Getting Around
Downtown Norfolk is compact, walkable and easy to get around with multiple modes of transportation, both on land and water. We lay out all your options here.
Parking
To meet the needs of Downtown visitors, residents, workers, students and shoppers, the City of Norfolk's Division of Parking offers ample safe, convenient and affordable Downtown parking with more than 19,000 public parking spaces. For a list of downtown parking garages, click here or visit our SNAP MAP™ and select Parking Garages.
Rates for each facility are posted at the entrance to the facility. Meters are priced in 15-minute increments. To manage on-street parking, meters have a 2-hour limit, with the exception of the meters in front of the Waterside Marketplace, which have a 15-minute limit. Most facilities allow short-term and long-term parking. For additional information on parking rates by facility, click here.
Meters are priced in 15-minute increments. To manage on-street parking, meters have a 2-hour limit. Metered street parking is free during these times: Daily after 6pm; Saturday 9am-6pm - two hours within posted times; Sunday - all day.
ParkNorfolk Mobile Pay makes is quick and easy to pay using your mobile phone. Sign up now for Mobile Pay. Download the free app for iphone or android. Click here for more information.
Electric Car Charging Stations
Electric car chargers are available in the Waterside, MacArthur Center, Bank Street, and Town Point garages, thanks to a donation from electric car maker Tesla and reflecting the city’s commitment to providing environmentally-friendly transportation options. Chargers are both universal and Tesla-specific. Users are only charged the regular garage parking rate; once in the parking garage, there is no additional fee to use the chargers.
Lime E-Scooters
Lime-S scooter share provides on-demand first- and last-mile transportation solutions that help people seamlessly move throughout their neighborhoods and across the community to meet their daily needs. Whether connecting to and from HRT’s Tide light rail, accessing Norfolk’s college campuses, or commuting to a Downtown workplace, Lime can be easily incorporated into daily or weekly travel routines.
It’s easy to scoot! To find a Lime near you, download and open the Lime app through Google Play or the Apple App Store. Lime pricing is $1.00 per ride to unlock a scooter and $0.15 per minute of use.
How To Lime:
- Download the Lime app
- View nearby scooters
- Scan the QR code or enter number to unlock
- Lock up safely when finished
- Park curbside or at any public bike rack
Please ride responsibly! You must be 18+ to ride and helmets are strongly recommended. For a step-by-step tutorial, click here.
Pedego Electric Bikes
Pedego Norfolk not only sells Electric Bikes, but also offers rentals as a fun way to see Norfolk and beyond. The electric assist empowers you to go farther and faster, so you can see more in less time – all in comfort and style. And it’s fun!
Pedego Norfolk is conveniently located near the Elizabeth River Trail, a 10.5 mile bike/walking trail along Norfolk waterfronts and through picturesque neighborhoods.
Locks and helmets are included with every rental.
Biking
Norfolk is evolving into a cycling destination for those looking for a casual afternoon ride, commuting to work or exercising. The city has a renewed focus on providing safe and enjoyable riding experiences for all. From sharrows on downtown streets to accessible bike parking, we are working to make Norfolk the hub of biking in the Hampton Roads area.
Bike Parking
The Downtown Norfolk Council collaborated with the City of Norfolk to install arc bike racks all over the downtown area. You can find these alongside a series of sculptural bike racks created by local artists, a bike corral and a bicycle maintenance station at MacArthur Square. Click here for our downtown map and select bike racks to find ample places to park your bike.
Electric Bikes
Pedego
Trails
Bike Network map
Elizabeth River Trail
Area Bike Organizations
Bike Norfolk
Social Cycling Norfolk
Safety
Biking in Norfolk
Events
Norfolk Bike Month
Public Transit
Hampton Roads Transit (HRT)
HRT is the region’s public transportation system connecting the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Hampton and Newport News. Transportation options include buses, light rail (The Tide) and ferries. For additional transportation information, please visit GoHRT.com
|
Fares for HRT Service (Not including the MAX) |
|
|---|---|
| Bus Fare 1 Ride one-way | $2.00 |
| Light Rail 1 Ride one-way | $2.00 |
| Go 1-Day Pass | $4.50 |
| Go 1-Day Bundle of Five | $21.00 |
| Go 7-Day Pass | $22.00 |
| Go 30-Day Pass | $70.00 |
| Youth, Senior and Disabled Fares | |
| 1 Ride Senior/Disabled | $1.00 |
|
1 Ride Youth (under 18 with ID) with fare paying adult or Student Freedom Pass |
FREE |
| Go 1-Day Pass | $2.00 |
| Go 7-Day Pass | $22.00 |
| Go 1-Day Bundle of Five | $10.50 |
| Go 30-Day Pass | $40.00 |
The Tide
We are proud that Norfolk was the first city in the region to embrace light rail. The Tide rail system extends 7.4 miles, originating on the city’s west side at Eastern Virginia Medical Center, through Downtown Norfolk and then eastward to Newtown Road. There are eleven stops and four stop-and-ride facilities along the route. The Tide is a convenient option for destinations such as Norfolk State University, Tidewater Community College’s Norfolk campus, City Hall, Harbor Park, MacArthur Center and Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
For a map of The Tide system and stops, click here.
Service Schedule Every 10 minutes during peak rush hour (6:30-9am and 3:30-7pm) . Every 15 minutes during off peak hours (6-6:30am, 9am-3:30pm, 7-9:30pm) and Sundays . Every 30 minutes during evening hours (after 9:30pm). Saturdays: Every 15 minutes mid-day and every 30 minutes morning/evening
Click here to purchase your All Day Light Rail Pass.
TRAFFIX Rewards
Get rewards with every ride with TRAFFIX!
TRAFFIX, a service of Hampton Roads Transit, is an online commuter solutions program where you can track your commute costs and set up carpool, vanpools, and ride-sharing opportunities. Users earn points for every trip that can redeemed at local restaurants, retailers, and more! Visit TRAFFIX today to sign up and start earning rewards.
Elizabeth River Ferry
HRT runs three 150-passenger Paddlewheel Ferry boats between Waterside in Downtown Norfolk and North Landing and High Street across the Elizabeth River in Portsmouth. Trips are fast, economical and offer panoramic views of the harbor. The Ferry operates every 30 minutes, or every 15 minutes during peak times on summer weekends. The Ferry is wheelchair accessible and passengers can walk on with bicycles.
Click here for schedule and fare information.
F.R.E.D., Serving the Downtown Improvement District
Battery-operated with a solar-powered roof, F.R.E.D. (Free Ride Every Day) is not only green but convenient. Able to carry 5 passengers, he is an extension of the Safety Escort Service available daily by our Public Service Ambassadors. F.R.E.D. is an on-demand courtesy shuttle driven by trained Ambassadors and is available at no cost by calling 757-478-7233.
F.R.E.D. operates Monday through Thursday from 11am to 9pm, Friday from 11am-11:30pm, and Saturday from 3:30pm-11:30pm. Trips on F.R.E.D. must originate or end within the boundaries of the Downtown Improvement District.
Due to DMV regulations, passengers on F.R.E.D must be over 8 years of age.
Taxi Service
No matter where you are in Downtown Norfolk, there is a taxi stand nearby. Here are Downtown taxi service providers:
Andy's Taxi Group
757-461-8880
Black & White
757-855-4444
City Wide Cabs
757-622-5630
Duke Cab
757-202-3564
Coastal Rides
757-855-3333
Waterside Taxi Co.
757-531-6430
Getting Here
Arriving By Land
From Richmond, Washington D.C. and points North & West
Follow I-95 South to I-64 East in Richmond.
Follow I-64 through Williamsburg, Newport News and Hampton into Norfolk.
Take Exit #284 onto I-264 West towards Downtown Norfolk.
Take Exit #9, Waterside Drive.
From New York, Philadelphia and points North
Follow Route 13 through the Eastern Shores of Maryland and Virginia.
Cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.
Stay on Route 13, which will become Northampton Blvd.
Take Northampton Blvd. to I-64 East.
Take Exit #284 onto I-264 West towards Downtown Norfolk.
Take Exit #9, Waterside Drive.
From Raleigh and points South
Take I-95 North to Route 58 East.
Exit onto I-664 East to I-264 East.
Follow through the Downtown Tunnel and cross the Berkley Bridge.
Take Exit #9, Waterside Drive.
Arriving By Sea
Downtown Norfolk and the Waterside Marina are located at ICW Mile 0, Buoy 36. As you approach from the south, Downtown’s buildings will be visible for several miles. The Marina entrance is directly below the Bank of America logo. From the north, tall buildings are also prominent, and the approach landmarks include Lambert’s Point coal piers, the Army Corps of Engineers and the USS Wisconsin Battleship.
Call 757-625-3625 or visit Waterside Marina for marina information and seasonal hours of operation for slip reservations.
Arriving By Train
Amtrak train service originates in Norfolk with daily roundtrip service from Norfolk to Petersburg, Richmond, Washington DC and cities all the way to Boston.
- Daily roundtrip travel originating from Norfolk
- One-seat rides to destinations up to Boston.
- A transportation option for military members traveling between Southside Hampton Roads, Fort Lee, Quantico and the Pentagon
- A 10% fare discount for active-duty military and family - Visit amtrakvirginia.com for details
- Easy online reservations and eTicketing at Amtrak download the Travel Smart app to your smartphone.
- Amtrak Norfolk Station is staffed and tickets can be purchased at the station at 280 Park Avenue.
- Best rates can be found by booking at least 2 weeks in advance.