Portsmouth district, Virginia, United States
Places to visit near Chesapeake
Chesapeake is a city in Portsmouth district, Virginia, United States, home to about 235,429 people. Within 50 km by road there are 224 places to visit — 46 forts & heritage, 42 parks, 23 wildlife, forests & gardens and 24 museums. The must-see places are Fresnel Lens From Hog Island Light (3 km), Portsmouth Lightship Museum (3 km) and Children's Museum of Virginia (3 km).
Chesapeake at a glance
- Location
- Portsmouth district, Virginia, United States
- Population
- about 235,429
- Coordinates
- 36.8190° N, 76.2749° W
- Places within 50 km
- 224 (70 must-see)
- Best time to visit
- October to February for forts & heritage; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for parks and museums
Top places to visit near Chesapeake
Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Chesapeake: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.
- Fresnel Lens From Hog Island LightOther · PortsmouthMust-see
- Portsmouth Lightship MuseumMuseums · PortsmouthMust-see
- Children's Museum of VirginiaMuseums · PortsmouthMust-see
- Trinity Episcopal ChurchChurches · PortsmouthMust-see
- Downtown Portsmouth Historic DistrictWildlife · PortsmouthMust-see
- Monumental United Methodist ChurchChurches · PortsmouthMust-see
- Saint Pauls Catholic ChurchChurches · PortsmouthMust-see
- The MacArthur Memorial MuseumMuseums · NorfolkMust-see
- Norfolk AttractionsForts · NorfolkMust-see
- NauticusMuseums · NorfolkMust-see
- Fort Nelson ParkForts · PortsmouthMust-see
- USS Norfolk BellOther · NorfolkMust-see
More places near Chesapeake
- Craddock Historic District · sanctuary · Portsmouth · ~5 km · Must-see
- Chrysler Museum of Art · museum · Norfolk · ~6 km · Must-see
- Virginia Zoological Park · sanctuary · Norfolk · ~8 km · Must-see
- Chesapeake Arboretum · sanctuary · Chesapeake · ~11 km · Must-see
- Craney Island · river spot · Portsmouth · ~14 km · Must-see
- Tidewater Arboretum · park · Virginia Beach · ~15 km · Must-see
- Norfolk Botanical Garden · beach · Norfolk · ~15 km · Must-see
- F/A-18 · attraction · Norfolk · ~15 km · Must-see
- Mount Trashmore Park · park · Virginia Beach · ~17 km · Must-see
- East Ocean View Community Park · park · Norfolk · ~17 km · Must-see
- WJLZ-FM (Virginia Beach) · beach · Virginia Beach · ~20 km · Must-see
- Johnson Park · sanctuary · Chesapeake · ~0 km
Things to see near Chesapeake, by type
Forts & heritage near Chesapeake
57 forts & heritage within 100 km of Chesapeake. The closest is Drydock No. 1 (2 km); the best-known is Norfolk Attractions (4 km). Best time: october to february.
- Norfolk Attractions · fort · Norfolk · ~4 km · Must-see
- Fort Nelson Park · fort · Portsmouth · ~5 km · Must-see
- Drydock No. 1 · fort · Portsmouth · ~2 km
- Quarters A · fort · Portsmouth · ~3 km
- Seaboard Coastline Building · fort · Portsmouth · ~3 km
- Commodore Theatre · fort · Portsmouth · ~4 km
Parks near Chesapeake
45 parks within 100 km of Chesapeake. The closest is Lakeside Park (1 km); the best-known is Tidewater Arboretum (15 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.
- Tidewater Arboretum · park · Virginia Beach · ~15 km · Must-see
- Mount Trashmore Park · park · Virginia Beach · ~17 km · Must-see
- East Ocean View Community Park · park · Norfolk · ~17 km · Must-see
- Lakeside Park · park · Chesapeake · ~1 km
- River Front Park · park · Portsmouth · ~3 km
- Town Point Park · park · Norfolk · ~4 km
Wildlife, forests & gardens near Chesapeake
39 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Chesapeake. The closest is Johnson Park (1 km); the best-known is Downtown Portsmouth Historic District (4 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.
- Downtown Portsmouth Historic District · sanctuary · Portsmouth · ~4 km · Must-see
- Craddock Historic District · sanctuary · Portsmouth · ~5 km · Must-see
- Virginia Zoological Park · sanctuary · Norfolk · ~8 km · Must-see
- Chesapeake Arboretum · sanctuary · Chesapeake · ~11 km · Must-see
- Johnson Park · sanctuary · Chesapeake · ~0 km
- Portsmouth Olde Towne Historic District · sanctuary · Portsmouth · ~4 km
Museums near Chesapeake
30 museums within 100 km of Chesapeake. The closest is Railroad Museum of Virginia (3 km); the best-known is Portsmouth Lightship Museum (3 km). Best time: year-round.
- Portsmouth Lightship Museum · museum · Portsmouth · ~3 km · Must-see
- Children's Museum of Virginia · museum · Portsmouth · ~3 km · Must-see
- The MacArthur Memorial Museum · museum · Norfolk · ~4 km · Must-see
- Nauticus · museum · Norfolk · ~5 km · Must-see
- Chrysler Museum of Art · museum · Norfolk · ~6 km · Must-see
- Railroad Museum of Virginia · museum · Portsmouth · ~3 km
Beaches & coast near Chesapeake
30 beaches & coast within 100 km of Chesapeake. The closest is Harbor Park (3 km); the best-known is Norfolk Botanical Garden (15 km). Best time: october to march.
- Norfolk Botanical Garden · beach · Norfolk · ~15 km · Must-see
- WJLZ-FM (Virginia Beach) · beach · Virginia Beach · ~20 km · Must-see
- Hampton Roads · beach · Newport News · ~23 km · Must-see
- Nansemond Lighthouse · beach · Suffolk · ~23 km · Must-see
- Harbor Park · beach · Norfolk · ~3 km
- Buckroe Beach and Park · beach · Hampton · ~31 km · Must-see
Churches near Chesapeake
26 churches within 100 km of Chesapeake. The closest is Trinity Episcopal Church (4 km). Best time: year-round.
- Trinity Episcopal Church · church · Portsmouth · ~4 km · Must-see
- Monumental United Methodist Church · church · Portsmouth · ~4 km · Must-see
- Saint Pauls Catholic Church · church · Portsmouth · ~4 km · Must-see
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception · church · Norfolk · ~4 km
- Freemason Street Baptist Church · church · Norfolk · ~5 km
- First Baptist Church · church · Norfolk · ~5 km
A one-day trip from Chesapeake
5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 11 km on the road.
- Start in Chesapeake
- 3 km Portsmouth Lightship Museum · museum, Portsmouth
- 1 km Children's Museum of Virginia · museum, Portsmouth
- 1 km Trinity Episcopal Church · church, Portsmouth
- 1 km Monumental United Methodist Church · church, Portsmouth
- 1 km Downtown Portsmouth Historic District · nature spot, Portsmouth
- 4 km Back to Chesapeake
Plan a longer trip from Chesapeake — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.
From travellers near Chesapeake
No traveller has reported from around Chesapeake yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.
How to reach Chesapeake
All places near Chesapeake by distance
Within 15 km of Chesapeake
- Cascade Park · waterfall · Chesapeake · ~1 km
- Lakeside Park · park · Chesapeake · ~1 km
- Drydock No. 1 · fort · Portsmouth · ~2 km
- Quarters A · fort · Portsmouth · ~3 km
- Railroad Museum of Virginia · museum · Portsmouth · ~3 km
- Seaboard Coastline Building · fort · Portsmouth · ~3 km
- Harbor Park · beach · Norfolk · ~3 km
- River Front Park · park · Portsmouth · ~3 km
- Commodore Theatre · fort · Portsmouth · ~4 km
- Hill House Museum · museum · Portsmouth · ~4 km
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception · church · Norfolk · ~4 km
- Portsmouth Olde Towne Historic District · sanctuary · Portsmouth · ~4 km
- Portsmouth Olde Town Historic District · fort · Portsmouth · ~4 km
- Owen B. Pickett U.S. Custom House · fort · Norfolk · ~4 km
- Town Point Park · park · Norfolk · ~4 km
- Homecoming · attraction · Norfolk · ~4 km
- Freemason Street Baptist Church · church · Norfolk · ~5 km
- Paradise Creek Nature Park · park · Portsmouth · ~5 km
- MacArthur Center Green · park · Norfolk · ~5 km
- NorVa Theatre · attraction · Norfolk · ~5 km
- USS Wisconsin BB-64 · museum · Norfolk · ~5 km
- First Baptist Church · church · Norfolk · ~5 km
- Epworth United Methodist Church · church · Norfolk · ~5 km
- Laurel Avenue Church of Christ · church · Chesapeake · ~5 km
- First Calvary Baptist Church · church · Norfolk · ~5 km
- Park View Historic District · sanctuary · Portsmouth · ~5 km
- Afton Square · sanctuary · Portsmouth · ~5 km
- Beazley Community Center · park · Portsmouth · ~5 km
- United House of Prayer · church · Norfolk · ~5 km
- Truxton Historic District · sanctuary · Portsmouth · ~6 km
- Shea Terrace Senior Apartments · fort · Portsmouth · ~6 km
- Gatehouse · fort · Norfolk · ~6 km
- Filling House for Cartridges · fort · Norfolk · ~6 km
- Fort Norfolk · fort · Norfolk · ~6 km
- Magazine · fort · Norfolk · ~6 km
- Eastern Virginia Medical School · attraction · Norfolk · ~7 km
- Barraud Park · park · Norfolk · ~7 km
- Shoop Park · park · Norfolk · ~7 km
- Franklin Circle Park · park · Portsmouth · ~8 km
- Level Green Park · park · Virginia Beach · ~8 km
15–50 km — half-day trips
- Newport News Middle Ground Light · attraction · Newport News · ~22 km · Must-see
- Hampton Roads · beach · Newport News · ~23 km · Must-see
- Nansemond Lighthouse · beach · Suffolk · ~23 km · Must-see
- King-Lincoln Park · park · Newport News · ~25 km · Must-see
- Old Point Comfort Lighthouse · fort · Hampton · ~26 km · Must-see
- Chapel of the Centurion · church · Hampton · ~26 km · Must-see
- Thimble Shoal Light · fort · Hampton · ~27 km · Must-see
- Phoebus Methodist Episcopal Church · church · Hampton · ~28 km · Must-see
- Fort Monroe National Monument · fort · Hampton · ~28 km · Must-see
- James A. Fields House · fort · Newport News · ~28 km · Must-see
- Little England Chapel · church · Hampton · ~28 km · Must-see
- Hampton University Museum · museum · Hampton · ~29 km · Must-see
- Virginia Air And Space Center · museum · Hampton · ~30 km · Must-see
- Nansemond National Wildlife Refuge · sanctuary · Suffolk · ~30 km · Must-see
- First Landing State Park · sanctuary · Virginia Beach · ~30 km · Must-see
- Buckroe Beach and Park · beach · Hampton · ~31 km · Must-see
- Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art · museum · Virginia Beach · ~32 km · Must-see
- Saint Johns Church · church · Suffolk · ~32 km · Must-see
- Bluebird Gap Farm · park · Hampton · ~32 km · Must-see
- Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Centers · sanctuary · Virginia Beach · ~32 km · Must-see
- Air Power Park · museum · Hampton · ~33 km · Must-see
- First Landing Chapel · church · Virginia Beach · ~33 km · Must-see
- Cape Henry Lighthouse · fort · Virginia Beach · ~33 km · Must-see
- Military Aviation Museum · museum · Virginia Beach · ~33 km · Must-see
- Norwegian Lady · attraction · Virginia Beach · ~34 km · Must-see
- The Old Coast Guard Station · museum · Virginia Beach · ~34 km · Must-see
- De Witt Cottage · fort · Virginia Beach · ~34 km · Must-see
- Huntington Park · park · Newport News · ~34 km · Must-see
- Virginia War Museum · museum · Newport News · ~34 km · Must-see
- Sandbridge Beach · beach · Virginia Beach · ~36 km · Must-see
- Northwest River State Natural Area Preserve · sanctuary · Chesapeake · ~36 km · Must-see
- Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge · sanctuary · Chesapeake · ~36 km · Must-see
- Tarrallton Park · park · Norfolk · ~16 km
- Western Branch Park · park · Chesapeake · ~16 km
- Lake Drummond · lake · Chesapeake · ~37 km · Must-see
- Back River Lighthouse Ruins · fort · Hampton · ~37 km · Must-see
- Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve · park · Portsmouth · ~17 km
- Kaman SH-2F Seasprite · fort · Norfolk · ~17 km
- Grumman A-6E Intruder · fort · Norfolk · ~17 km
- Ikorsky UH-3H Sea King · fort · Norfolk · ~17 km
50–100 km — one-day trips
- False Cape State Park · sanctuary · Virginia Beach · ~53 km · Must-see
- York Spit Light · attraction · Mathews · ~54 km · Must-see
- Fort Crafford · fort · Newport News · ~57 km · Must-see
- Lee's Mill · fort · Newport News · ~58 km · Must-see
- Kiptopeke State Park · sanctuary · Northampton · ~58 km · Must-see
- City Reservoir Dam · lake · Newport News · ~58 km · Must-see
- Cape Charles Light · fort · Northampton · ~59 km · Must-see
- Fort Huger · fort · Isle of Wight · ~59 km · Must-see
- Magothy Bay Natural Area Reserve · sanctuary · Northampton · ~59 km · Must-see
- Tue Marshes Light · attraction · York · ~59 km · Must-see
- Newport News Park · park · York · ~59 km · Must-see
- Yorktown Monument · fort · York · ~63 km · Must-see
- Endview Plantation Historic Site · fort · Newport News · ~64 km · Must-see
- Watermen's Museum · museum · York · ~64 km · Must-see
- Blackwater Ecological Preserve · sanctuary · Isle of Wight · ~64 km · Must-see
- Antioch Pines Natural Area Preserve · sanctuary · Isle of Wight · ~65 km · Must-see
- Gloucester Point Baptist Church · church · Gloucester · ~65 km · Must-see
- Cherrystone Bar Light · attraction · Northampton · ~66 km · Must-see
- Chippokes State Park · park · Surry · ~67 km · Must-see
- Cape Charles Coastal Habitat Natural Area Preserve · sanctuary · Northampton · ~67 km · Must-see
- New Point Comfort Lighthouse · sanctuary · Mathews · ~67 km · Must-see
- Cape Charles Museum · museum · Northampton · ~69 km · Must-see
- Verbolten · attraction · James City · ~71 km · Must-see
- Pantheon · attraction · James City · ~71 km · Must-see
- Busch Gardens Williamsburg · park · James City · ~71 km · Must-see
- Merchants Millpond State Park · sanctuary · Gates · ~71 km · Must-see
- Le Scoot · temple · James City · ~71 km · Must-see
- Escape From Pompeii · temple · James City · ~71 km · Must-see
- Loch Ness Monster · attraction · James City · ~71 km · Must-see
- North River Gameland · sanctuary · Currituck · ~72 km · Must-see
- Museum of the Albemarle · museum · Pasquotank · ~73 km · Must-see
- Colonial National Historical Park · sanctuary · James City · ~73 km · Must-see
- Machicomoco State Park · sanctuary · Gloucester · ~74 km · Must-see
- Fort Magruder · fort · York · ~76 km · Must-see
- Jamestown Island · river spot · James City · ~76 km · Must-see
- Abingdon Church · church · Gloucester · ~76 km · Must-see
- Savage Neck Dunes Natural Area Preserve · sanctuary · Northampton · ~76 km · Must-see
- Smith's Fort Plantation · fort · Surry · ~77 km · Must-see
- Lake Powell · lake · James City · ~78 km · Must-see
- Rosewell Plantation · fort · Gloucester · ~78 km · Must-see
Count by type (within 100 km)
| Type | Within 50 km | Within 100 km | Nearest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forts & heritage | 46 | 57 | Drydock No. 1 (2 km) |
| Parks | 42 | 45 | Lakeside Park (1 km) |
| Wildlife, forests & gardens | 23 | 39 | Johnson Park (1 km) |
| Museums | 24 | 30 | Railroad Museum of Virginia (3 km) |
| Beaches & coast | 28 | 30 | Harbor Park (3 km) |
| Churches | 22 | 26 | Trinity Episcopal Church (4 km) |
| Other attractions | 13 | 20 | Fresnel Lens From Hog Island Light (3 km) |
| Lakes, dams & reservoirs | 14 | 17 | Lake Taylor Dam (10 km) |
| Rivers, islands & mangroves | 8 | 9 | Charters Island (11 km) |
| Waterfalls | 2 | 2 | Cascade Park (1 km) |
| Temples | 0 | 2 | Le Scoot (71 km) |
| Hill stations & viewpoints | 1 | 1 | Boushs Bluff (12 km) |
| Caves | 1 | 1 | Unicorn Cave (20 km) |
Chesapeake: questions travellers ask
What are the best places to visit near Chesapeake?
Fresnel Lens From Hog Island Light (island, about 3 km), Portsmouth Lightship Museum (museum, about 3 km), Children's Museum of Virginia (museum, about 3 km), Trinity Episcopal Church (church, about 4 km), Downtown Portsmouth Historic District (nature spot, about 4 km), Monumental United Methodist Church (church, about 4 km).
How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Chesapeake?
224 places on Spotwander: 46 forts & heritage, 42 parks, 23 wildlife, forests & gardens, 24 museums, 28 beaches & coast.
Which is the nearest fort to Chesapeake?
Drydock No. 1, about 2 km by road; Quarters A (3 km) is next.
Which is the nearest park to Chesapeake?
Lakeside Park, about 1 km by road; River Front Park (3 km) is next.
Which is the nearest sanctuary to Chesapeake?
Johnson Park, about 1 km by road; Downtown Portsmouth Historic District (4 km) is next.
What is a good one-day trip from Chesapeake?
Start in Chesapeake, visit Portsmouth Lightship Museum, then Children's Museum of Virginia, then Trinity Episcopal Church, then Monumental United Methodist Church, then Downtown Portsmouth Historic District, and drive back — about 11 km by road in all.
What is the best time to visit places near Chesapeake?
October to February for forts & heritage; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for parks and museums.
Towns near Chesapeake
- Places near Portsmouth · 3 km
- Places near Norfolk · 4 km
- Places near Portsmouth Heights · 10 km
- Places near East Hampton · 31 km
- Places near Virginia Beach · 33 km
- Places near Carrollton · 36 km
- Places near Suffolk · 37 km
- Places near Moyock · 42 km
- Places near Newport News · 43 km
- Places near Poquoson · 43 km
Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Chesapeake’s location and population from GeoNames. Data sources & credits.