.79 mi
Kilometers
313.48 km
Drive Time
04h 24m

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 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Forest
Thu, Apr 23, 1:39 AM EDT
Return by in Portsmouth Heights
Thu, Apr 23, 6:03 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Portsmouth Heights
2026-04-22T21:15
Arrive Forest
Thu, Apr 23, 1:39 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:24 AM to 12:24 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
8:12 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
Blackstone
VA

Town in Virginia

From Portsmouth Heights
97.3 mi
02h 12m
To Forest
97.5 mi
02h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Wednesday

Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 16 mph SW
Destination
79°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Vick Street

    623 ft · 29 sec · Vick Street

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Shea Street

    1076 ft · 47 sec · Shea Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Portsmouth Boulevard

    2763 ft · 1 min · Portsmouth Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Victory Boulevard

    2927 ft · 1 min · Victory Boulevard

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Belmont Avenue

    108 m · 7 sec · Belmont Avenue

  6. 6

    Take the ramp straight toward I 264 West: Bowers Hill

    990 ft · 24 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond

    1 km · 47 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    2197 ft · 31 sec · Hampton Roads Beltway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military Highway

    1598 ft · 54 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    3155 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Continue on West Military Highway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · West Military Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Portsmouth Boulevard

    8.2 mi · 10 min · Portsmouth Boulevard

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 460: Petersburg

    1187 ft · 29 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on US 460 West: Petersburg, Albert G Horton Junior Memorial, Veterans Cemetery

    49.6 mi · 1 hr 14 min

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Rives Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Rives Road

  17. 17

    Take the ramp right toward I 95 North

    1152 ft · 28 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    3.7 mi · 5 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham, Blackstone

    3098 ft · 1 min

  20. 20

    Merge slight right onto Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

    6 mi · 7 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg

    1060 ft · 26 sec

  22. 22

    Continue on Airport Street

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Airport Street

  23. 23

    Continue on New Cox Road

    23 mi · 27 min · New Cox Road

  24. 24

    Continue on East Colonial Trail Highway

    4.3 mi · 5 min · East Colonial Trail Highway

  25. 25

    Continue on East Colonial Trail Road

    6.9 mi · 8 min · East Colonial Trail Road

  26. 26

    Continue on East Colonial Trail

    7.5 mi · 11 min · East Colonial Trail

  27. 27

    Merge slight left onto West Colonial Trail Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · West Colonial Trail Highway

  28. 28

    Keep slight right to continue on West Colonial Trail Highway

    11.6 mi · 15 min · West Colonial Trail Highway

  29. 29

    Keep slight left

    29.2 mi · 35 min

  30. 30

    Keep slight right to continue on Richmond Highway

    22.4 mi · 27 min · Richmond Highway

  31. 31

    Take the exit slight right toward US 501 North: Buena Vista

    1.6 km · 2 min

  32. 32

    Take the exit slight right toward US 501 North, US 29 Bus South: Danville, Buena Vista

    918 ft · 22 sec

  33. 33

    Merge slight left onto Lynchburg Expressway

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Lynchburg Expressway

  34. 34

    Take the exit slight right toward Graves Mill Road

    1201 ft · 31 sec

  35. 35

    Turn left onto Graves Mill Road

    1.7 mi · 4 min · Graves Mill Road

  36. 36

    Turn left onto Forest Road

    2.8 mi · 5 min · Forest Road

  37. 37

    Turn left

    32 m · 12 sec

  38. 38

    Turn right

    29 m · 7 sec

  39. 39

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
39 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
15
6 merges, 9 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 460 West
49.8 mi · 26%
West Colonial Trail Highway
42.3 mi · 22%
New Cox Road
23 mi · 12%
Richmond Highway
22.4 mi · 12%
Portsmouth Boulevard
8.75 mi · 4%
East Colonial Trail
7.49 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

US 460 West

Keep slight right to continue on US 460 West: Petersburg, Albert G Horton Junior Memorial, Veterans Cemetery

49.6 mi · 01h 14m

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 24m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+29.5 mi
165.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Blackstone
02h 12m from Portsmouth Heights
Leave By
8:12 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Portsmouth Heights and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Forest.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 194.8 miles (313.5 km) and usually takes 04h 24m 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?

Blackstone is a useful midpoint, sitting about 97.3 miles from Portsmouth Heights and 97.5 miles from Forest.

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

The direct path is about 165.3 miles (266 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.5 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 8:12 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.21 one way or $54.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Portsmouth Heights and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Forest.

Stop Ideas Near Blackstone

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

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

RAIL

Petersburg station

53 mi away
3516 South Street
RAIL

Richmond Main Street Station

71 mi away
1500 East Main Street
RAIL

Richmond Staples Mill Road station

74 mi away
7519 Staples Mill Road
RAIL

Ashland

88 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Portsmouth Heights and Forest. Straight-line distance: 165.28 mi (266 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Portsmouth Heights

A census-designated place in Newport News, Virginia.

Population99,049
Coordinates36.8209800, -76.3688300
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Forest

#2 Forest

Census-designated place in Bedford County, Virginia, United States

Population9,106
Coordinates37.3637500, -79.2897500
Altitude269
CountryUnited States
Start: Portsmouth Heights (-76.36883, 36.82098)
End: Forest (-79.28975, 37.36375)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 313 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 46m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 25m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.87 gal
26.02 L · about $27.21
Round trip
$54.42
13.74 gal · 52.04 L
Estimated CO2
61.1 kg one way
Round trip: 122.1 kg / 269 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $27.21 $54.42
Mid-grade $4.43 $30.43 $60.85
Premium $4.78 $32.82 $65.65
Diesel $5.62 $38.64 $77.27

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Portsmouth Heights and Forest. The current time is 21:15:27.

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.