Boating, Fishing, and Travel Information for Cape Charles Harbor, VA

There is public access to the bulkheads and slips at the eastern end of the harbor. Anchoring is forbidden in any part of the harbor or the basins. A no-wake speed limit is enforced. A harbormaster enforces harbor regulations, and a dockmaster supervises docking at the municipal facilities. Gasoline, diesel fuel, and water are available. Some marine supplies may be obtained in town.
Cape Charles is a customs port of entry.
Navigation:
Click the “Map View” button above to see a chart of this harbor.
Cape Charles Harbor, 9 miles northward of Wise Point, is a dredged basin on the south side of the town of Cape Charles. A well-marked dredged channel leads to the harbor between sand flats on the south and a stone jetty on the north. Two small dredged basins are eastward of the main harbor basin. The northerly basin is known as the Harbor of Refuge, and the southerly basin as Mud Creek Basin.
The mean range of tide is 2.4 feet at Cape Charles. The tidal currents set across the entrance to and across the southwest section of the dredged channel, but farther north they follow the general direction of the axis. The channel is exposed to westerly winds, but is partially protected by the flats to the westward, and seldom is too rough for motorboats. However, during severe W weather heavy surges may occur in the harbor.
Cape Charles Harbor is a terminus of the Bay Coast Railroad. The railroad operates floats to Little Creek. Floats are usually brought into the harbor in the late afternoon, although there are also occasional early morning arrivals. Due to the limited maneuvering room in the channel and the harbor, larger vessels and tows are sometimes a hazard to small craft. The tugs that handle the floats monitor VHF-FM channels 13 and 16.