Hampton Roads has been called one of the finest natural harbors in the world. Home to Navy ships, commercial fishing trawlers, cargo vessels, submarines and pleasure craft, Hampton Roads is a busy estuary that feeds into the Atlantic Ocean via the Chesapeake Bay.

The Hampton River and the City of Hampton are located on the southern portion of Virginia’s Eastern Shore about 12 miles north of Norfolk at the entrance of the James River and its confluence with the Chesapeake Bay. Hampton is an active and vibrant city chocked full of marinas, marine facilities, museums, waterfront restaurants and commercial fishing piers. Hampton makes an excellent stopover or destination location for any boater.

Portions Courtesy City of Hampton Virginia.

Use NOAA Chart 12222.

The Hampton River is reached via Hampton Roads, which also serves as the mouth of the James River at its confluence with the Chesapeake Bay. On entering the Hampton Road area from the Chesapeake Bay, be advised that this is a high traffic area for commercial freighters, tugs with tows and some of the largest Naval vessels on Earth - a close watch is warranted.

Once inside, pick up flashing green “2” just beyond Old Point Comfort. This starts the approach channel to Hampton and the Hampton River. The Hampton River entrance channel has a tabulated depth of 12 feet in mid-channel all the way to the river mouth. Once you are inside the river, a series of markers will guide you toward the 29-foot fixed vertical clearance bridge that sets the overhead clearance for the river.

Local Notices to Mariners are now exclusively available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Local public transportation is provided by Hampton Roads Transit, which runs on regular schedules around the area and also into Norfolk and the Norfolk International Airport.

The Norfolk International Airport features regularly scheduled major air service with connecting service to larger locations. Shuttle and taxi service to and from the facility is avilable by making arrangements with the airport.

For transit schedules and shuttle service to the airport, see the “Helpful Links” section below for more details.

City of Hampton

Hampton Roads Tourism

Hampton Convention and Visitors Bureau

Hampton Calendar of Events

Hampton Roads Transit

Norfolk International Airport