Getting to Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe is located in Fort Monroe, Virginia. It’s just outside the bigger city of Hampton, VA. It’s about 30 minutes from both Norfolk and Virginia Beach, VA. If you are flying in, the closest airport would be Norfolk, though that isn’t a huge airport. Bigger airports, Dulles and Ronald Reagan, will probably offer cheaper flights. However, the drive will take 3-4 hours.
Fees & Cancellation Stamp
There is no entrance fee for Fort Monroe. The cancellation stamp can be found in the gift shop of the Casemate Museum inside the fort.
Time Required at Fort Monroe
I suggest allotting 2-3 hours for Fort Monroe. The Casemate Museum is pretty big and it can take some time to read everything. You can also walk around the grounds if you wish.
Know before you go
Consider travel time and where you’re coming from when visiting Fort Monroe. I went while visiting my Dad, who lives in Norfolk. This meant I had to go through the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, which is not something you want to do at either rush hour. Regardless of the bridge and time of day, traffic in and around Virginia Beach/Norfolk can be hairy at any point. Even though GPS will say 30-35 minutes, I’d plan on 45 each way.
There is no food on site. Of course there are many options outside the park, there is nothing inside. So plan accordingly and don’t come hungry or thirsty. Pack snacks and drinks to hold you over until you can make it back into a neighboring city.
The Casemate Museum is inside the fort. Therefore, it has brick walls and there isn’t much headspace. It can get kind of musty and feel a little claustrophobic at times. I have a weird thing about fresh air and warm spaces and I did okay, but I was definitely ready to leave by the end.
Last updated: April 7, 2023
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