Know Before You Go: About Chesapeake
Chesapeake is far more than Norfolk’s little sister; it's a sometimes overlooked town sitting in the shadows of the U.S. Naval bases and the activity they generate
Part country with rolling green horse pastures, tree nurseries and trails, Chesapeake is also part city, with a strong economy and plenty to do and see. Head to this little Virginia treasure to see all that Chesapeake has to offer.
Fine Chesapeake Weather
Chesapeake isn’t known for extreme weather. With an average temperature of about 43 degrees, February is the coldest month. It rarely snows, and temperatures don’t often hit the freezing mark. When snow does fall, the Chesapeake rarely enjoys much accumulation. July is the hottest month, averaging about 81 degrees.
Chesapeake is for Nature Lovers
With the Great Dismal Swamp Wildlife Refuge and Lake Drummond, Chesapeake is known for outdoor activities. The Refuge covers more than 100,000 acres with over 220 bird species, most easily spotted in April and May during migration time. It’s also home to about 65 species of butterflies in the summer and tundra swans and snow geese in the winter, visiting on their way south. You can view the swamp and wildlife from the water in a pontoon or rent a canoe. If you haul your boat into town with you, launches are available on Lake Drummond, but horsepower is limited to no more than 25 mph.
Chesapeake also offers a planetarium and an arboretum, which are open to the public. The Chesapeake Arboretum spans 48 acres with themed gardens and an 18th-century farmhouse. Best of all, the Chesapeake Planetarium is free of charge.
Leading Chesapeake Businesses
Chesapeake is something of a corporate hotspot with 68 international companies representing 18 nations making their headquarters here. Another 30 U.S. and North American major businesses have their headquarters here as well, including Canon and Dollar Tree. Construction, information technology and manufacturing also contribute heavily to the economy.
Road to Chesapeake
Interstate 64 brings you to Norfolk from the Richmond area, but it won’t take you far into Chesapeake. Get off on the I-64 exit for the Chesapeake Expressway, U.S. 168. This is the 16-mile main artery linking the interstate to the north with North Carolina’s Outer Banks to the south. It goes straight through Chesapeake. You'll pay a toll, but it’s the most convenient way to get wherever you want to go, with exits to most of the city’s major roadways.
If you fly into town, you’ll arrive at Norfolk International Airport, close to Interstate 64. Chesapeake has its own airport, the Chesapeake Regional Airport, but it only services private planes. Greyhound and Amtrak will take you to Norfolk, but they don’t make stops in Chesapeake. After you arrive—or if you take a bus or train into Norfolk—Hampton Roads Transit offers five Chesapeake bus routes to get you about town from various surrounding locations.
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