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

The driving distance from Portsmouth, VA to Colonial Heights, VA is about 83 miles (133.6 km), with a travel time of about 01h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 68 miles (109.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
83 mi
01h 52m
Flight
68.06 mi
109.54 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Portsmouth.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
68.06 mi
Kilometers
109.54 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
83 mi
Kilometers
133.58 km
Drive Time
01h 52m

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 01h 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Colonial Heights
Fri, Apr 24, 10:40 PM EDT
Return by in Portsmouth
Sat, Apr 25, 12:33 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Portsmouth
2026-04-24T20:47
Arrive Colonial Heights
Fri, Apr 24, 10:40 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:53 AM to 11:53 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:44 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Portsmouth
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Surry
VA

Town in Virginia

From Portsmouth
41.4 mi
00h 56m
To Colonial Heights
41.5 mi
00h 56m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Today

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 24 9:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph NW
Destination
89°F
Today

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 24 11:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on High Street

    2505 ft · 56 sec · High Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Effingham Street

    552 ft · 11 sec · Effingham Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto London Boulevard

    1.1 mi · 2 min · London Boulevard

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward US 58, VA 164: Western Freeway, Midtown Tunnel

    996 ft · 19 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King Freeway

    1826 ft · 35 sec · Martin Luther King Freeway

  6. 6

    Continue on Western Freeway

    7.4 mi · 10 min · Western Freeway

  7. 7

    Continue on Bridge Road

    6.5 mi · 11 min · Bridge Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Carrollton Boulevard

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Carrollton Boulevard

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Brewers Neck Boulevard

    2.9 mi · 4 min · Brewers Neck Boulevard

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Benns Church Boulevard

    12.1 mi · 16 min · Benns Church Boulevard

  11. 11

    Continue on Colonial Trail East

    9.9 mi · 11 min · Colonial Trail East

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Rolfe Highway

    1 mi · 2 min · Rolfe Highway

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Colonial Trail West

    13.3 mi · 15 min · Colonial Trail West

  14. 14

    Continue on James River Drive

    14.6 mi · 19 min · James River Drive

  15. 15

    Continue on East Randolph Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · East Randolph Road

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Winston Churchill Drive

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Winston Churchill Drive

  17. 17

    Continue on Oaklawn Boulevard

    1909 ft · 27 sec · Oaklawn Boulevard

  18. 18

    Continue on Woodlawn Street

    1 mi · 1 min · Woodlawn Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Oaklawn Boulevard

    1.6 km · 1 min · Oaklawn Boulevard

  20. 20

    Continue on East Washington Street

    1155 ft · 19 sec · East Washington Street

  21. 21

    Turn right

    3.7 mi · 6 min

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Conduit Road

    2670 ft · 1 min · Conduit Road

  23. 23

    Turn left onto East Ellerslie Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · East Ellerslie Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn left

    78 m · 19 sec

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
25 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
30.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
James River Drive
14.6 mi · 18%
Colonial Trail West
13.3 mi · 16%
Benns Church Boulevard
12.1 mi · 15%
Colonial Trail East
9.86 mi · 12%
Western Freeway
7.39 mi · 9%
Bridge Road
6.47 mi · 8%
Longest Stretch

James River Drive

Continue on James River Drive

14.6 mi · 00h 19m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 52m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15 mi
68 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Surry
00h 56m from Portsmouth
Leave By
2:44 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Portsmouth and Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Colonial Heights.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 83 miles (133.6 km) and usually takes 01h 52m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Surry is a useful midpoint, sitting about 41.4 miles from Portsmouth and 41.5 miles from Colonial Heights.

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

The direct path is about 68 miles (109.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 15 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:44 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.61 one way or $23.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 26 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Surry

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 Surry and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Practical stop 13.2 mi away

James City County

Surry
County government office,Service establishment
James City County Government Center
Meeting point 10.5 mi away

James City County Government Center

Williamsburg , VA
101 Mounts Bay Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185
Rating 2.3/5 3 reviews Municipal administration office,Economic development agency,Local government office,County government office,Municipal Department Communication,Municipal Department Finance,Municipal Department of Tourism
Legacy Hall
Nearby stop 11 mi away

Legacy Hall

Williamsburg , VA
4301 New Town Ave, Williamsburg, VA 23188
Rating 4.5/5 37 reviews Event venue

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Surry.

RAIL

Williamsburg Transportation Center

19 mi away
468 North Boundary Street
RAIL

Newport News station

37 mi away
9304 Warwick Boulevard
RAIL

Petersburg station

54 mi away
3516 South Street
BUS

Norfolk

58 mi away
215 W York Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Portsmouth and Colonial Heights. Straight-line distance: 68.06 mi (109.54 km).

Portsmouth

#1 Portsmouth

The most populous city in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Population95,094
Coordinates36.8354300, -76.2982700
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Colonial Heights

#2 Colonial Heights

Independent city in Virginia, United States

Population17,820
Coordinates37.2680400, -77.4072600
Altitude29
CountryUnited States
Start: Portsmouth (-76.29827, 36.83543)
End: Colonial Heights (-77.40726, 37.26804)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 134 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.93 gal
11.09 L · about $11.61
Round trip
$23.21
5.86 gal · 22.18 L
Estimated CO2
26 kg one way
Round trip: 52.1 kg / 115 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $11.61 $23.21
Mid-grade $4.43 $12.98 $25.95
Premium $4.78 $14.00 $28.00
Diesel $5.62 $16.48 $32.96

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 25, 2026

There is no time difference between Portsmouth and Colonial Heights. The current time is 20:47:58.

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.