The Top 7 Daytrips from Norfolk, Virginia
by PCSgrades Staff - July 7th, 2022
If you’ve recently relocated to the Hampton Roads, Newport News, or Virginia Beach area, then you're going to love all the fun day trips from Norfolk. Twenty-six miles of Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay beaches, wildlife refuges, scenic rivers, state parks, botanical gardens, 8,000+ acres of forests, 30 miles of hiking trails, and two fresh-water reservoirs will definitely keep you busy. Check out all these fun things to do near Norfolk, Virginia!
Easy daytrips from Norfolk, VA
Being stationed near Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads can be fun, with lots of beaches and opportunities on base. If you are looking to venture out a bit, there are some great, interesting, easy day trips from Norfolk.
History and shopping trips in Virginia
1. Richmond
Virginia’s capital city is an easy 2.5 hour drive from Naval Station Norfolk. On the James River, Richmond offers a little something for everyone in the family. For the history buff, there is the Virginia State Capital, designed by Thomas Jefferson himself. It houses the oldest elected legislative body in North America.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts features more than 5,000 years of art from around the world. There are often special, seasonal exhibitions in this world-class museum.
The Edgar Allan Poe Museum offers many artifacts celebrating this great American author, known as the father of the psychological horror story.
Often called the “Mile of Style,” Carytown features nine blocks of boutiques, specialty stores, cafés, bookstores, antiques, and art galleries.
For the outdoor enthusiast, Richmond offers numerous spots that allow you to enjoy whitewater rafting. Belle Island State Park features seasonal festivals and concerts.
2. Yorktown
Yorktown is most known as the site of the surrender of General Cornwallis to George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. History is kept alive through patriotic events and festivals throughout the year. Park Rangers lead guided walking tours of the battlefield and the 18th-century town. You can drive through the battlefield and visit the Moore House, scene of surrender negotiations, and Surrender Field, among other sites.
3. Williamsburg
Take a trip into the past at Colonial Williamsburg and the Jamestown Settlement. You can interact with colonists as you walk the historically accurate Duke of Gloucester Street, see demonstrations of crafts, trades, and products of the 1700's, and enjoy colonial food at several authentic taverns. This is a great Virginia daytrip for children and adults!
4. Virginia vineyards you have to visit
Ninety minutes up Route 17 brings you to the Northern Neck area. This historic region is bound by the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. There are 10 wineries to choose from along with dozens of antique shops.
The Ingleside Vineyard is the oldest in the region. Many vineyards offer tasting events and tours. Here are a few others to check out.
Belle Mount Vineyards. 2570 Newland Road, Warsaw 804-333-4700
General’s Ridge Vineyard. 1618 Weldons Drive, Hague 804-472-3172
The Hague Winery. 8268 Cople Highway, Hague 804-472-5283
Oak Crest Vineyard & Winery. 8215 Oak Crest Drive, King George 540-663-2813
Ingleside Vineyards. 5872 Leedstown Road, Oak Grove 804-224-8687
Vault Field Vineyards. 2953 Kingsmill Road, Kinsale 804-472-4430
Good Luck Cellars. 1025 Good Luck Road, Kilmarnock 804-435-1416
The Dog and Oyster Vineyard. 170 White Fences, Irvington 804-438-9463
Athena Vineyards and Winery. 3138 Jesse Dupont Memorial Highway, Heathsville 804-580-4944
Jacey Winery. 612 Train Lane, Wicomico Church 804-580-4053
Outdoor fun trips from Norfolk, Virginia
5. The Shenandoah Valley
Drive three hours west on I-64, and you’ll arrive in Charlottesville, a college town with a lot to offer. The main campus of the University of Virginia is located here, as several vineyards and historical sites. On the outskirts of town is Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s plantation house and gardens. This region also features stunning views of the nearby mountains.
Shenandoah National Park, in Virginia's Appalachian mountains, offers stunning vistas, challenging hikes, waterfalls, camping, and more. Skyline Drive is a popular route in autumn, when all the leaves are changing colors. Military families get National Park passes for free, so pick one up at the Visitor's Center, and enjoy a day surrounded by nature's beauty.
6. The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
This refuge is the largest intact remnant of a vast habitat that once covered more than one million acres of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. There are over two hundred species of birds, 96 species of butterflies and at least forty-seven species of mammals recorded within the boundaries of the refuge. This outdoor attraction is located in Suffolk. It's the birthplace of Mr. Peanut, the mascot of Planters’ Peanuts, also in Suffolk.
7. The Outer Banks
A couple of hours south of Norfolk are the Outer Banks of North Carolina or OBX. These barrier islands separate the Atlantic Ocean from the mainland. Beautiful beaches, state parks and challenging shipwreck diving sites make the OBX a perfect day trip from Hampton Roads.
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