Eastern Shore of Virginia Welcome Center

Right at the north end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel you'll find this large parking lot. 48 hours free parking allowed. No hookups or actual camping, but there are large trash bins and grass all along the outer edge of the lot. Pets can be walked in designated areas on a leash.

The best part about this free boondocking spot is the set of hiking, biking, jogging trails that begin right behind the Welcome Center. About 1/4 mile north, the trail becomes paved, and it goes all the way up to nearby Kiptopeke State Park. Head south on the trail to enter a wildlife management area complete with historical markers chronicling the area's unique role in WWII, when massive guns loaded with 16" shells were stationed there in concrete bunkers to protect the Chesapeake from the potential threat of invading Germans. Several spots feature wooden observation decks that look out over marshlands, a lighthouse, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Read the one previous review of this area and decided to call. Yes, they do allow a maximum of a 48 hour stay here at no charge. This property belongs to the Bridge Authority and NOT the Welcome Center. It is regulated and secured by the Bridge Authority and their Police Department.

Posted as you come in Maximum stay 48 hours. I was told by the lovely Welcome Lady (Mary Mears) on the phone, it is a courtesy to call the Bridge Police Department/Security and announce your intention to stay. Their phone number is 757-331-8950. We did so, half way across the bridge. I spoke with a wonderful officer. Gave him my name, rig details and intentions to stay for the 2 nights.

It was clear, he was monitoring comings and goings from the area. He said, "oh, are you the one in the..(and he described a rig)....that just pulled in?" I did clarify, my rig was still on the bridge. I gave him the particulars our our rig. He was cordial and said, "48 hours is our limit, pick a nice spot and enjoy your stay! Thank you for calling!"

It should be noted, Visitor Center itself is open 8:30A - 4:30P, with vending machines and rest rooms open 24 hours. There are trails as previously noted. We will be explored the one day we stayed over and had a great time. Ask inside the Center and they will tell you all about the area. Nice State Park nearby, Wildlife Refuge with a path to it from this parking lot.

Picnic Tables available, trash cans. No water or dumping station.

We parked behind the building along the grassy area. Trucks and vehicles do drive around the building so there was a little noise - nothing to bad. There are plenty of spots - this is a huge lot!

Definitely a Treasure in the Rough - so Don't Abuse!

I am going to comment - not everyone picks up trash so as good Campendium campers - let's help a bit and pick up a bit when we can! When I go to the trash can, I pick up things left behind which I see near our rig.

Definitely would recommend as a stop over. It can be accessed going either way on the bridge as there is a cross over in the middle of the highway divider!

From the north, we didn’t see the entry before tolls and we paid 22$. But we received a refund at the building administration when we explained that we would stay for the night.
Little trail are available and they are full of butterflies, really beautiful.
Arrive early in the afternoon because have many truckers in the parking at night.

Lighted. Patrolled. Felt very safe. Great bathrooms. Electrical outlets on the outside of the building. We actually plugged in our skillet and cooked breakfast on the side walk. Clean.

After reading the reviews I decided to stay here for 2 nights. I went in the welcome center and asked if it was OK to spend the night. They had no clue. They said camping wasn't allowed. They gave me the number to call the CBBT police who are in charge of the parking. At first he said there was no overnight parking allowed( I did not see any signs prohibiting overnight parking), he then put me on hold to ask his chief. Chief said it was OK but I could not hook up. I only asked to park overnight! I was thinking of unhooking to go into town to patronize a restaurant but not now.
How ever there is free open WiFi that measured 12Mbps!
There are bathrooms that are clean and open 24 hours.

Nice place to overnight before or after using the Bridge Tunnel. It is quieter than most rest stops. There is a lot of extra room that let us pull up to the curb and put slides out without danger. Picnic tables and grass areas. Best of all there is an actual wildlife and park connected to it. There is a butterfly garden, and some fortifications from harbor defense during WWII including a huge naval gun. It connects to a Nature conservancy area with a boat ramp and kayak launch area and miles of walking paths. You might want to plan on 2 days so you can enjoy the park.

We came from the north and just before we entered we saw a sign that said "No Trailers." We turned in anyway, and finally figured out that the sign was for the left hand lanes of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel toll booth, not the Welcome Center. Unfortunately the National Wildlife Refuge was closed because it was hunting season, but we were directed to Kiptopeke State Park just three miles up the road. We spent a wonderful afternoon there exploring the park on our bikes. The rest area was great, with typical but not annoying noise you would expect.

Clean and not too noisy overnight spot.

We prefer to get off of I95 and travel Delmarva Rt 13 and have enjoyed several of the state parks along the route. This was our first overnight at the welcome center. Large parking lot with some truck and traffic noise, but not bad.

Go around welcome center and park along rear edge of parking lot where there are picnic tables and shade trees.

Sign states you can’t stay longer than 48 hours. Was here 7/3/21 and saw a fireworks show out of front RV window. Wildlife Refuge access with a nice walking trail and some military information. 3 others RV and 5 tractor trailers. Didn’t find it too noisy being right across the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.

I have stayed here twice now. Simple truck stop with clean bathroom. I couldn't see a tun in from the north so went to the toll booth and they had me go a little further to u-turn. I had great coverage on Verizon - able to run a couple zoom work meetings in the morning before I headed on my way.