How far is Portsmouth Heights, VA from South Boston, VA?

The driving distance from Portsmouth Heights, VA to South Boston, VA is about 159.1 miles (256.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 140.4 miles (226 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 10m 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
159.16 mi
03h 35m
Flight
140.44 mi
226.01 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
140.44 mi
Kilometers
226.01 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
159.16 mi
Kilometers
256.15 km
Drive Time
03h 35m

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 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Boston
Sun, Apr 19, 11:04 AM EDT
Return by in Portsmouth Heights
Sun, Apr 19, 2:39 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Portsmouth Heights
2026-04-19T07:28
Arrive South Boston
Sun, Apr 19, 11:04 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:35 AM to 11:35 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
9:50 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

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Emporia
VA

Independent city in Virginia, United States

From Portsmouth Heights
79.5 mi
01h 47m
To South Boston
79.7 mi
01h 47m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 18 mph W
Destination
69°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 13 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth Heights and South Boston.

  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

    62.1 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Portsmouth Boulevard

  14. 14

    Continue on Courtland Road

    5.2 mi · 7 min · Courtland Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Pleasant Shade Drive

    6.3 mi · 9 min · Pleasant Shade Drive

  16. 16

    Continue on Governor Harrison Parkway

    22.5 mi · 30 min · Governor Harrison Parkway

  17. 17

    Continue on Piney Pond Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Piney Pond Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Highway 58

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Highway 58

  19. 19

    Continue on East Atlantic Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · East Atlantic Street

  20. 20

    Continue on South Hill Bypass

    3.5 mi · 5 min · South Hill Bypass

  21. 21

    Continue on Highway 1

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Highway 1

  22. 22

    Continue on Highway 58

    18.9 mi · 24 min · Highway 58

  23. 23

    Turn straight onto Clarksville Bypass

    4 mi · 5 min · Clarksville Bypass

  24. 24

    Continue on Highway 58

    18 mi · 23 min · Highway 58

  25. 25

    Turn right onto John Randolph Boulevard

    1 km · 1 min · John Randolph Boulevard

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Seymour Drive

    1.1 km · 1 min · Seymour Drive

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Broad Street

    1158 ft · 49 sec · Broad Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    124 m · 8 sec · North Main Street

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
29 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Portsmouth Boulevard
62.6 mi · 39%
Highway 58
40.4 mi · 25%
Governor Harrison Parkway
22.5 mi · 14%
Pleasant Shade Drive
6.34 mi · 4%
Courtland Road
5.16 mi · 3%
Clarksville Bypass
3.99 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Portsmouth Boulevard

Continue on Portsmouth Boulevard

62.1 mi · 01h 21m

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 35m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.7 mi
140.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Emporia
01h 47m from Portsmouth Heights
Leave By
9:50 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Portsmouth Heights and Chance Rain Showers near South Boston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Portsmouth Heights to South Boston?

The road trip is about 159.1 miles (256.1 km) and usually takes 03h 35m 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?

Emporia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 79.5 miles from Portsmouth Heights and 79.7 miles from South Boston.

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

The direct path is about 140.4 miles (226 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.7 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 9:50 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.26 one way or $44.52 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Portsmouth Heights and Chance Rain Showers near South Boston.

Stop Ideas Near Emporia

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

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

RAIL

Petersburg station

63 mi away
3516 South Street
RAIL

Rocky Mount

86 mi away
101 Hammond Street
RAIL

Richmond Main Street Station

95 mi away
1500 East Main Street
RAIL

Williamsburg Transportation Center

99 mi away
468 North Boundary Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Portsmouth Heights and South Boston. Straight-line distance: 140.44 mi (226.01 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Portsmouth Heights

A census-designated place in Newport News, Virginia.

Population99,049
Coordinates36.8209800, -76.3688300
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
South Boston

#2 South Boston

Town in Halifax County, Virginia, United States

Population7,519
Coordinates36.6987500, -78.9014000
Altitude131
CountryUnited States
Start: Portsmouth Heights (-76.36883, 36.82098)
End: South Boston (-78.9014, 36.69875)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 256 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.62 gal
21.26 L · about $22.26
Round trip
$44.52
11.24 gal · 42.52 L
Estimated CO2
49.9 kg one way
Round trip: 99.9 kg / 220 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $22.26 $44.52
Mid-grade $4.43 $24.89 $49.78
Premium $4.78 $26.85 $53.70
Diesel $5.62 $31.61 $63.21

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Portsmouth Heights and South Boston. The current time is 07:28:58.

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.