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Comment by beachmom76 on April 26, 2014 at 2:45pm

Portsmouth is maybe 10 miles from the base but it is all downtown Norfolk traffic, a drawbridge and a tunnel to get there. The tunnel is a toll and traffic can be a challenge. I would not recommend staying in Portsmouth unless your sailor is in the hospital. When we lived on the naval station our zip code was 23511...try googling hotels near that zip code to get an idea of what is closest. There are a lot of hotels in the area so you should be able to find something close. Good luck!

Comment by Calirose on April 26, 2014 at 1:04pm

Just got back from homecoming for my son and we stayed at the Hampton Inn which was very close to base..closer than the navy lodge but that is pretty close to. My recommendation is to stay close. A lot of the sailors who don't have family coming in will get a hotel room for the weekend so my son was able to stay with us at the hotel but be within walking distance of the hotel where his shipmates spent the weekend so he got to hang out with his friends on Saturday Night and could walk back to the hotel and I didn't have to worry about him.

Comment by TLC72 on April 26, 2014 at 9:25am

So how does that work as far as it being a homecoming so obviously our sailor would not be there at check-in to show ID?

How far is Portsmouth from the base?

Comment by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom on April 24, 2014 at 7:00pm

Tracy, my son has been based in both Portsmouth and Norfolk.  For homecoming, you really can't beat the Navy Lodge for location, plus it's the most reasonably priced around and it's very nice!  I've stayed at the Sheraton Waterside in Norfolk and I went back to the Navy Lodge.  Handy to have the kitchenette too, whether just the microwave and fridge in the smallest rooms, or full kitchen as you go up in size.

If you stay in Portsmouth (and I like Olde Towne!), you have a choice of two routes to the base that can get quite clogged with commuter traffic:  one route is a tunnel and surface streets through a part of Norfolk, the other involves a drawbridge, a tunnel and freeways.  My recommendation:  do take the paddlewheel ferry from Norfolk' Waterside to visit Olde Towne, but stay at Navy Lodge :)   Link - Navy Lodge Norfolk info, photos

Comment by CO-TwinSalorsMom on April 24, 2014 at 3:34pm

NonnaB That is awesome, I had no idea. I am an artist myself and that would be a fainting nitch.

Comment by allie1928 on April 24, 2014 at 3:22pm

We always stay at navy lodge when we visit our sailor.

Comment by TLC72 on April 24, 2014 at 2:02pm

For those who are in Norfolk or familiar with the area, how close is the Portsmouth area to base? I've been looking at hotels for homecoming time (even though it's quite awhile from now), and there seems to be hotels in so many different areas when you do a search. And of course every travel site gives different mileage from each hotel to base. What would be the best area to stay in without having to drive so far every time we go to the base?

Comment by NonnaB on April 23, 2014 at 3:54pm

Last night, I had a patient who was a Navy vet; she was an artist who illustrated instruction manuals. It never occurred to me that this was a field the the Navy uses. What a wonderful employer of varied talents our military is!

Comment by DARmom on April 22, 2014 at 8:17am

Singingbird - thank you so much for all this detailed info on the route! I also posted this question on my FB page and several have suggested this route but the detail if very helpful. Have a great day!

Comment by DARmom on April 21, 2014 at 3:53pm

HELP - Can anyone recommend or suggest roads / routes to take or avoid going east to Norfolk from Michigan / Ohio area? My son flew home and will be driving his truck back for the first time. This Navy mom is a bit nervous... Thanks

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