Driving from Norfolk & Hampton Roads
South out of Virginia through the farm country of the Albemarle — about two and a half hours of low, big-skied road down to the sound.
In short
From Norfolk and Hampton Roads it's about two and a half hours: south on U.S. 17 into North Carolina, then over to U.S. 64/264 toward Hyde County, down through the Albemarle farm country to the sound and our door.
Virginia guests have the shortest drive of the bunch. Head south out of Hampton Roads on U.S. 17, cross into North Carolina, and work your way over to U.S. 64 and then U.S. 264 headed toward Hyde County. The road carries you down through the Albemarle farm country — low, big-skied land, long straight roads, fields on both sides — and out to the top of the Pamlico Sound, where Engelhard sits. We're at 34901 U.S. Highway 264, right on the highway.
The drive
The first stretch through southeastern Virginia and the Albemarle is easy going. Past Edenton and the farm towns the country gets quiet and open, and you'll feel the land flatten out as you near the water. It's a calm drive with not much traffic — the kind where you can let your shoulders down a little. Keep an eye out at dusk for deer along the field edges, and in winter you'll see swans, ducks and geese out in the cut corn and on the water as you come down toward the sound.
Flying in
If you're flying, Norfolk International (ORF) is the closest major airport — about two and a half hours from us, the same drive described above. A lot of our fly-in guests land at ORF, pick up a rental car, and come down U.S. 17 this way. There are smaller fields closer in — Pitt-Greenville (PGV) and Coastal Carolina Regional (EWN) over in New Bern — but ORF usually has the most flights and the easiest rentals.
You'll want a car no matter how you arrive. There are no rideshares out here, and services thin out the closer you get to the sound — so fuel up and grab any groceries or supplies before the last long stretch.
A few practical things
We have free parking with plenty of room for a truck, trailer, or boat, so bring whatever you're hauling. If your flight or your drive is going to put you in late, just call the front desk at (252) 925-2001 and we'll have someone here to hand you your key. Check-in is by phone with a real person — no deposit, no booking fees, no apps to fuss with.
Driving from somewhere else? We've written up the route from Raleigh and the Triangle and the quick run from the Outer Banks. Once you know your day, go ahead and book a room, or just call the desk and we'll hold one for you.
The only hotel in Engelhard — and the closest bed to the ferry, the lake and the work. Call the front desk and we'll hold a room for your dates.
(252) 925-2001