Getting around · Norfolk
Getting to and from ORF: taxi, rideshare, transit & the cell-phone lot
The quickest way to Norfolk airport is usually a taxi or a rideshare: a taxi runs about $15–$25 to Downtown Norfolk, and Uber & Lyft pick up in a marked pickup zone. Picking someone up instead? Wait free at the Cell Phone Waiting Lot. Below: every way to and from the airport, what it costs, whether to park or grab a ride, and how to fold the drive into your Leave-By Time so you reach security with room to get through the line. Check ORF TSA wait times today before you decide when to leave.
- Terminal
- 1
- Checkpoints
- 2
- PreCheck
- Yes
- CLEAR
- No
- Global Entry
- On site
- Wait data
- Predicted
Taxis from ORF — fare and where to find the stand
Typical taxi fare
~$15–$25
to Downtown Norfolk
Drive time
12–20 min
5 mi to Downtown Norfolk
A taxi is the simplest door-to-door option and needs no app. Expect about $15–$25 to Downtown Norfolk on the meter, before tolls and tip — more in heavy traffic.
Baggage claim curb outside terminal. Yellow Cab 757-622-3232 and other companies. Metered taxis; ~$15-25 to downtown Norfolk.
The ORF cell-phone waiting lot
Picking someone up? Wait free at Cell Phone Waiting Lot. On airport property near the terminal entrance; follow airport signage. Wait there until your traveler texts that they're at the curb, then loop in once. Free waiting lot. Driver must remain with vehicle.
Leaving a car for the trip instead of getting dropped off? It's worth checking the lots: compare ORFparking by price & distance.
Where to catch Uber & Lyft at ORF
Uber and Lyft pick up at the lower level baggage claim curb; follow TNC/rideshare signage.
Dropping off? Drop off on the upper Departures curb; active loading only. Norfolkhas a single terminal, so there's no wrong-curb risk — any door gets you to check-in and security.
Driving to ORF — routes & drive time
ORF sits about 5 miles from Downtown Norfolk, a drive of roughly 12–20 minutes via I-64 west to downtown Norfolk; Norview Ave/Military Highway (US-13) to I-264 east also reaches downtown — closer to the high end at rush hour. That drive time is the first input into your Leave-By Time, so the calculator counts it backward from your flight along with today's security wait and the walk to your gate.
Getting to ORF by train or transit
No rail serves ORF directly. HRT (Hampton Roads Transit) bus Route 20 runs between the airport and downtown Norfolk in about 20 minutes for $2.00, connecting to the Tide light rail at Monticello Station. Check HRT schedules for current service hours.
Fare: $2.00 one-way on HRT bus; same fare on Tide light rail (accessible via transfer at Monticello station).
Hotel and city shuttles to ORF
Hotel courtesy shuttles from the baggage claim level. Several Norfolk/Virginia Beach hotels run free airport service. If a shuttle is part of your plan, add its ride time to your Leave-By Time — it's easy to forget the 15–20 minutes between the curb and the terminal.
Park or ride to ORF?
Here's the math. Parking starts around $11/day, while a round-trip taxi or rideshare to Downtown Norfolk runs about $40. So a round trip by car comes out ahead once you're away more than about 4 days — for a quick trip, parking usually costs less; for a long one, getting a ride does.
Want the exact trade-off for your dates? compare ORFparking by price & distance — the closest lot isn't always the one that costs the least.
Accessibility and late-night rides at ORF
HRT buses and Tide light rail are accessible. Accessible taxis and rideshare available at the curb.
Late or overnight arrival? HRT bus has limited hours; taxis and rideshare operate around the clock.
Returning a rental on the way out? On-airport rental car facility; follow Rental Car Return signs. (We cover where to return a car, not where to book one.)
Pickup zones and curb rules change — we verified ORF's ground-transport details as of June 29, 2026. Always check the in-app pickup pin and posted signs when you land.
Flying out of a nearby airport instead?
If a fare or a schedule points you elsewhere, the closest airport we cover is RIC (Richmond), about 75 miles from ORF in a straight line. The same math on this page — drive time, ride cost, security wait — decides whether the extra distance is worth it.
Other airports nearby
Straight-line distance from ORF — check current waits before switching airports.
Before you go ORF
ORF TSA wait times todaySee today's security wait by checkpoint, then time your ride to the airport.Getting-around FAQ ORF
How much is a taxi to or from ORF?
A metered taxi to Downtown Norfolk typically runs about $15–$25, before tolls and tip and more in heavy traffic. Baggage claim curb outside terminal. Yellow Cab 757-622-3232 and other companies.
Where do you catch Uber and Lyft at ORF?
Uber and Lyft pick up at the lower level baggage claim curb; follow TNC/rideshare signage. Open the app after you land and follow its pickup pin, not the curb out front.
Where is the ORF cell-phone lot?
Cell Phone Waiting Lot — On airport property near the terminal entrance; follow airport signage. It's free, and you wait there until your traveler texts that they have their bags.
How far is ORF from Downtown Norfolk?
ORF is about 5 miles from Downtown Norfolk — roughly 12–20 minutes by car depending on traffic, via I-64 west to downtown Norfolk; Norview Ave/Military Highway (US-13) to I-264 east also reaches downtown.
Is there a train from ORF to Downtown Norfolk?
Not directly. No rail serves ORF directly. HRT (Hampton Roads Transit) bus Route 20 runs between the airport and downtown Norfolk in about 20 minutes for $2.00, connecting to the Tide light rail at Monticello Station. Check HRT schedules for current service hours.