This metro area known as Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News is bordered to the west by the Elizabeth River and to the north by the Chesapeake Bay. Norfolk is the historic, urban, financial, and cultural center of the region. It’s the largest Navy base in the world, and is one of NATO’s two Strategic Command headquarters. Norfolk is also an important railway and shipping hub. Virginia Beach is 18 miles to the east. Hampton/Newport News is the area to the north, using I-64 Bridge Tunnel.
This is our guide to the best places to run in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Hampton, and Newport News. In Virginia Beach, the highlights are 5-mile long Virginia Beach, beautifully wide and with hard, packed sand, and its 2.7 mile boardwalk, as well First Landing State Park, with miles of trails through marches, forests, and along the water. In Norfolk, The 9-mile Elizabeth River Trail is a great way to explore downtown Norfolk and the waterfront. In Hampton/Newport News, a favorite is Fort Munroe and Buckroe Beach, with miles of trails bordering Chesapeake Bay. Newport News Park is one of the best parks in the area, and the 5-mile Noland Trail, following the shoreline of Lake Maury.