Alamo Car Hire
Norfolk

After collecting your luggage from the baggage claim carousels on the first level, follow the prominent overhead signs for 'Rental Cars'. The Alamo counter is located within the arrivals terminal, so you won’t need to go outside. Once you’ve completed the rental agreement, staff will direct you to the adjacent car park where the vehicles are staged, making for a short and straightforward walk to begin your journey.

Norfolk International Airport is well lit and designed for traveller safety at all hours. The Alamo rental counter is inside the main terminal in a public, monitored area. The walk to the rental vehicles is through the connected, covered multi-storey car park, ensuring you are sheltered and in a secure environment from the moment you leave the terminal until you’re in your car.

A comfortable spot for your travel partner is the main arrivals hall, near the baggage claim exits. This area usually has seating and is situated out of the main flow of foot traffic. It’s a short distance from the Alamo counter, allowing you to complete the rental process efficiently while your partner waits with the luggage before you head to the car park together.

For a quick first stop after leaving the airport, head east on Norview Avenue for a couple of miles. You’ll find familiar shopping centres with convenience stores, petrol stations and fast-food options. This allows you to grab water and snacks and fit a phone mount in a safe car park before joining the motorway for your drive into Norfolk or Virginia Beach.

The most straightforward route from ORF to Downtown Norfolk is to take I-64 West and then follow signs for I-264 West towards Downtown Norfolk/Portsmouth. This route primarily uses major interstates, minimising complex surface street navigation. Taking the City Hall Avenue exit from I-264 will bring you directly into the downtown area with clear signage for main roads and landmarks.

Drive time from ORF to the Virginia Beach oceanfront varies with traffic. During off-peak hours, such as mid-day on a weekday or late evening, the trip via I-264 East typically takes about 25 to 35 minutes. However, in morning or evening rush hour and especially on summer weekends, that same drive can easily extend to an hour or more due to heavy congestion.

First-time visitors should be mindful of the Downtown and Midtown Tunnels, which frequently experience significant backups during peak times. The downtown area also has a grid of one-way streets that can be confusing without GPS. Less commonly, some routes include drawbridges that can cause unexpected delays, so it’s sensible to check a live traffic app before setting off.

When driving a rental car to Naval Station Norfolk, remember access is strictly controlled and limited to authorised personnel and sponsored visitors. You must enter through a specified gate, typically Gate 2 or Gate 5, and report to the Pass & ID office for clearance. Rental cars are permitted on base, but ensure you know which gate to use and have all required identification ready for the security checkpoint.

For a smooth day trip to Colonial Williamsburg, plan to leave Norfolk before the morning rush hour, ideally before 7:30am. The most direct route is I-64 West. Before you depart, check a real-time traffic app for any incidents at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, a common bottleneck. An early start helps you miss the worst traffic and ensures you arrive with plenty of time to park and explore.

To plan a stress-free drive from Norfolk to the Outer Banks, try to travel on a weekday to avoid heavy weekend check-in traffic. The main route is VA-168 South to US-158 East. The primary choke point is the Wright Memorial Bridge onto the barrier islands, so aim to cross it before noon. This helps you bypass peak traffic and ensures you arrive with plenty of daylight to find your destination.

The two routes most prone to stalls are I-64 at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) and I-264 at the Downtown Tunnel. Before leaving the airport, check a live traffic map on your phone. If the HRBT is backed up, the Monitor–Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (I-664) is an excellent and often faster alternative. For the Downtown Tunnel, the Berkley Bridge or the Jordan Bridge (toll) can sometimes offer relief.

When attending an event at Chartway Arena on the Old Dominion University campus, plan to arrive at least 45 to 60 minutes before the start time. The most convenient parking is typically in the multi-storey car parks on 43rd or 45th Street. Setting your navigation directly to one of these car parks will help you avoid circling the campus and dealing with event-related road closures or heavy pedestrian traffic.

Driving to the Waterside District on a weekend evening requires some planning due to its popularity. There are several large car parks nearby, with the Town Point Garage and Main Street Garage being convenient choices. It’s often easiest to use the designated drop-off zone on Waterside Drive for passengers before proceeding to park. Be prepared for heavier vehicle and pedestrian traffic, especially when restaurants close or an event at the adjacent park ends.

For a low-stress trip to the Virginia Beach Boardwalk with family, target the municipal car parks located on 9th, 19th and 31st streets. These offer hourly rates and are a short walk from the oceanfront, making it easier to manage beach gear and children. Arriving before 10:00am, especially at weekends, gives you the best choice of spots and helps you avoid circling full lots.

Accessing the Norfolk Botanical Garden is straightforward. The single main entrance is clearly signed at 6700 Azalea Garden Road, a short drive from the airport. Once you turn into the entrance, the road leads directly to a large dedicated car park situated in front of the main visitor centre. The layout is visitor-friendly, so you shouldn’t need to circle looking for a space.

To efficiently manage a split stay between Norfolk and Virginia Beach, plan your hotel change for mid-day on a weekday. Pack your car and check out of your Norfolk hotel in the morning, enjoy a local activity and drive to Virginia Beach after the morning rush but before the 3pm check-in wave. This timing helps you avoid the worst traffic on I-264 and allows for a smoother check-in at your next hotel.

Yes. Visitors should be cautious with street parking in Norfolk, especially in historic neighbourhoods like Ghent and the Freemason District. Pay close attention to posted signs, which often indicate strict time limits, resident-only permit zones and street cleaning schedules. Towing is actively enforced in these areas, so using a paid public car park is often the safest and most convenient choice to avoid a ticket or a towed vehicle.

If your accommodation involves valet service or navigating tight car parks, consider selecting a compact or mid-size saloon for your rental. While an SUV offers more space, a smaller vehicle is significantly easier to manoeuvre on narrow historic streets and into compact spaces common in many downtown and oceanfront parking structures. This choice can save you considerable stress when parking during your trip.

The most practical approach is to park in either the Plume Street Garage or the Town Point Garage. Both are located just across the street from the attraction. The walk from either garage to the Nauticus entrance is a short and easy two to five minutes. This allows you to park once and comfortably explore the waterfront area on foot.

To enjoy a smooth morning drive to the more secluded Sandbridge area, aim to be on the road early, ideally before 9:00am on a summer weekend. This helps you get ahead of the main wave of beachgoers heading south. The primary public parking is at the Sandbridge Market lot, which fills up quickly, so an early arrival is key to securing a convenient spot without a lengthy search.

For a simple driving day, a logical order is Cape Henry first, then the Virginia Beach oceanfront, and finally back to Norfolk. Start your morning at First Landing State Park or the Cape Henry Lighthouse. From there, it’s an easy drive south along the coast to the main boardwalk for lunch. In the afternoon, take I-264 West back to Norfolk to avoid backtracking and departing beach traffic.

When driving in heavy rain in this coastal region, be cautious of potential flooding, particularly in low-lying areas and underpasses. Reduce your speed significantly on interstates like I-64 and I-264, as water can pool quickly and create hazardous hydroplaning conditions. It’s also critical to increase your following distance, as visibility can be severely limited during intense downpours.

During a busy holiday weekend, build extra time into your schedule after landing at ORF. A realistic timeline from touchdown to driving off the rental lot is approximately 60 to 90 minutes. This accounts for possible delays in deplaning, baggage claim and longer lines at the rental car counter, which can be a significant bottleneck during peak travel periods.

When staying in or near the historic Ghent neighbourhood, the best approach is to book a hotel with guaranteed off-street parking. Street parking in Ghent is very challenging due to resident permit restrictions. Once your car is securely parked, you can leave it there, as the neighbourhood is highly walkable with numerous restaurants, cafés and shops, allowing you to explore on foot without worrying about parking tickets.

When visiting either ODU or NSU, your safest and most reliable option is to park in a designated visitor car park on campus. Both universities have clearly marked garages for guests that typically charge an hourly or daily rate. Attempting to find free street parking nearby often leads to accidentally parking in zones reserved for students or faculty, making a visitor car park the best way to avoid a citation.

For a drive to ORF during off-hours, rely on a GPS app for clear turn-by-turn directions, as highway and street signs can be harder to see in the dark. Roads will be quieter, usually resulting in a quicker trip. As you approach the airport, pay close attention to the specific signs for 'Rental Car Return' to ensure you merge into the correct dedicated lane without last-minute confusion.

A stress-free rendezvous point is the MacArthur Center mall in downtown. It offers ample, well-signed car parks and is easy to get to from any direction. Park your rental car and arrange to meet your friends inside at the food court or a coffee shop, which entirely avoids the hassle of coordinating a kerbside pickup on a busy city street.

Weekend traffic between Norfolk and Chesapeake can be heavy, especially on Saturday afternoons. The main commercial corridors, such as Greenbrier Parkway and Military Highway, become congested due to major shopping centres. If you’re planning to shop or dine in Chesapeake, try to go earlier in the day or use a navigation app with live traffic data to find less-congested alternative routes.

The most direct route for a day trip to Hampton or Newport News from Norfolk is to take I-64 West. This major interstate leads you directly over the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) into Hampton. To continue to Newport News, remain on I-64 West. It’s always a good idea to check traffic conditions at the HRBT before you leave, as it is a frequent point of congestion.

For easy, central parking to explore Norfolk’s waterfront, the Town Point Garage and the Waterside Garage are your best options. Both are conveniently located and provide direct walking access to attractions like Town Point Park, Nauticus and the Waterside District. Parking in one of these garages allows you to leave your car for several hours and enjoy a leisurely stroll along the Elizabeth River Trail.

Most major hotels and attractions in Norfolk, such as the Chrysler Museum of Art or Nauticus, have designated passenger drop-off zones near their main entrances. The best approach is to pull into one of these zones to safely unload passengers, pushchairs and any other gear at the kerb. The driver can then proceed to park the car in a nearby car park or lot while the rest of the party waits.

For an easy, predictable drive to Richmond, the best route is I-64 West, which runs directly between the two cities. The drive typically takes about 90 minutes to two hours, depending on traffic. This major interstate is well maintained and has numerous clearly marked service plazas and rest stops along the way, making it a comfortable and straightforward trip in your rental car.

The most direct route from ORF to the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center is to take I-64 West to I-264 West. Follow signs for Downtown Norfolk and then take the Waterside Drive exit. The cruise terminal is well signed from that point. Allow extra time for potential traffic delays, especially near the downtown tunnels, to ensure a stress-free arrival.

During a major downtown festival, central garages like MacArthur Center and Town Point can fill up quickly. A smart strategy is to park at a garage on the periphery of the event, such as the York Street Garage or Bank Street Garage. This often means a slightly longer but pleasant walk and helps you avoid the worst of the congestion and ensures an easier exit.

Driving near MacArthur Center requires attention to one-way streets and designated turn lanes that manage traffic around the mall. Use your GPS and follow the large overhead signs for the specific car park you wish to enter. Be especially mindful of heavy pedestrian traffic in this area and be prepared to stop for people using the many crosswalks connecting the mall to surrounding streets.

The most practical entry for a day trip to the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge from Norfolk is the Jericho Ditch Entrance in Suffolk. The roads leading to the refuge are typically rural two-lane highways, making for a calm drive. Once inside the refuge, the main access is via well-maintained unpaved auto-tour roads, which are suitable for a standard rental car.

To make a day trip to Chincoteague and Assateague manageable, an early start from Norfolk is crucial, ideally on the road by 7:00am. The route involves the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (which has a toll) and then US-13 North. To avoid a stressful return drive in the dark, plan to leave the islands by 4:00pm at the latest. This should get you back to the Norfolk area with daylight to spare.

The key to confidently navigating the interchanges around I-64 and I-264 is to use a GPS app and know your exit number well in advance. These interchanges often have lanes that split for different destinations, so move into your target lane early. Pay close attention to the large overhead signs, which list upcoming exits and major destinations, helping you prepare without unsafe last-minute manoeuvres.

When returning your car to ORF during morning rush hour, approach the airport via Norview Avenue if possible. The airport entrance from this road often has less complex merging than the direct motorway exit. As you get close, look for the 'Rental Car Return' signs and follow them immediately. They will guide you into a dedicated lane that separates you from the busier departures and arrivals traffic.

The process of getting from the Alamo car return to the terminal is very efficient at ORF. After you park in the designated return area in the car park, gather your luggage and follow the clear signs for the airport terminal. A covered walkway connects the car park directly to the main building, making for a short, weather-protected walk of just a few minutes to the airline check-in counters.