The Fort Monroe Authority (FMA) is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia, created by Act of the Virginia General Assembly in 2010 and charged with the reuse planning and management in perpetuity of Fort Monroe (Old Point Comfort) Virginia; a state enclave, open to all as of September 15, 2011.

• Total Acreage – 565 acres
• Total Acres of submerged land – 110 acres
• Total acres of wetlands – 85 acres

The Fort Monroe Authority is led by 14-member gubernatorial appointed Board of Trustees. The Board consists of 8 Citizen Appointees, 2 General Assembly Appointees, 2 City of Hampton Appointees, and the Secretary of Natural Resources(non-voting) and the Secretary of Commerce and Trade (non-voting). For more information visit the Fort Monroe Authority page.

Fort Monroe is closed to public use and access from midnight to 5 am year-round. Parks, Outlook Beach, Engineer Wharf fishing pier and the boardwalk are open for public enjoyment from sunrise to the sunset. There are no fees for entry to Fort Monroe.

Directions From Richmond

• Take I-64 East towards Norfolk/Williamsburg/Virginia Beach. Remain on I-64 until you reach Hampton, VA.
• Take Exit 268 (169 East Mallory St/Ft. Monroe). NOTE: Last exit prior to entering the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.
• Left at the light onto S Mallory St (.1 mile)
• Right at the 2nd light onto E Mellen St. Continue approximately .6 miles until you cross over a small bridge prior to entering Ft. Monroe.

Directions From Virginia Beach/Norfolk

• Take I-64 West towards Richmond, VA. Remain on I-64 until you reach Hampton, VA.
• Take Exit 268 (169 East Mallory St/Ft. Monroe). NOTE: First Exit after leaving the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.
• Left at the light onto S Mallory St (.1 mile).
• Right at the next light onto E Mellen St. Continue approximately .6 miles until you cross over a small bridge prior to entering Ft. Monroe.

Yes, guests would generally begin their outing at the Fort Monroe Visitor and Education Center, located at 30 Ingalls Road, Fort Monroe, VA 23651. The Visitor Center and Casemate Museum will be open to the public on June 18, 2021. From the Visitor Center guests can take a short walk to the Casemate Museum is located within the largest stone fort ever built in America. The museum features many exhibits about Fort Monroe and the Coast Artillery Corps. Admission is free. For more information call 757-690-8181. 

Currently, there is no lodging on Fort Monroe. However, there are a number of hotels located just a few miles away in the City of Hampton. Click for more information on hotels and places to stay in Hampton, VA

Fort Monroe is home to the Colonies RV and Travel Park The park is located on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay. Guests have access to Fort Monroe’s beautiful beaches, boating, fishing, bicycling and many historic sites to explore at Fort Monroe. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting the Colonies RV and Travel Park at 757-722-2200.

Several eateries are located on Fort Monroe. For a complete listing of all restaurants, please visit our restaurants page.

There are approximately 25 employees employed by the Fort Monroe Authority and 3 employed by the National Park Service.

Approximately 160 families live at Fort Monroe. Fort Monroe features 176 housing units. For more information on living at Fort Monroe visit the Residential Leasing section.

Once a military post where soldiers and their families lived, today Fort Monroe is a public park with homes and apartments available for lease to the general public. For a complete description of housing options, visit the Residential Leasing section or call Fort Monroe Authority Leasing Office at 757-723-4238. Homes and apartments are leased but not sold.

Fort Monroe is an extraordinary place to work. More than one million square feet of non-residential space is located in more than 200 buildings. 169 of the buildings and structures are historic, representing a variety of architectural styles including Romanesque, Colonial and Gothic Revival. The Fort Monroe Authority is preserving these buildings through rehabilitation and reuse. There are a variety of opportunities to locate and organization or business here here. Please contact the Commercial Leasing office at 757-497-2113 or elizabeth.napolitano@divaris.com for availability.

There are 259 buildings and structures, 169 of which are historic.

Fort Monroe is home to some of the finest military architecture including; Romanesque, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Gothic Revival, Beaux Arts, Classical Revival, Art Deco, International Style.

In a recent bird survey of Fort Monroe performed in 2009-2010, a total of 89 bird species were observed at Fort Monroe including; Bald Eagles, American Black Ducks and Brown Pelicans.

Fort Monroe is home to a total of 9 species of trees and a total of 249 species of flora representing 179 genus and 67 families of plants. The area has 136 native and 113 introduced plants meaning 55% of the plant assemblage of Fort Monroe is made up of native species and 45% of introduced species.

Fort Monroe features a waterfront boardwalk that stretches over 3 miles along the Chesapeake Bay. A walking tour is also available that features Fort Monroe’s historic sites.

There is so much to do at Fort Monroe. Guests enjoy learning our rich military history at the Casemate Museum, swimming at the beautiful Outlook Beach, Eating at one of our waterfront eateries, camping at the Colonies RV and Travel Park, or playing a game of tennis or baseball at one of the athletic fields. Fort Monroe’s beautiful outdoor setting offers a wide range of activities including nature walks, bird watching, and historic exploration. For details.

There’s always something happening at Fort Monroe. Check out the Calendar to see what’s on the schedule right now.

All commercial filming activities require a permit. Commercial filming means filming that involves the digital or film recording of a visual image or sound recording by a person, business, or other entity for a market audience. This includes recordings such as those used for a documentary, television or feature film, advertisement, or similar project.  In most cases, a permit is not necessary for casual visitor activities.

Pets are welcome in nearly all areas of Fort Monroe but must be on leash.  Pets are welcome on the beaches from September 15 to May 15.

All of Fort Monroe is a National Historic Landmark. Harming the buildings or natural environment are offenses punishable under federal law. Metal detecting and other digging activities are unlawful at Fort Monroe due to the potential explosive materials and archaeological resources. If you suspect an object of being an explosive material, clear the area and call 9-1-1 immediatelly.

Volunteering is one of the most popular ways to enjoy Fort Monroe. Volunteers serve as docents at the Casemate Museum and play a major role in special event offerings to the public. For more information on volunteering at Fort Monroe, please contact our Human Resource Manager at JCurcione@FortMonroe.org

Intimate chapels, elegant reception sites, conference facilities and a beautiful waterfront gazebo are a beautiful backdrop for weddings, celebrations, retirements, meetings, and retreats. For more information, visit the venue rental page or call 757-251-2779.