You get to Virginia Beach by car, plane, train, or bus, with most travelers arriving via I-64, I-264, or Norfolk International Airport.
Getting To Virginia Beach: Quick Look At Your Options
When someone asks, how do you get to virginia beach? the short answer is that you have plenty of choices.
You can drive straight to the oceanfront, fly into a nearby airport and pick up a car, ride an Amtrak train with a bus link, or take an intercity coach service.
The best route depends on your starting point, budget, and how much time you want to spend on the road.
Most visitors approach Virginia Beach through the Hampton Roads region of southeast Virginia.
Highways I-64 and I-264 funnel drivers into the city, while Norfolk International Airport handles the bulk of air traffic nearby.
From there, rental cars, ride-hailing apps, local buses, and seasonal trolleys make the last stretch to the sand simple.
Main Ways To Reach Virginia Beach
| Mode | Best For | Quick Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Your Own Car | Families, road trips, short breaks from nearby states | I-64 and I-264 lead into Virginia Beach; flexible timing and easy beach gear packing. |
| Flying Into Norfolk (ORF) | Travelers from farther states who want to save time | Closest major airport, about a 20–30 minute drive to the oceanfront with rental cars and ride-hailing options. |
| Flying Into Newport News (PHF) | Domestic flyers who find better prices or schedules | Roughly an hour away by car; smaller airport with limited routes. |
| Flying Into Richmond (RIC) | Those combining Virginia Beach with a broader Virginia trip | About 2 hours by car; often more flight choices and deals. |
| Amtrak To Norfolk + Bus | East Coast travelers who prefer rail travel | Northeast Regional service to Norfolk, then an Amtrak Thruway bus or local transit to the beachfront. |
| Intercity Buses | Budget-conscious travelers without a car | Coach companies serve nearby cities; final leg may use local buses or ride-hailing to reach the hotel. |
| Rental Car From Any Hub | Fly-and-drive trips or one-way road trips | Pick up at ORF, PHF, or RIC and follow signed routes toward I-264 East and the Oceanfront. |
This first look gives you a sense of what fits your travel style.
The rest of the guide breaks down each way of getting to Virginia Beach so you can choose a route that matches your plans and your nerves about traffic, bridges, and tunnels.
How Do You Get To Virginia Beach? Main Travel Routes
When you spell out the full question, “how do you get to virginia beach?”, the classic answer is still to drive.
Highways connect the city with the rest of the East Coast, and toll-free options exist even where there are paid tunnels in the region.
The Virginia Department of Transportation publishes a clear alternate route to the beach from Richmond and Washington, D.C., which helps drivers pick between tolled and free corridors.:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Driving From Nearby States
If you are starting in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, or the wider Mid-Atlantic, driving straight to Virginia Beach often makes the most sense.
From Richmond and points west or north, you usually follow I-64 toward Hampton Roads, then connect to I-264 East, which runs directly into the Oceanfront area.
Signs for “Virginia Beach” and “Oceanfront” appear well before the city, so the last stretch tends to feel straightforward even for first-timers.
From North Carolina, U.S. 17 and U.S. 13/58 feed into the Hampton Roads network.
Drivers from Raleigh, Durham, or points farther south often link up with U.S. 64 before heading north toward the coast.
Navigation apps do a good job of picking real-time routes through the tunnels and bridges, so keep an eye on live traffic before you commit to one bridge-tunnel over another.
Traffic, Tolls, And Timing
Summer weekends, holiday periods, and sunny spring Saturdays often bring heavy traffic across the region’s bridge-tunnels.
Leaving early in the morning or later in the evening reduces delays, especially if you are arriving on a Friday or heading home on a Sunday.
Some routes include tolls, so check your car’s transponder situation or plan to pay by plate if that is offered.
Parking near the oceanfront usually centers on city garages and lots along Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Avenue.
Rates change by season and by location, so look up current fees and any height limits if you drive an SUV with a box on top.
Once you park, you may find it easier to walk, rent a bike, or ride a trolley rather than move your car again during a busy weekend.
Flying To Virginia Beach: Closest Airports And Transfers
Travelers coming from farther away often start by asking how do you get to Virginia Beach by air.
The simplest approach is to fly into Norfolk International Airport, then drive or ride into the city.
Nearby Newport News and Richmond airports work as backup choices that sometimes offer better fares or routes, especially on specific carriers.:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Norfolk International Airport (ORF)
Norfolk International Airport is the closest major airport to Virginia Beach, roughly 20 miles from the oceanfront.:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
On a normal day, the drive runs around 25 minutes by car, traffic permitting.
Rental car counters sit in or near the terminal, and ride-hailing services pick up at designated zones, which keeps the onward trip simple even for first-time visitors.
After you leave ORF, highway signs quickly direct you toward I-64 and then I-264 East.
Once you merge onto I-264 East, you stay on that road until it turns into 21st Street in Virginia Beach.
From there, it is a short hop to Atlantic Avenue and the boardwalk.
This airport tends to be the best choice for travelers who want a short transfer from plane to hotel with no extra steps.
Other Nearby Airports: PHF And RIC
Newport News–Williamsburg Airport (PHF) sits across the water from Virginia Beach and is usually under an hour away by car.:contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
It has a smaller route map than ORF, yet some travelers find smoother connections or better prices through its carriers.
You follow I-64 toward Hampton Roads and then pick up I-264 East in a similar fashion to the ORF drive.
Richmond International Airport (RIC) lies farther inland, about two hours from Virginia Beach by car.:contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
RIC works well for travelers building a broader Virginia trip that might include Williamsburg, Richmond, or Shenandoah Valley.
You can rent a car there, head east on I-64, and join the same approach that drivers use from Richmond itself.
The official tourism board’s getting here guide lists nearby airports and driving times and stays current as services change through the year.:contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Reaching Virginia Beach By Train Or Intercity Bus
If you prefer to skip a long drive, rail and bus links make “how do you get to virginia beach?” a reasonable question even without a car.
Amtrak’s Northeast Regional runs to Norfolk from East Coast cities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., and connects to Virginia Beach by bus.:contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Amtrak To Norfolk With A Thruway Bus
The usual pattern is to ride an Amtrak Northeast Regional train to Norfolk’s Harbor Park station.
From there, an Amtrak Thruway bus or another connection can carry you to a stop near the Virginia Beach oceanfront.:contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
When you search schedules, you can choose Virginia Beach as your final destination, and Amtrak will bundle the train and bus segments into one ticket.
This option suits travelers who enjoy train travel or want to avoid driving into heavy tunnel traffic.
It also works well if you want to read, work, or relax between major cities and the coast.
Once you arrive in Virginia Beach, you can walk, catch a local bus, or take a short ride-hailing trip to your hotel.
Intercity Buses And Shuttles
Intercity bus companies, including everything from traditional coach brands to newer low-cost carriers, serve the Hampton Roads area.:contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Depending on the carrier, you may arrive directly in Virginia Beach or in a nearby city such as Norfolk or Chesapeake.
From there, local buses, taxis, and ride-hailing apps help you complete the final stretch.
In peak summer season, some hotels and event venues also work with private shuttles for group arrivals.
If you are coming with a wedding party, sports team, or corporate group, ask the host venue whether they contract with a local bus company that can meet your flight or train.
Local Transit In Virginia Beach: Parking, Trolleys, And Rideshare
Once you reach Virginia Beach, you will still want a plan for short hops between your hotel, the boardwalk, attractions, and restaurants.
The city leans heavily on cars, but local transit fills in for visitors who prefer to leave their vehicle parked.:contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
Walking and biking work well along the oceanfront strip, while seasonal trolleys and shuttles cover longer stretches.
VB Wave Trolleys And Bayfront Shuttle
From mid-May through Labor Day, Hampton Roads Transit runs the VB Wave trolley lines and the Bayfront Shuttle.:contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
These routes link the resort area, Rudee Inlet, the Virginia Aquarium, First Landing State Park, and Chesapeake Bay beaches.
They run frequently during the day and late into the evening in peak season, which makes them handy for families who do not want to move a car each time they head out for dinner.
Fares stay budget-friendly, and you can usually pay with cash or contactless methods on board.
Stops sit close to the main hotels along Atlantic Avenue, so the walk from your lobby to a trolley stop rarely takes long.
Check Hampton Roads Transit’s website or mobile tools right before your trip for up-to-date schedules and route maps.
Year-Round Buses, Parking, And Rideshare
Outside the summer trolley season, regular Hampton Roads Transit buses serve Virginia Beach year-round, linking Town Center, shopping districts, and the resort strip.:contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
Service levels change by route and by time of day, so look up the line numbers that pass your hotel and save them in your map app.
City parking garages around the oceanfront area give drivers a place to leave the car while they walk the boardwalk.
Many visitors rely on ride-hailing apps for evening outings when they do not want to think about parking at all.
Short trips along Atlantic Avenue usually cost less than a long ride from one end of the region to the other, so it is smart to keep longer hops for daytime bus or trolley rides when possible.
Airports Near Virginia Beach And Drive Times
| Airport | Approx. Distance To Oceanfront | Typical Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk International (ORF) | About 20 miles | 25–35 minutes in normal traffic |
| Newport News–Williamsburg (PHF) | About 44 miles | 50–70 minutes, depending on tunnel traffic |
| Richmond International (RIC) | About 100 miles | Around 2 hours by car |
| Washington Reagan (DCA) | About 200 miles | 3.5–4.5 hours by car, longer on busy weekends |
| Baltimore/Washington (BWI) | About 230 miles | 4–5 hours by car in normal conditions |
These times do not include heavy holiday traffic, summer Saturday backups, or weather delays, so keep a buffer in your schedule.
If you land late at night or during a storm, allow extra time between your flight and any reservation you have on the beach, especially dinner bookings or show tickets.
Choosing The Best Way To Get To Virginia Beach For Your Trip
By this point, the question “how do you get to virginia beach?” becomes less about whether you can reach the city and more about which route fits your plans.
Road trippers who want full control usually stick with driving and use I-64 and I-264 along with the beach route guidance from the state.
Flyers who want a short transfer pick Norfolk, while those planning a wider Virginia loop might start in Richmond.
Rail passengers who enjoy a smooth ride down the East Coast can build a train-and-bus ticket straight to Virginia Beach through Amtrak.
Budget travelers often combine intercity buses with local transit and seasonal trolleys to keep costs low.
Families with young children might lean toward a rental car so that naps, beach toys, and coolers stay within easy reach.
Think about how much luggage you will carry, who you are traveling with, and how comfortable you feel with bridges, tunnels, and city driving.
With that in mind, you can pick the route that keeps stress low and leaves you with the most energy for the boardwalk, the waves, and a plate of seafood once you arrive.
No matter which option you choose, a bit of advance planning turns the trip to Virginia Beach into a smooth start to your time on the coast.