Overview
Gloucester is a small town in the Hampton Roads region of Eastern Virginia. Gloucester is on Virginia's Middle Peninsula, directly across the York River from York County.
Gloucester was founded in 1651 from the original York River Shire. Gloucester is the site of Werowocomoco, the chief city of the Powhatan tribe prior to the arrival of the English. It is a mostly rural county, with large tracts of farmland and a large population of watermen. Its close proximity to the Historic Triangle of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown have shaped its history.
3 sights · 4 places to eat · 4 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Gloucester Courthouse
Rosewell
The ancestral home of the Page family. The house was destroyed by fire in 1916, but the APVA maintains the ruins and an accompanying visitor center.
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
The College of William and Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) offers public tours by appointment. The tour includes a visit to the Visitor's Center and Aquarium, a VIMS Research Laboratory, and the VIMS T…
The Point Walk
Offers an interpretive walk along the York River.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. Summer highs reach about 89°F; winter lows dip to about 34°F. Wettest: Jul and Aug. (climate data from nearby Eastern Virginia)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- PHF Newport News Williamsburg International Airport, Newport News — 20 mi away. Directions
- ORF Norfolk International Airport, Norfolk — 40 mi away (major hub). Directions
From the Virginia Peninsula (Yorktown, Newport News, Hampton) and points south, visitors enter Gloucester from US-17 across the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge, spanning the York River. From the Peninsula, US-17 can be easily accessed from Interstate 64.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Rosewell, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
- Lunch Nick's Spaghetti and Steakhouse
- Afternoon The Point Walk
- Dinner Mobjack Tavern
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
In addition, fast food restaurants operate at Gloucester Point and Gloucester Courthouse. An Applebee's and Ruby Tuesday's operate near Gloucester Courthouse.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
From the Virginia Peninsula (Yorktown, Newport News, Hampton) and points south, visitors enter Gloucester from US-17 across the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge, spanning the York River. From the Peninsula, US-17 can be easily accessed from Interstate 64.
From Richmond and points west, the easiest way into Gloucester via Interstate 64 is through the town of West Point on State Route 33. SR-33 crosses US-17 at Glenns in the northern part of Gloucester County. Traveling on US-17 South will direct you to the Courthouse and Gloucester Point area.
From the north, you can take I-95 South to I-64 and travel through West Point through Gloucester. Alternatively, US-17 spans from Gloucester to Warrenton, Fredericksburg, and Tappahannock and provides a leisurely, four-lane drive to Gloucester. SR-3 may also be used to get to Gloucester via Fredericksburg, offering scenic views of the Piankatank River along the way.
By plane
Gloucester is approximately 20 minutes from Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport, approximately 60 minutes from Norfolk International Airport, and approximately 90 minutes from Richmond International Airport.
Get around
There is no public transportation system in Gloucester County. Vehicle transportation is recommended. The majority of businesses and tourist attractions are located on or near US-17, the main artery through the county.
See
See Rosewell
The ancestral home of the Page family. The house was destroyed by fire in 1916, but the APVA maintains the ruins and an accompanying visitor center.
See Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS)
The College of William and Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) offers public tours by appointment. The tour includes a visit to the Visitor's Center and Aquarium, a VIMS Research Laboratory, and the VIMS Teaching Marsh. Allow 1½ hours. Tours may be reserved by calling VIMS.
- The historic Gloucester Courthouse area (accessed via Main Street) includes the historic Courthouse. Located nearby is the Gloucester Museum of History. The museum is open Monday through Friday, 10AM - 3PM and Saturdays 11AM - 4PM.
Do
In the summer months, public beach access is available at Gloucester Point.
Beaverdam Park, located at 8687 Roaring Springs Road, is a 1340-acre park surrounding a 635-acre lake. The park offers numerous hiking trails, and fishing and canoeing are popular activities in the lake.
The annual Daffodil Festival occurs in late March/early April. The festival celebrates Gloucester's status as a large cultivator of the Daffodil Flower. Festivities occur on Main Street in the Gloucester Courthouse area and include food, children's activities, art displays, craft vendors and Daffodil-related exhibits.
The annual Guinea Jubilee occurs in late September. The festival celebrates the Guinea area of Gloucester County, home to a large population of watermen. The festival is held each year at the Abingdon Ruritan Club off of Guinea Road. The Jubilee showcases the fine seafood of the Guinea area.
Buy
The Gloucester Courthouse area, accessible off of US-17 via US-17 Business (Main Street) is home to numerous shops and restaurants.
Eat
Eat Nick's Spaghetti and Steakhouse
Nick's serves Italian cuisine and steak in a casual environment.
Eat Mobjack Tavern
Goodfellas specializes in Prime Rib, seafood and pasta.
Eat Sal's Sicilian Pizza and Restaurant
Sal's is a traditional Sicilian pizzeria.
Eat Short Lane Ice Cream Company
Serves hand-made ice cream in a restored general store.
In addition, fast food restaurants operate at Gloucester Point and Gloucester Courthouse. An Applebee's and Ruby Tuesday's operate near Gloucester Courthouse.
Drink
There are a few sports bars in Gloucester, but no dance clubs or nightclubs. However, many of the full-service restaurants offer bar service.
Sleep
Stay Hampton Inn - Gloucester
Stay Thousand Trails Campground - Chesapeake Bay
Thousand Trails offers campground sites for RVs and cabin rentals in a quiet setting. Numerous water activities abound.
Go next
- Yorktown, site of the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War, is located across the York River from Gloucester. The National Park Service maintains a visitor center (admission required) and tours of battlefields and historic sites associated with the Siege of Yorktown. The private Yorktown Victory Center (admission required), located near the Park Service's site, offers additional perspective and recreations of the battle. Yorktown also offers public beach access and shopping along the York River.
- Williamsburg is approximately 30 minutes from Gloucester Point via the National Park Service's Colonial Parkway. Colonial Williamsburg offers a living recreation of the colonial capital of Virginia. Located near the Colonial Williamsburg site is the campus of the College of William and Mary. Williamsburg is also home to numerous outlet shopping centers, and the Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA amusement parks.
- Jamestown is approximately 45 minutes from Gloucester Point. Home to the first permanent English settlement in the U.S., Jamestown is home to the National Park Service's Historic Jamestowne and the state-managed Jamestown Settlement Park.
Nearby
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City / town · 67 listings · 14 mi away
Williamsburg
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Deltaville
City / town · 23 listings · 14 mi away
Newport News
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Hampton
City / town · 17 listings · 28 mi away
Cape Charles
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Carrollton
City / town · 21 listings · 32 mi away
My experience
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