Portsmouth Virginia | Shop, Dine, Play, Stay | Umoja Festival Portsmouth VA

Arriving to Portsmouth

Southeastern Virginia

An historic seaport city in southeastern Virginia, the City of Portsmouth is centrally located within the region referred to as South Hampton Roads. It is bordered by four neighboring cities: Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk and Virginia Beach. It is also within easy driving distance of Newport News, Hampton, Yorktown, Jamestown and Williamsburg. The Norfolk – Virginia Beach – Newport News Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) ranks as the 27th largest in the United States with a total population of more than 1.5 million.

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DIRECTIONS TO PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA

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From Virginia Beach:
Take I-264 West into the Downtown Tunnel to Portsmouth. The first exit after the tunnel (Exit 7) brings you downtown. Follow Crawford Street to the Visitor Information Center in Olde Towne.

From Williamsburg/Richmond:
From I-64 eastbound, take the I-664 South exit and cross the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel. Take Exit 15 onto I-264 East. Take Exit 7B for Downtown Portsmouth and follow Crawford Street to the Visitor Information Center.

From Norfolk:
You can take either the Downtown or Midtown tunnel into Portsmouth. Downtown Tunnel: the first exit after the Tunnel (Crawford Street) brings you downtown. Follow Crawford Street to the Visitor Information Center in Olde Towne.

Midtown Tunnel:
Take the first stoplight after the tunnel is High Street. Turn left, and follow to the water. Turn right on Crawford Street for the Visitor Information Center.

Or take the Elizabeth River passenger ferry from The Waterside to Olde Towne Portsmouth.

FESTIVAL PARKING

Free parking is available to UMOJA attendees in any of the Parking Garages or Off Street Parking Lots operated by the City. These include:

  • County Street Garage
  • Central Garage (at City Hall)
  • Water Street Garage
  • Middle Street Garage
  • Columbia Street Lot
  •  Civic Center Lot.

Attendees may park in both visitor and reserved spaces (except for spaces marked 24 Hrs. Reserved) after 6:00 p.m. on Friday and anytime on the weekend. On street metered parking is also free after 6:00 p.m. on Friday as well as on Saturday and Sunday.

During Main Stage events on Saturday evening, Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion has parking accessed from WAVY Street, for those holding VIP passes. Special Event Parking Aides will be stationed at key intersections and parking facilities to assist attendees in parking at the City garages and lots during both Friday and Saturday evenings.