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    Elizabeth River Ferry

    4.5 (33 reviews)

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    A window seat
    Pam P.

    I give it four stars.. I love the view regardless of the weather, if it's too chilly ( or raining) you can sit at the window inside Or if it's nice and You Can bare the BREEZE and a bit of Splash back pending on where you choose to sit... You Can't Beat the quick pop from Portsmouth to Norfolks WaterSide. Hey did You Know Your Military disability card meets the criteria for discount fare!! Ohh Yeah Your WelCome!!

    Maria C.

    Big fun! Such a great way to travel from Portside (Portsmouth, VA features two ports - High St. and North Landing Dock) to Waterside (Norfolk, VA) - back and forth! For a low fee (exact fee is a must - no change given) you get to see the sights of/on the Elizabeth River. And if you're really feeling adventurous bring you bike along! You bike rides for free. Hampton Roads Transit operates three 150-passenger ferries on the Elizabeth River between Norfolk and Portsmouth and this ferry is one of them. The ferry operates every 30 minutes with 15-minute service during the Summer at peak times on weekends. Schedules are subject to change based on operating situations (weather, mechanical problems, etc.). The ferry is wheelchair accessible and allows boarding passengers to walk on with their bicycles. http://gohrt.com/services/ferry/ The staff seems to always do a super fantastic job when it comes to customer service. Always thankful and willing to assist all. On all ferries, you can choose to sit or stand as you ride to and from. A great experience for all! But please ensure safety at all times. It seems as though always at the beginning of the Summer season or just before Memorial Day weekend, they will feature a weekend in which the ferry fare is waived for all. This definitely brings in record number crowds. Crowds/long lines are usually around the holiday seasons. Therefore pack your patience. A great day of fun, relaxation and a hassle free ride awaits! Have fun and enjoy life

    Great views!
    Vicki E.

    Great service! Fast and efficient! Loved the senior citizen rate! Plenty of room for everyone!

    Nola G.

    The Elizabeth River Ferry is apart of Hampton Roads Transit. The ferry services Harbor Park on game days for Norfolk Tides. There is a Summer Schedule (Memorial Day to Labor Day) and Winter Schedule (Labor Day to Memorial Day) and it varies weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Stops at High Street, North Landing (Portsmouth), and Waterside. Check gohrt .com for scheduled times.

    Jon L.

    What a great way to get from the Sheraton Waterside over to Portsmouth and a short walk from High Street to the Ntelos pavilion. Just 1.15 each way and a very short trip.

    Olya V D.

    Just came back from Ferry, even it's December - it's still great way to spend day very fast, not cold at all, perfect for travel with kids and take some cool pictures.

    Rose M.

    I like the benefit of skipping tolls and parking on the Norfolk side and oh yeah traffic congestion. So I will pay $1.75 one way for a scenic water ride. Kids are free with a paying adult unless they have a student pass and no adult is necessary. My kids love to ride the ferry and it's the easiest boat I can put them on that doesn't require me to paddle with arms or pedal with my feet. The ferry stops twice on the Portsmouth side and once on the Norfolk side at Waterside. Exact cash is required but tickets are available for purchase. The ferry has two levels. The upper deck being open air with an overhead shade and the lower deck is enclosed. The ride is smooth across the water and runs every half hour and more often when there are special events!

    Photo from www.virginia.org
    Leona B.

    If I were to put together a local dream date -- like a service (Hey...I think I just came up with a business idea) -- I would include without a doubt a ride on the Elizabeth River Ferry. It's a pedestrain ferry (you can bring your bike too). It costs only $1 each way and only takes about 10 or 15 minutes across from Waterside to P-town. And time seems to slow down tremendously while you're on. You get a great view of both cities plus all of the ships -- Navy and Coast Guard, private boats, tugs, cruise ships. And, you know, the whole watery breezes and churning of the paddle-wheel on the back of the boat thing. It's just peaceful. Like a time out for your overworked soul.

    My first ride on a ferry and it was cool!
    Lillian P.

    Aside from some confusion about exact change, the ferry ride was quick and pleasant. Enjoyed the boogaloo festival and we didn't have to worry about parking. Taking the ferry was cheap and just a short walk from the mall, the festival, and the marketplace.

    Cindy R.

    I hadn't been on the ferry in almost 25 years til yesterday, but it's exactly as I remembered it. And that's a good thing. It comes by every 30 minutes. You have to have exact change. And you get to Waterside in a breezy scenic flash that almost makes you wish the commute was longer. It also makes you wonder why you ever bother DRIVING to downtown Norfolk. It's such an adorable Portsmouth staple.

    North Landing Stop
    Jen L.

    Very convenient to the Renaissance Hotel and pretty much anything in Olde Town Portsmouth. They run on a half hour schedule, and it looks like lit varies depending on the season. I was able to easily get from downtown Portsmouth to the MacArthur Mall in downtown Portsmouth (just up Atlantic Ave) in about 5 min from getting off at the Marketplace place. Very convenient and cheap! Only $1.50 one way. Have exact change...they don't do credit cards.

    Cris T.

    I am a big of Elizabeth River Ferry. I believe its fast, efficient and cost effective ideal transportation. It's also a great way to get over at Downtown Norfolk where restaurant and shopping mall situated. Its clean and well-organized. The top deck is definitely spot on. You can indulge yourself the beautiful scenery of the river. A day pass is a saver, its also good with the Tide and buses.

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    Ask the Community - Elizabeth River Ferry

    Review Highlights - Elizabeth River Ferry

    The ride is very quick, I stood on the side of the ferry watching the water as we quickly approached Waterside.

    Mentioned in 11 reviews

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    The Tide MacArthur Square Station

    The Tide MacArthur Square Station

    4.5
    (15 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    The MacArthur Square Station is located on East City Hall Ave. in Norfolk. It's in the heart of the…read morearea where there's many things to do around that area. I generally come to this station monthly for an in-person work meeting that's only 0.1 miles away from this station. I start my ride at the Newtown Rd. Station. My most recent ride was on May 15, 2026. The Eastbound and Westbound Stations on opposite sides of the road. You want to make sure that you are on the correct platform. The area around the station can be quite busy. I love that they have a braille sign for the station too, so those that can't see can tell which station they are at. You can see you're in the heart of the city. There are many things to do nearby as well. I've never felt unsafe in this area. I was able to see places such as Nauticus and Waterside Dr. that weren't too far from the station too, so that's a great way to get there too. The ferry to get over to Portsmouth isn't too far away either. As of May 2026, they have changed how you pay for riding The Tide Light Rail System. Discounted tickets are no longer available at the new ticket vending machines. You will need to get a GoMobile Fare Card, or now, as of May 18, 2026, you can just tap to pay by using a credit or debit card at the Fare Validator (photos included). To use the Fare Validator, you would open the GoMobile App, use a physical GoMobile Card, or Credit/Debit Card. In the app, you need to choose the card you are using and place it towards the top part of the validator. If you have a QR code, you can go down just a bit to that other reader on the fare validator. It costs $2 to get the fare card itself, and then you can load funds to it at the ticket vending machine or through the GoMobile app. The total cost for a day will be no more than $4.50. The first two rides will be $2, followed by the third being $0.50. Any further rides on the light rail that day will incur no additional charges. Overall, this is a great way to get to the heart of the city through the light rail system. You get to save some miles and gas/electricity for your vehicle too. Even better, you don't have to deal with accidents and such that may occur on Interstate Two-Sucksty Four (I-264) in Norfolk. You don't have to deal with the costs of parking in Norfolk since parking is free at their park and ride lots available at select stations (not at this one). All in all, this is a great way to get around.

    I'm going out of the country soon and needed to exchange some currency…read more The Currency Exchange International Corp, and my cashier Katherine, made the process fast and easy. This mall is beautiful. I hope it can be infused with new business to keep it going.

    Photos
    This is a view of the new Ticket Vending Machines (started May 2026).  Photo taken May 15, 2026.
    This is a view of the new Ticket Vending Machines (started May 2026). Photo taken May 15, 2026.
    This is zoomed out view of the Eastbound Side.  There are two seating areas to wait for the train.  Photo taken September 23, 2025.
    This is zoomed out view of the Eastbound Side. There are two seating areas to wait for the train. Photo taken September 23, 2025.
    This is a view of the Vicinity Map at the MacArthur Square Station (Eastbound).  Photo taken May 15, 2026.

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    This is a view of the Vicinity Map at the MacArthur Square Station (Eastbound). Photo taken May 15, 2026.
    The Tide-Newtown Road Station

    The Tide-Newtown Road Station

    4.0
    (12 reviews)
    4.7 mi

    The Tide Light Rail is a 7.4-mile-long train line, starting here at the Newtown Rd. station…read more(Eastern terminus). The western end is at the EVMC/Fort Norfolk Station. My most recent ride along the rail line was on May 15, 2026. Although the station is called the Newtown Rd. station, it is actually located on Curlew Rd, which is not too far off from Newtown Rd. This is a pretty big area, as there are several bus stop connections here, as well as a large parking area just across the street. Parking is free. There isn't much else around the immediate vicinity of this station and have never felt safety was an issue here. As of May 2026, they have changed how you pay for riding The Tide Light Rail System. Discounted tickets are no longer available at the new ticket vending machines. You will need to get a GoMobile Fare Card, or now, as of May 18, 2026, you can just tap to pay by using a credit or debit card at the Fare Validator (photos included). To use the Fare Validator, you would open the GoMobile App, use a physical GoMobile Card, or Credit/Debit Card. In the app, you need to choose the card you are using and place it towards the top part of the validator. If you have a QR code, you can go down just a bit to that other reader on the fare validator. It costs $2 to get the fare card itself, and then you can load funds to it at the ticket vending machine or through the GoMobile app. The total cost for a day will be no more than $4.50. The first two rides will be $2, followed by the third being $0.50. Any further rides on the light rail that day will incur no additional charges. The reason for my travel is generally to go to a monthly in-person work meeting at the TowneBank Tower. The MacArthur Station is just 0.1 miles from that building. Plus, I don't have to deal with the traffic along Interstate Two-Sucks-ty-Four (I-264) and parking in the city. Doing it this way takes the stress off when it comes to driving in Norfolk. Almost every time I have ridden so far, I have ridden past an accident on the interstate while riding the light rail. Overall, the Newtown Road Light Rail Station has been good to me. I have not encountered any issues or feeling unsafe. This is a great way to get into the heart of Norfolk without dealing with the traffic and parking in the city. If you plan to visit downtown Norfolk, this is a great way to get around the city during your visit.

    I took my first ride on the Tide this year. I remember how much I wanted to jump on way back when…read morethey had the inaugural launch and were offering free and/or reduced fares. Somehow it never worked out, even though it would make downtown trips less painstaking. My opportunity to ride the tide came as part of a work project. The team and I arrived early in the morning on a brisk day. The parking lot has an abundance of spaces, more than adequate for the average number of passengers riding the Tide daily. Parking is free. HRT has a connection here for those needing to take the bus to the TIDE or once they depart from the TIDE. And there are a few shelters for the HRT riders to wait under. There are also a few ticket vending machines where you purchase your fare. The team and I climbed the platform where there were two shelters with seating that thankfully partially shielded us from the cold wind. The conductors were nice and greeted us. We felt safe with the security guard on duty walking through and keeping an eye on things. At a certain point of the ride all tickets are checked and confirmed as legit. We had all day passes which cost $4. The TIDE was packed during the morning commute but was practically empty by 2 pm. Get dropped of directly in front of the Mall, Library, and the baseball stadium. Because it was my first ride I wanted to know what to expect. I looked up and memorized a few facts which came in handy as I told the team how fast the average speed was of the car and the max speed as well as the occupancy, and the max occupancy with commuters standing. Maximum Operational Speed is 55 mph. Maximum Number of Seated Passengers is 68 and the Total Passenger Capacity is 160-180.

    Photos
    This is the Vicinity Map for the Newtown Road Station.  Photo taken July 22, 2025.
    This is the Vicinity Map for the Newtown Road Station. Photo taken July 22, 2025.
    These are some of the rules while riding the light rail.  Photo taken July 22, 2025.
    These are some of the rules while riding the light rail. Photo taken July 22, 2025.
    This is an Info Sign As You Come up to the Entrance Ramp to the Light Rail Station.  Photo taken April 28, 2026.

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    This is an Info Sign As You Come up to the Entrance Ramp to the Light Rail Station. Photo taken April 28, 2026.
    The Tide Civic Plaza Station

    The Tide Civic Plaza Station

    4.7
    (3 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Clean and safe Tide station that is perfect for anything related to the Norfolk Court complex. The…read morestation is steps from the main entrance.

    The Civic Plaza station of the Tide light rail system is located at the heart of Norfolk's…read moreadministrative and judicial complex. The location and orientation lends it to serve the eastern portion of downtown Norfolk. Accessing the station isn't difficult by foot, however, crossing a busy Saint Paul's boulevard will require you to employ your eyes and ears in a major way. The intersection of St. Paul's and East Plume Street isn't typical in layout as you have to avoid being hit by cars, buses (nearby bus transfer station) and yes, the Tide itself. I don't mean to make it sound like suicide alley or anything but clearly there's a bit of concern by the city as well to justify the security guard in place assisting pedestrians in navigating the area safely. There's a new court building rising up adjacent to the station and when you combine that with inattentive people glued to their smartphones it spells a recipe for potential disaster. I have visited these courts many a times but those stories are reserved for an entirely different social networking site altogether, namely Wordpress! Lol! But before I leave this paragraph I do want to clarify that I've been to COURT many times here...not the jail! Alright, so now that I've got that tidbit out of the way...lets see...what else? City Hall is at this station as well and I will usually park at Harbor Park and ride the train in to handle my affairs with the city. The less driving I have to do the better and I'm hoping that eventually the system will expand to a point where I can leave the swagger wagon parked like I used to when I lived in Washington DC. Be aware of your environment from all of the activity in the area and the freshly bailed inmate and you'll be fine. LOL! I'm just kidding! I'm just kidding! Er, I think....?

    Photos
    The Tide Civic Plaza Station
    The stop
    The stop
    It's the photographer on me...can't help myself!

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    It's the photographer on me...can't help myself!
    Monticello Station

    Monticello Station

    4.5
    (2 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    If the Tide, Norfolk's light rail transportation system, had a heart then it would probably be this…read morestation at Monticello. It doesn't get much more urban than this, ladies and gentlemen. Nestled in the median of Monticello Avenue, near the Freemason Street intersection, this station serves the central area of the downtown Norfolk urban core. The MacArthur station, serves more of the lower downtown/waterside areas, the Civic Plaza station serves the eastern side while the York/Freemason station serves the northwestern portion of downtown. Monticello station is not a park and ride location and accessing the station can be dangerous due to the busy traffic and moving trains. Do NOT access the station from its north side. This places you directly in the tracks which is not only a safety issue but also can land you a summons to appear in court. Enter the station from the south side where you'll be greeted by a ramp that has tiled artwork. Also, for you smokers, beware, The platform areas are no smoking zones. Getting caught smoking will also land you a summons that will lead to a fine. Once in the platform area, the station is well laid out where you can purchase your ticket and benches to sit down while you wait for the train. This is one of the busier stations on the entire line so keep your head on a swivel. There are a lot of nearby attractions within walking distance headlined by the mammoth-like MacArthur Center Mall. The Tidewater Community College Norfolk campus, the Scope, and the Norva are also nearby. Granby St, Norfolk's version of Broadway (lol), is one block over. You'll find plenty of shopping and places to hang out over there. Monticello station is easily one of my favorite stations on the Tide. I'm looking forward to when I'll be able to ride the system up to ODU and eventually the Naval Base. It's amazing how this train has given Norfolk an entirely upgraded urban feel by connecting various parts of downtown together.

    This is a great spot to get on or off the Tide. Located close to Scope or Chrysler Hall, and to…read moreMacArthur Mall, and to the TCC-Norfolk campus. Not to mention all the great places to eat in downtown Norfolk. Neat decorations at the station, too.

    Photos
    Here comes the train...
    Here comes the train...
    Surrounding area at the station.
    Surrounding area at the station.
    Monticello Station

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    EVMC/Fort Norfolk Station

    EVMC/Fort Norfolk Station

    4.2
    (5 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    The EVMS/Fort Norfolk Station is the last station on the Norfolk Tide light rail line. The location…read moreis extremely convenient. It serves both the Eastern Virginia Medical School / Sentara Norfolk General Hospital / Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters campus & the medical buildings, housing, businesses & historic Fort Norfolk on the opposite side of Brambleton Avenue. The station itself is on the Fort Norfolk side of Brambleton. There is a pedestrian walkway over busy Brambleton Avenue to safely reach the EVMS/CHKD/Norfolk General side. A station at this spot is a great benefit for the medical professionals who are also on staff or perform procedures at the Sentara Leigh Hospital complex. The Newtown Road station is only a few blocks from Leigh, located on the Norfolk side of the border with Virginia Beach. A way to navigate quickly between the two medical complexes is a plus. The EVMS/Fort Norfolk station is also an huge convenience for those visiting patients at the hospitals. There is Valet Parking for patients at the Heart Hospital, River Pavilion & Kaufmann Main Entrance to Norfolk General. But visitors have to hope for a spot in a parking garage. The parking fees are high. I experienced this personally during my late husband's last hospitalization. It was very hard at a difficult time in my life. How I wish The Tide had been completed then. Getting on The Tide at EVMS/Fort Norfolk is an experience in itself. There is a conductor area at both ends of the rail car. So instead of turning the car around, he simply walks through the train to the opposite end and voila, you're on your way. When my Grandson was younger and going through his MTA Subway obsession I would take him for rides on The Tide when he visited. He loved friendly conductors greeting him as they walked through the car at the Fort Norfolk station. Needless to say, I'm a big fan of The Tide and their strategic station locations. EVMS/Fort Norfolk is one of the best.

    The last stop for the Tide light rail in Norfolk. It's suppose to be an open "Park and Ride"…read morestation, however, the parking isn't clarified or labeled. Kind of confusing, but we risked it and parked in an "Authorized Staff Parking." It was right behind the station so we figured it would only make sense for the city to make that the actual park and ride parking lot. Fortunately for us, our car was still there when we got back and no ticket. This stop is within walking distance to EVMC and Colley area. Most everyone we know in the area takes this station to head out to Granby and the Harbor Park. I did notice that there are a lot more stops from this end to get to the Tides game but far less people.

    Photos
    EVMC/Fort Norfolk Station
    EVMC/Fort Norfolk Station

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    Elizabeth River Ferry - publictransport - Updated July 2026

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