Naval Station Norfolk

Branch: U.S. Navy
Location: Norfolk, Virginia
Installation Type: Naval Station
Status: Active

Overview

Naval Station Norfolk is the largest naval installation in the world. Located on the Hampton Roads waterfront in Norfolk, Virginia, the station is home to the U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic (CNAF Atlantic), and serves as the homeport for the Atlantic Fleet’s most capable carrier strike groups and their associated air wings, destroyers, cruisers, and support vessels. Norfolk is the flagship of the Hampton Roads military complex – the largest concentration of military forces in the world. The installation covers approximately 4,305 acres and includes 14 piers, 15 hangars, and supports approximately 75 ships and 130 aircraft. Norfolk is truly the heart of American naval power.

Mission & Units

Primary Mission: Homeport and support the Atlantic Fleet’s carrier strike groups, air wings, and surface forces; host Fleet Forces Command and other Atlantic Fleet headquarters commands; provide installation services for one of the world’s largest naval concentrations.
Major Units: U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) headquarters; Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic (CNAF Atlantic); Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic (SURFLANT); Carrier Strike Groups TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT, TEN, TWELVE (rotating with deployment cycle); Aircraft Carriers USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), USS George Washington (CVN-73), USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) and others
Tenant Units: Navy Region Mid-Atlantic (CNRMA) headquarters; Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads (NSA Hampton Roads); Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP, 3 miles away); Military Sealift Command; Defense Contract Management Agency

Location & Access

Nearest Major City: Norfolk, VA (population approximately 245,000; Hampton Roads metro approximately 1.8 million) – within city limits
Nearest Commercial Airport: Norfolk International Airport (ORF) – approximately 8 miles east
Gate Access: Multiple gates including Gate 1 (Hampton Boulevard) and Gate 2 (Naval Air Station Oceana Boulevard); CAC/military ID required; visitor passes at Visitor Control Center; pier access separately controlled for ship security; one of the busiest gate complexes in the Navy

Population

Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 55,000 (varies significantly with deployment cycles; some estimates higher when multiple strike groups in port)
Family Members: Approximately 60,000+
Civilian Employees: Approximately 15,000
Total Installation Population: Approximately 130,000+ (Hampton Roads total military active duty exceeds 80,000)

Key Facilities

Medical: Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) – one of the Navy’s premier hospitals; Level 2 Trauma Center; comprehensive specialties; large academic/training hospital; serves the entire Hampton Roads military community; Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters (CHKD) is the pediatric specialty hospital for Hampton Roads
Commissary: Yes – one of the largest commissaries in the world
Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes – major Navy Exchange (NEX) complex and facilities
Fitness & Recreation: Multiple fitness centers; pools; golf course; bowling; auto skills; Hampton Roads offers extensive recreation, history (Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown), beaches (Virginia Beach, Ocean View), and waterfront activities; sailing and boating
Schools: Norfolk City Public Schools serve base families; multiple other Hampton Roads districts accessible; Virginia Beach City Public Schools (highly regarded) are 15-20 miles away; no DoDEA schools; Norfolk city schools have historically mixed reviews – military families often choose to live in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, or Suffolk for better school ratings
Childcare: Multiple Child Development Centers on base; waitlists very common; register early
Veterinary Services: Veterinary Treatment Facility on base; wellness and preventive care
Legal Assistance / JAG: Legal Assistance Office, Naval Station Norfolk; appointment-based; one of the busiest legal assistance offices in the Navy

Housing

On-Post Housing: Navy Housing on base and on nearby housing areas; extensive privatized family housing; large inventory but demand is high
Average Wait Time: 60-120+ days typical for on-base housing; Hampton Roads off-post housing is extensive
Off-Post Housing: Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, and Hampton are popular; most military families live in Virginia Beach or Chesapeake for schools and quality of life; areas near I-64 provide reasonable commute access to Norfolk base; average rent approximately $1,700-$2,400/month for 3-bedroom home; Hampton Roads has grown more expensive but remains below other East Coast metros; Virginia has no state income tax on military pay for non-domiciliary military members
BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil); Norfolk/Hampton Roads BAH is among the highest in the Navy

PCS & Newcomer Info

Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining ship, squadron, or command; Hampton Roads is the most experienced military community in the U.S. for newcomer support; CNIC provides extensive relocation resources
In-Processing: Naval Station Norfolk in-processing; typically 2-3 days; ship and command-specific in-processing for sea duty personnel; one of the most complex in-processing environments given the diversity of commands
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Fleet and Family Support Center; enrollment required; outstanding specialist access through NMCP, CHKD, Sentara Health, and Bon Secours system

Local Area & Quality of Life

Climate: Humid subtropical; hot humid summers (average high 87F/31C in July); mild winters (average low 33F/1C in January); occasional winter snow; Atlantic hurricane risk (Hampton Roads is vulnerable); spring and fall are beautiful; Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean moderate temperatures
Cost of Living: Moderate; Hampton Roads is affordable compared to DC, Boston, or New York; has grown more expensive recently but remains a good value for a major metro with ocean access; no state income tax on military pay for non-domiciliary residents
Nearby Attractions: Virginia Beach oceanfront (15 miles); Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement, and Yorktown National Historic Park (35-55 miles) – the “Historic Triangle”; Busch Gardens Williamsburg; Chesapeake Bay; Norfolk Botanical Garden; Chrysler Museum of Art; Nauticus Naval Museum and USS Wisconsin Battleship (downtown Norfolk); Outer Banks, NC (90 miles); Washington, DC (200 miles); Assateague Island wild horses (90 miles)
Spouse Employment: Hampton Roads is one of the best employment markets for military spouses in the United States; major employers in defense contracting (Huntington Ingalls Industries, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics), healthcare (Sentara, Bon Secours, CHKD, NMCP), government, education, and technology; diverse economy supporting thousands of military families; FFSC assists

Contact & Resources

Official Website: https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrma/installations/nsnorfolk.html
Main Installation Phone: (757) 444-0000
MWR Website: https://norfolk.navymwr.org (verify current URL)
ACS / Fleet & Family / Airman & Family Readiness: Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC), Naval Station Norfolk; (757) 444-2102; relocation, financial readiness, employment, family support; deployment and ombudsman support programs

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrma/installations/nsnorfolk.html; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/naval-station-norfolk; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NavalStationNorfolk, Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law