Cape Charles Virginia Map

About Cape Charles, Virginia

Cape Charles is a locality in Northampton County, Virginia, United States. It has a population of approximately 1,201. The population density is 138.9 people per km². Cape Charles is located at 37.2679°N, 76.0174°W. It observes the Eastern Time (America/New_York) timezone. ZIP code: 23310.

Cape Charles rests on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, a finger of land reaching south into the Chesapeake Bay. It lies 20.7 miles east-northeast of Poquoson, VA (from Poquoson, VA: bearing 61°T), and is situated 28.8 miles north of Virginia Beach. The town itself unfolds along a gentle curve of shoreline, its streets laid out in a neat grid that suggests a deliberate, orderly design. Salt-laced air, carrying the faint, briny scent of oysters and marsh grasses, washes over the weathered clapboard houses and the quiet harbor where sailboats bob with the tide. Beyond the town, the landscape flattens into a mosaic of agricultural fields, their rich, dark soil a stark contrast to the pale, sandy beaches that fringe the bay, where the water often shimmers with an ethereal, almost pearlescent light in the late afternoon. The sky here feels immense, a vast, unbroken canvas that often glows with a soft, diffused radiance, particularly as the sun begins its slow descent toward the western horizon, painting the clouds in hues of rose and gold. Originally envisioned as a grand railroad terminus, Cape Charles’s ambitious beginnings are still evident in the stately, albeit now mostly repurposed, structures that speak of a bygone era of robust commerce. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, a marvel of engineering, now hums with traffic a considerable distance to the north, rerouting much of the region's transit, yet Cape Charles retains a sense of its own distinct identity, a quiet resilience born from its maritime heritage and a deep connection to the bay's bounty. The economy, once anchored by the rail yard and fishing fleets, now finds new life in tourism and a thriving aquaculture, particularly the cultivation of oysters that have become synonymous with the Eastern Shore's culinary reputation. Small shops and galleries line Mason Avenue, offering a glimpse into the creative spirit of the residents, and the pace of life unfolds with a languid, unhurried cadence, a welcome respite for travelers seeking genuine tranquility.

About This Cape Charles Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Cape Charles, Virginia — switch between views using the small square in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. Coordinates: 37.267916, -76.017434. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service, with current observations and a 7-day forecast also powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while a Wikipedia summary or an editorially written description provides background on Cape Charles and Northampton County.

Detailed location data for Cape Charles includes the ZIP code (23310), telephone area code (757), county seat of Northampton County (Eastville), and school district assignment (Northampton County Public Schools). These are among the most commonly searched location details for any US city or town.

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Cape Charles is identified even where the name is shared across multiple counties or states. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.