Chesapeake is one of the largest cities by land area on the entire East Coast, and getting a group across it — from Deep Creek to Greenbrier to the Great Dismal Swamp corridor — takes real coordination. Party Bus Norfolk makes it simple. Call 757-524-8568 or grab an all-inclusive quote online in under 30 seconds to lock in your Chesapeake party bus rental today.
A few of the organizations across Chesapeake that have trusted us with their group transportation.
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Party Bus Norfolk has been coordinating group transportation across Hampton Roads since 2011, and Chesapeake is one of our busiest corridors. We know Battlefield Boulevard during school dismissal, we know Greenbrier Parkway on a Friday night, and we know exactly how long it takes to get from the Deep Creek area to a game at Harbor Park in Norfolk when the Midtown Tunnel is backed up. That local knowledge — which routes stay clear, which exits to avoid, which lots at Norfolk venues have oversized-vehicle clearance — is built into every booking we handle.
Our fleet covers every group size: compact Sprinter vans and 14-passenger Sprinter limos for small executive transfers, 15- to 50-passenger party buses for celebrations, 15- to 35-passenger minibuses for school and corporate shuttles, and 40- to 56-passenger charter buses for large events and field trips. Every quote is all-inclusive with no surprise costs — you see the full number before you commit to anything. Our reservation team picks up 24/7/365, so whether you are planning a bachelorette itinerary through the Greenbrier entertainment strip or coordinating a church retreat to the Outer Banks, we are one call away.
Give us a call at 757-524-8568 any time.
From 14-passenger Sprinter limos to full 56-passenger charter buses, our fleet works for any Chesapeake group. Need a nimble minibus for a corporate shuttle between Greenbrier and Norfolk? Done.
Planning a big celebration that calls for a party bus with a built-in bar and LED lighting? We have that too. Browse our full fleet or call 757-524-8568 for instant availability.
Party buses in our fleet come loaded with a full-length bar, color-changing LED lighting, premium Bluetooth sound, flat-panel TVs, and wraparound perimeter seating with a center dance area — everything your Chesapeake celebration needs from the first pickup to last drop-off. Minibuses offer powerful climate control and plush reclining seats, ideal for corporate runs or wedding guest shuttles between hotel blocks along Greenbrier and ceremony venues in the Western Branch corridor. Full-size charter buses add undercarriage luggage bays, onboard restrooms, WiFi, and power outlets — the right call for school field trips to Virginia Beach or long hauls down to the Outer Banks.
ADA-accessible vehicles are available across the fleet; just mention your needs when you book.
Air-conditioning
Wraparound Leather Seats
Premium AUX / Bluetooth Sound System
LED and Fiber Optic Lighting
Built-in Bar Areas With Ice Storage and Cup Holders
TVs and Premium Entertainment Systems
Chesapeake party bus rental prices depend on vehicle size, your date, and how many hours you need. Here is what to plan for: 14-passenger Sprinter limos run $170–$344/hour; 15–20 passenger party buses run $204–$378/hour; 20–30 passenger party buses run $244–$414/hour; 35–50 passenger party buses and minibuses run $294–$490/hour; and 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour or $1,200–$2,500/day. Weekend rates run higher than weekdays, and peak windows — prom season in April and May, Norfolk Harborfest in June, and the holiday stretch from Thanksgiving through New Year's — fill up fast.
You will never hit a hidden cost. Every quote from Party Bus Norfolk is all-inclusive, and you see the full number before you book. Call 757-524-8568 for a no-obligation quote, or use our online tool for a price in under 30 seconds.
| Type of Bus | Cost Per Hour Weekdays | Cost Per Hour Weekends | Cost Per Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Passenger Sprinter Limo | $170 – $318+ | $219 – $344+ | $1,526 – $3,113+ |
| Sprinter Van Rental | $187 – $273+ | $218 – $366+ | $1,395 – $2,748+ |
| 15 Passenger Party Bus | $204 – $330+ | $241 – $312+ | $1,396 – $2,817+ |
| 18 Passenger Party Bus | $266 – $330+ | $268 – $378+ | $2,121 – $2,563+ |
| 20 Passenger Party Bus | $244 – $338+ | $268 – $340+ | $1,939 – $2,796+ |
| 25 Passenger Party Bus | $248 – $326+ | $265 – $360+ | $1,827 – $2,854+ |
| 28 Passenger Party Bus | $255 – $337+ | $279 – $351+ | $2,147 – $2,653+ |
| 30 Passenger Party Bus | $297 – $374+ | $318 – $414+ | $2,331 – $3,021+ |
| 40 Passenger Party Bus | $297 – $338+ | $321 – $478+ | $2,297 – $3,473+ |
| 50 Passenger Party Bus | $294 – $441+ | $337 – $490+ | $2,173 – $4,043+ |
| 15–35 Passenger Minibus | $113 – $246+ | $147 – $261+ | $1,098 – $2,105+ |
| 40–56 Passenger Charter Bus | $162 – $348+ | $158 – $327+ | $1,331 – $2,841+ |
| Rates vary by trip length, travel dates, passenger count, amenities, and availability. Use our online quote form or call 757-524-8568 for exact pricing. | |||
Chesapeake does not have a compact downtown grid — it sprawls across 353 square miles of suburban corridors, rural stretches, and waterway crossings, and that geography creates real coordination headaches for group travel. Getting twenty people from the Western Branch side of town to a concert at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk means navigating I-464, merging through the Berkley Bridge interchange, and then hunting for parking in a downtown that fills up fast on event nights. Getting a group from Deep Creek to Virginia Beach on a Saturday means crawling down I-64 with everyone else doing the same.
A Chesapeake party bus rental takes that entire problem off the table.
Party Bus Norfolk has been handling exactly these routes since 2011 — thousands of groups, every occasion, every corner of Hampton Roads. Our all-inclusive pricing means the quote you get is the price you pay. Our 24/7 reservation team is available any time you need to adjust a pickup window or add a stop.
We offer a wide variety of vehicles, so you never pay for seats you do not need. And because we plan the whole trip — route, timing, drop-off, pickup — your group focuses on the event while the logistics take care of themselves. Call 757-524-8568 and we will get your Chesapeake group moving.
Party Bus Norfolk handles group transportation for every kind of occasion out of Chesapeake — from airport runs to Norfolk International, to wedding shuttles across the Western Branch, to field trips through Great Dismal Swamp. Whatever brings your group together, we have a vehicle and a plan ready. Call 757-524-8568 to get started.
Norfolk International Airport (ORF) (2200 Norview Ave, Norfolk, VA 23518) sits roughly 18 miles from central Chesapeake, but the route from Greenbrier — north on I-64, across the Hampton Roads bridge tangle, and through Norfolk's surface streets — runs 30 to 45 minutes depending on when you go, and significantly longer if you hit the I-64/I-264 interchange during morning rush. For a group with luggage, splitting that commute across multiple rideshares is a genuine headache.
A Chesapeake airport shuttle bus from Party Bus Norfolk solves the whole thing. One vehicle, one departure window, everyone's bags in the undercarriage — and no one scrambling to find their rideshare match code curbside at departures. We also serve Richmond International (RIC) for groups traveling to Central Virginia and Dulles International (IAD) for international connections.
Have your group coordinator call us once everyone is collected with luggage and ready at the agreed pickup point, and we handle the rest. Call 757-524-8568 to book your Chesapeake airport transportation today.
The Hampton Roads nightlife circuit — Waterside District in Norfolk, the Virginia Beach Oceanfront strip, and the bars along Greenbrier Parkway — is a great bachelorette playground, and a Chesapeake party bus rental is the smartest way to hit all of it without handing anyone the keys. Start at a waterfront happy hour at the Waterside District (333 Waterside Dr, Norfolk, VA 23510), cross over to Atlantic Avenue on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront for late-night clubs, then loop back to Chesapeake whenever your group is ready. Our 15- to 50-passenger party buses come with a full bar, color-changing LED lighting, premium sound, and flat-panel TVs — the party is fully underway before you reach the first stop.
The Midtown Tunnel runs $2.10 to $4.20 per trip depending on the time and payment method; over a night of back-and-forth between Chesapeake and Norfolk, that adds up fast across multiple rideshares. One party bus, one flat rate, zero toll math. Call 757-524-8568 to plan your Chesapeake bachelorette night.
A party bus arrival is one of the most memorable ways to make an entrance at a Sweet 16 or quinceañera in Chesapeake — and with venues like The Founders Inn and Spa (5641 Indian River Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23464) and Chesapeake Conference Center (700 Conference Center Dr, Chesapeake, VA 23320) drawing celebrations from across the region, getting the whole crew there together makes the night. Our party buses can be color-coordinated with your theme, and the built-in bar, LED lighting, and sound system mean the entrance is already a moment before the bus doors open.
For adult milestone birthdays making a night of the Greenbrier entertainment corridor or heading into the Ghent neighborhood in Norfolk for a rooftop crawl, a bus rental in Chesapeake keeps everyone together — and no one stuck being the designated driver while everyone else celebrates. We work with groups of all sizes; call 757-524-8568 and we will match you to the right vehicle.
Chesapeake is right on the doorstep of Hampton Roads' best concert venues, and every one of them comes with a parking and traffic problem your group does not need to deal with. Chartway Arena at Old Dominion University (4320 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23529) hosts ODU basketball and major touring acts — parking on Grayson Street runs out fast on sold-out nights, and the garage fill-up pushes fans toward surface lots that are a long walk from the entrance. Chrysler Hall (215 St Paul's Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23510) draws Broadway tours and orchestral performances to downtown Norfolk, where metered street parking disappears early and garage rates spike on event evenings.
Norfolk Scope Arena (201 E Brambleton Ave, Norfolk, VA 23510) packs in Admirals hockey fans and national touring headliners, with downtown congestion backing up on Brambleton Avenue well before doors open.
A Chesapeake concert party bus handles the whole equation — one flat cost, everyone loaded at your door, dropped steps from the entrance, and waiting when the show ends. Call 757-524-8568 for a quote.
Chesapeake's corporate base — Greenbrier's office parks, the industrial corridor along I-464, and the healthcare campuses spread across the city — generates a constant need for group movement that public transit and individual cars handle poorly. Shuttling a sales team from Greenbrier to a conference at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott (235 E Main St, Norfolk, VA 23510) means crossing into downtown Norfolk, where convention-day parking at the adjacent garage runs $20 or more and the Granby Street corridor bogs down around noon. A Chesapeake corporate bus rental handles the whole route — staff boards together, arrives together, and no one is circling a Norfolk garage while the keynote starts without them.
For multi-day conferences at the Norfolk Convention Center (100 E 2nd St, Norfolk, VA 23510), a dedicated shuttle loop between Chesapeake hotel blocks and the convention floor keeps your team on schedule without tying up individual vehicles. Executive Sprinter vans work well for smaller VIP transfers, while a full-size charter bus handles larger all-hands moves. Call 757-524-8568 to build a Chesapeake corporate shuttle plan.
Chesapeake's size is a challenge for private events that pull guests from across the metro. A family reunion that starts at a park in the South Norfolk corridor and moves to a waterfront dinner in Downtown Norfolk means asking guests to navigate two different cities, two different traffic patterns, and downtown parking — or you book one bus and it becomes one seamless day. The same logic applies to church retreats heading to the Outer Banks, holiday party shuttles between the Greenbrier hotel strip and a private event space, and graduation celebrations that span multiple stops.
The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge draws group nature tours year-round, and the refuge's limited parking means a charter bus that drops and waits near the Washington Ditch trailhead is genuinely more practical than a caravan of a dozen cars. For the Chesapeake Jubilee each May at City Park (formerly Chesapeake City Park), traffic on Battlefield Boulevard backs up significantly during the weekend festival, and shuttling from remote lots makes much more sense than individual parking. Call 757-524-8568 and we will build a plan around your specific event.
Prom season — late April through May — is the single busiest window of the year for party bus and charter rentals across Chesapeake, Suffolk, and the broader Hampton Roads metro. High schools across the region hold their proms within the same compressed six-week stretch, and the right-size vehicles go fast. Oscar Smith High School, Deep Creek High School, Great Bridge High School, and Western Branch High School all draw on the same regional vehicle pool, and by March the best buses for May prom nights are spoken for.
For prom: book by January or expect limited availability and premium pricing in the spring. A typical 6-hour prom rental for 30 students — school pickup, a pre-prom photo stop at a waterfront park along the Elizabeth River, venue drop-off, and a post-event return — runs $1,800–$2,200 when booked early but climbs significantly when booked last-minute. Party Bus Norfolk coordinates with parent committees across Chesapeake; call 757-524-8568 to lock in your date now.
Chesapeake public schools run field trips to destinations across Hampton Roads and beyond, and the geography of the city — spread across multiple distinct communities — makes coordinated group transportation essential. A trip from a Deep Creek elementary school to Nauticus & the Battleship Wisconsin (One Waterside Dr, Norfolk, VA 23510) in downtown Norfolk is a 25-mile run that crosses city lines and requires parking a large vehicle in a dense waterfront district. The museum has designated group drop-off and bus parking on Waterside Drive, and knowing that approach ahead of time is the difference between a smooth arrival and a 20-minute scramble at the curb.
Field trips to Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center (717 General Booth Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23451) require navigating General Booth Boulevard, which backs up on weekends and during peak summer season — midweek school trips avoid the worst of it. Charter buses include PA systems, TV monitors, overhead bins for backpacks and lunch bags, and undercarriage storage for equipment. ADA-accessible vehicles are always available with advance notice.
Call 757-524-8568 to book school field trip transportation in Chesapeake.
Chesapeake fans heading to Hampton Roads sporting events deal with the same compressed highway network every time: I-64 to Norfolk, the Midtown or Downtown Tunnel if you need to cross, and then venue parking that costs real money and fills early. Harbor Park (150 Park Ave, Norfolk, VA 23510) hosts Norfolk Tides AAA baseball along the Elizabeth River waterfront, and the surface lots on the west side of the stadium fill on weekend nights, pushing latecomers into metered street parking or the Commercial Place garage a longer walk away. Chartway Arena packs in 8,000-plus fans for ODU Monarchs basketball, and the Grayson Street lot sells out for marquee matchups.
A Chesapeake sporting event charter bus drops your group near the gate and handles the full return run when the game ends — while everyone else is fighting the post-game tunnel backup. For fans heading across the water to watch the Hampton Roads Whalers at Norfolk Scope, a party bus with the game-day energy already running is the obvious call. Call 757-524-8568 for a game-day quote.
Wedding guests flying into Norfolk International, staying at the Greenbrier hotel corridor, and attending a ceremony in the Western Branch or Hickory area of Chesapeake are dealing with significant distances — and expecting them to figure that out on their own on a Saturday afternoon is a lot to ask. A Chesapeake wedding shuttle keeps the out-of-town guests together, on schedule, and off unfamiliar roads.
Popular Chesapeake wedding venues like Chesapeake Arboretum (201 Caratoke Hwy, Chesapeake, VA 23323) and ceremony sites along the Northwest River sit on roads that are not intuitive for guests coming from Norfolk hotels. A minibus loop from the hotel to the ceremony site, then to the reception venue, and back — timed around your specific event schedule — keeps your timeline tight and your guests relaxed. The 14-passenger Sprinter limo handles bridal party transportation on the wedding day itself.
Because we have been coordinating Hampton Roads weddings since 2011, we know how to build pickup windows that absorb the small delays every wedding day produces. Call 757-524-8568 for a Chesapeake wedding shuttle quote.
The Hampton Roads wine and craft beer scene has grown significantly, and a Chesapeake winery tour party bus is the only sensible way to do it properly. Mermaid Winery (3530 E Virginia Beach Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23502) offers one of the region's most accessible wine tasting experiences, just a short run from Chesapeake across the city line. Wasserhund Brewing Company (1805 Laskin Rd, Suite 102, Virginia Beach, VA 23454) draws a loyal crowd in the Hilltop area of Virginia Beach with its German-inspired lineup and outdoor patio.
Closer to home in Chesapeake, Big Ugly Brewing (7000 Harbour View Blvd, Suffolk, VA 23435) is a short hop west and well worth the stop.
A party bus or minibus keeps your tasting crew together between every stop — no one doing the responsible-person rotation, no one getting left at the bar, and no one watching their parking meter from across the taproom. Call 757-524-8568 for a Chesapeake pub crawl or winery tour quote.
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Party Bus Norfolk serves Chesapeake and the full Hampton Roads region. Whether you need a Norfolk charter bus for a Tides game, a Virginia Beach party bus for a bachelorette weekend on the Oceanfront, a Portsmouth minibus rental, a Newport News shuttle for a corporate event, or a Hampton bus rental for a school field trip — we have the right vehicle. Call 757-524-8568 and let us get your group moving.
We Go Anywhere!
Party Bus Norfolk proudly serves Chesapeake, Virginia and every nearby community across Metro Norfolk. If you don't see your city listed, call us at 757-524-8568 — we go anywhere your group needs to roll!
Booked this for my sister's bachelorette and honestly it set the whole tone for the night. Twelve of us piled in, the LED lights were already going, and we hit three spots around Chesapeake without anyone having to figure out parking or rides. The built-in bar meant we could keep the party going between stops. Everybody kept asking how I found it. 10/10, would do it again in a heartbeat.
Jasmine R.
Marcus
Our company did a year-end thing and rented this to shuttle the team between the office and dinner. I expected something boring and corporate but the sound system and lights had everyone loosening up before we even got to the restaurant. Plenty of room to actually talk and move around. Made a regular work night feel like an event. Already telling other departments to do the same.
Aaliyah T.
Wedding day transportation, and this was the best call we made. The whole bridal party fit comfortably, hair and dresses and all, and we rolled up to the venue with the music going. Booking was simple and they had us where we needed to be on time. Getting everyone from the ceremony to the reception with zero stress was worth every penny.
Danny
Took this out for a brewery tour with about ten buddies. The whole point was nobody wanting to keep track of who was driving, and this solved it instantly. We hit four breweries, played our own playlist the entire time, and the space inside was way bigger than it looks. Honestly the bus between stops was half the fun. Solid move for any group day-drinking around Chesapeake.
Chesapeake party bus rental prices vary based on vehicle size, the date, and how long you need the bus. Our pricing: 14-passenger Sprinter limos run $170–$344/hour; 15–20 passenger party buses run $204–$378/hour; 20–30 passenger party buses run $244–$414/hour; 35–50 passenger party buses and minibuses run $294–$490/hour; and 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour or $1,200–$2,500/day. Weekend dates, peak prom season, and major event weekends like Norfolk Harborfest in June all affect final pricing.
Every quote from Party Bus Norfolk is all-inclusive — no hidden costs. Call 757-524-8568 or use our online tool for a number in under 30 seconds.
A 14-passenger Sprinter limo or 15- to 20-passenger party bus is the right fit for small celebrations, bridal party runs, or VIP airport transfers. A 15- to 35-passenger minibus works well for corporate shuttles, school field trips, and wedding guest loops. If your group runs 35 people or more — a large fan group heading to Harbor Park, a full-grade field trip, or a major private event — a 40- to 56-passenger charter bus gives you the best per-head value and the undercarriage storage for gear.
Not sure? Call 757-524-8568 and we will size it for you based on your headcount and itinerary.
Norfolk International Airport (ORF) commercial vehicle pickup operates at the Ground Transportation curb on the Arrivals level of the main terminal. Once your full group has collected luggage and is assembled at the curb, your group coordinator contacts us and the bus moves to the commercial pickup lane. Do not call for the bus until everyone is together with bags — timing at ORF matters because the commercial lane is actively managed.
ORF sits roughly 18 miles from central Chesapeake via I-64; with a direct group pickup, you skip the rental car facility, skip the shuttle, and go straight to your Chesapeake destination. We highly recommend reviewing the official ORF ground transportation page before your arrival day.
Yes. The Midtown Tunnel connects Downtown Norfolk to Portsmouth and has a posted height clearance of 14 feet 6 inches. Standard charter buses and most party buses in our fleet clear that height.
Oversized vehicles or double-deck configurations would be a different calculation, but none of those are in our standard lineup. The Midtown Tunnel toll runs $2.10–$4.20 per trip depending on time of day and payment method, which is factored into our all-inclusive quotes. The Downtown Tunnel (I-264) is also an option for routes between Chesapeake and Portsmouth.
Both are managed by Elizabeth River Crossings; check elizabethrivercrossings.com for current toll rates and lane status before your trip.
The four windows that consistently squeeze Hampton Roads vehicle availability: prom season (April–May), when every school in Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, and Norfolk competes for the same pool of buses; Norfolk Harborfest in June, which draws hundreds of thousands to the Downtown Norfolk waterfront and spikes demand across the region; graduation weekends in May and June at ODU, NSU, and Hampton University; and the December holiday stretch through New Year's Eve. Book three to six months out for any of these windows. For regular-season sporting events and most private events outside those periods, two to four weeks of lead time is workable — but the earlier you confirm your date, the better your vehicle selection.
We recommend booking your Chesapeake party bus at least three to six months in advance for any event tied to a major demand window — prom, graduation, Harborfest, New Year's Eve. For most other events, two to four weeks is manageable, but earlier always means better pricing and more vehicle options. The moment your headcount and date are confirmed, that is the right time to call.
Lock in your rate before availability narrows. Call 757-524-8568 right now to secure your date.
A Chesapeake party bus itinerary can take your group across the full Hampton Roads region. From waterfront venues in Norfolk to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront to Chesapeake's own parks and event spaces, here are six destinations worth building your trip around.
The Waterside District (333 Waterside Dr, Norfolk, VA 23510) sits on the downtown Norfolk waterfront and serves as the hub of Hampton Roads nightlife and dining — a short run from Chesapeake across the Midtown Tunnel on a Friday or Saturday night. The complex houses a rotating lineup of bars, restaurants, and live music venues under one roof, with outdoor seating overlooking the Elizabeth River. Parking at Waterside is available in the adjacent Waterside Parking Garage, but spots fill fast on weekend evenings and event nights.
A Chesapeake party bus drops your group at the Waterside Drive entrance and handles the return run whenever your group is ready. Phone: (757) 622-6900.
Nauticus (One Waterside Dr, Norfolk, VA 23510) is a maritime science museum and home port of the Battleship Wisconsin — one of the largest and last surviving Iowa-class battleships, permanently moored on the Norfolk waterfront. The museum runs school group programs and public tours year-round, and the adjacent Nauticus Plaza is one of the most recognizable outdoor event spaces in the region. Group bus drop-off operates along Waterside Drive, with parking in the nearby areas on Boush Street.
Field trips from Chesapeake schools are common, and a charter bus makes the 20-mile run from Western Branch or Deep Creek significantly more manageable than coordinating a car caravan through downtown Norfolk. Reserve group visits through the museum's education department. Phone: (757) 664-1000.
Chesapeake Arboretum (201 Caratoke Hwy, Chesapeake, VA 23323) spans 43 acres of native trees, walking trails, and open lawn — a beloved local green space that doubles as one of the area's most sought-after outdoor wedding and private event venues. The arboretum hosts weddings, corporate outdoor events, and seasonal festivals, and its rural-feeling setting along Caratoke Highway is deceiving — it sits in the heart of the city. Parking on site is limited during larger events, and the access road through the Northwest River corridor requires knowing your route.
A charter bus or minibus waits conveniently in the lot while your event runs. The arboretum is managed by the City of Chesapeake; contact the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism at (757) 382-6411 to inquire about event access and group logistics.
Harbor Park (150 Park Ave, Norfolk, VA 23510) sits on the Elizabeth River waterfront in downtown Norfolk and is home to the Norfolk Tides, the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The ballpark holds roughly 12,000 fans and offers one of the best minor-league atmospheres in the East Coast League, with views of the river and the Norfolk skyline beyond the outfield. On-site surface lots on the west side of the stadium fill by first pitch on weekend nights; the Commercial Place garage is a workable backup but adds a longer walk.
A Chesapeake charter bus gets your group dropped near the main gates on Park Avenue, skips the lot scramble entirely, and waits for the post-game pickup. The Tides season runs April through September. Phone: (757) 622-2222.
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center (717 General Booth Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23451) is one of the most-visited attractions in Virginia, drawing more than 700,000 guests annually across two buildings connected by a boardwalk over the Owls Creek wetlands. For school groups from Chesapeake, the 15-mile run down I-64 and onto General Booth Boulevard is straightforward midweek, but General Booth becomes gridlocked on summer weekends and during Beach Week — a charter bus timed for a midweek school day arrival avoids the worst of it entirely. The aquarium has dedicated group entrance lanes and ample bus parking in the main lot on General Booth.
Group rates and advance reservations are available through the aquarium's education department. Phone: (757) 385-3474.
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge straddles the Virginia–North Carolina border, with its primary Virginia entrance and visitor infrastructure centered on the Washington Ditch trailhead off White Marsh Road in Suffolk — about 20 miles west of central Chesapeake via Route 17 and Route 337. The refuge encompasses 112,000 acres of forested wetlands and is home to Lake Drummond, one of only two natural lakes in Virginia. Parking at the Washington Ditch trailhead is small — a few dozen spaces — which makes a single charter bus that drops the group and waits in the lot far more practical than a convoy of individual cars filling the lot and spilling onto White Marsh Road.
The refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and is open year-round during daylight hours. Phone: (757) 986-3705.