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The Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail is currently a 5.6-mile trail in three separate segments that will one day span 20 miles, connecting the communities of Suffolk and Chesapeake in southeastern Virginia.
About the Route
In 2015, the first 2.3 miles of the paved pathway opened, stretching from the historical village of Driver to the rural outskirts of Suffolk. A second phase was completed in 2017, extending the trail farther east 1.1 miles to Bromay Street in Chesapeake. At each end are small parking lots, fix-it stations, water, and restroom facilities. There is one at-grade road crossing with Shoulders Hill Road, approximately one mile from the east terminus.
In the heart of Suffolk, two additional segments of the trail have been constructed. The first trail provides about a half-mile of pathway just east of Main Street around the outside of Cedar Hill Cemetery, a short distance away from the city's Seaboard Station Railroad Museum, a must visit for rail aficionados. A second segment of trail was opened in 2021, spanning about 1.5 mile from Suburban Drive to Nansemond Parkway northeast of downtown - a pleasant and shady stretch of trail along the former rail corridor.
Each segment of the rail-trail follows the former Seaboard Coastal Railroad right of way and much of the pathway is surrounded by trees, farmland, and neighborhoods. It crosses over several creeks and winds through some of the area's plentiful marshland. Local wildlife abounds, so be on the lookout for copperheads sunning on the trail.
Connections
The trail is part of a larger 41-mile effort called the South Hampton Roads Trail, which will link Suffolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach.
The Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail is in three separate segments in Suffolk. Each segment has at least one parking option.
For the southern most segment, parking is available on Prentis Street across from the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum (326 N Main St, Suffolk, VA 23434).
The middle section has parking available at its southern end (at approximately 212 Suburban Dr, Suffolk, VA 23434).
For the northern section, parking is available by both ends. At the southern end, parking is located beside the trail at the intersection of Nansemond Parkway and Kings Highway. There are approximately 10 parking spaces. At the northern end, there is free parking located at 4841 S Hampton Roads Trail Suffolk, Suffolk.
There is a trailhead is located near Shoulders Hill Road and Bob White Parkway, but has no dedicated parking (street parking only).
Visit the TrailLink map for all options.
I went on a Wednesday around 1:00pm so there was no one there. The trail is perfectly paved and plenty wide.
The trail path is paved. This would be a good trail for training to do longer trails on a road bike. It is a safe, clean, and beautiful trail through nature. The trail is approximately 3.5 miles from end to end per my "igsport IGS360" bike computer.
Nice Walking Path just be careful On hot days for (SNAKES) if you have Kids make sure they stay on the pavement & watch where you walk. Copperheads andKing Snakes
I live about 4 miles from the trail so my wife and I decided to try it out. We ran the whole trail which is about a 7 mile round trip give or take where you start from. It was mostly nice and shady with a light breeze. Areas where there were no trees allowed the sun to hit you but today was only 72 degrees. I highly recommend this trail!!
I am from Hampton roads but moved to Maryland 5 years ago . I came for the first time To this trail this year while on a trip visiting my mom. This trail is a gem I wish I had known about sooner. I also was blown away by the culture of this trail. So many people greet you while Passing by. It’s very humbling and refreshing. It’s a big difference from the many trails I frequent in the dmv. The “scenery was serene” and although flat surface was not the most challenging... a round trip jog/walk provides respective miles (7 miles)
This paved trail is awesome. Great for beginner bikes, skateboards, scooters, or whatever your mode of discovery is! There are Pokestops every 1/4 mile, benches for resting and portable bathrooms with water at the beginning and the end. Parking is in a lot with accessible parking and street lights. The trail is well used without being overcrowded, so you feel safe but still feel the openness of being outdoors. Great for everybody!!
Straight line, no hills, one grade crossing - great for young families. What makes it better is there is a fairly easy geocache every tenth of a mile along the entire current trail. Almost all of them are bison tubes with a different one at the eastern trail head. Come have fun.
Great trail! Nicely kept!
I rode this short trail on a mild Saturday morning in January 2018. The setting is beautiful, and the condition of the trail is wonderful. On the day I visited, the short existing segment was heavily used by the lucky neighborhood residents living near the trail for walking, bike riding, and in-line skating. Friendly people, serene country setting - and great facilities for such a short trail.
As mentioned in the description, the trail is set to one day become part of a multi-city trail, that will eventually stretch from downtown Suffolk to the Virginia Beach oceanfront (40+miles with a few on-road segments, and a ferry crossing between Portsmouth and Norfolk). The City of Suffolk will greatly benefit its residents by expanding the trail to the west (downtown Suffolk), while all of south-side Hampton Roads will benefit when Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Norfolk and Virginia Beach complete their segments, signage and marketing of the trail.
The section from Driver to Shoulder Hill Road is nice, and all that shows on the App (as of 12 November 2017), but the trail does cross the road and continue along the homes facing Pughsville Road to Lincoln Rd.
Beautiful trail. Love that the Pughsville end is open. I would suggest a place for doggie scoop bags and a place to throw the used bags away at the Pughsville end. Similar to the setup at the Driver end.
Beside that love the trail.
The trails are a great addition to the area, however they need to make sure they don't add too much parking to it so it doesn't get overloaded like everything else in Hampton Roads. You don't want to have to duck and weave a million people if you're walking or riding.
This is a great flat and wide paved beginner trail. It has now been extended east and is 3.5 miles long. Some parking, port-a-john, and bike repair station with tools at each trail head.
My family and I love this trail. We went alot last year. Today, was our first trip of the year. We arrived at 1030 am (its a Thursday) and all of the spots were taken and vehicles were parallel parked on the grass. Luckily, i squeezed in there but since the trail is expanding more people will want to use and 6 spots are nothing.
There is now a small 6 spot parking area off Towne Point Rd. just past the VFW hall at the Suffolk terminus.
Great riding and walking trail for the family and community,hope other cities connect. Suffolk Parks and Recreation and Ms. Helen Gabriel should be commended.
Love it... well done with plans for expansion...open since Jan 2 and already the parking area is too small... and 10 minutes from my house! ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿
This is a really nice trail through beautiful central Suffolk. Adjacent to the historic Driver Village it makes for a great destination spot. The last 1 mile leg from Shoulders Hill Road to the Chesapeake City line has been recently completed now making the trail 3.3 miles one way. You can pick up the trail either at the Driver Village location or the Townpoint Road trail head / parking lot which is located on Townpoint Road adjacent to the Chesapeake city line. Beautiful foliage, glimpses of wildlife; and birds and butterflies galore! Crossing the Quaker Neck Bridge is pretty cool as well. Wheelchair users will love the smooth flat paved surface.
This trail has been extended and now runs 3.5 miles in one direction. Trail was perfect for my easy 7 mile run. It would also be great for a bike ride . . . I'll be back!
Love this trail to bike or hike with the dog. Lots of shade.
2.3 mile section from Driver to Shoulders Hill Rd.; 4.6 miles roundtrip. Paved parking available directly behind the Suffolk Humane Society (1st building when you turn off 337) in Driver. We were impressed from the start. Bike tire pump and repair tools are available for use at the parking area. The trail was very well maintained and there was no trash to speak of. Sept. 23rd ~there were plenty of flowers, trees, butterflies and birds. We were even able to get a few pictures of a Yellow-Billed Cuckoo. We both recall only 1 bench available in this 2.3 mile section (Kudos~ the bench was made out of recycled materials). Only a few other people using trail from 3pm-5:30 on Friday. There is a Porta Potty available in the parking area.
Nice, relaxing stroll. We'll definitely walk this portion of the trail again.
Thank you Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail.
This was a short, flat easy little ride on a nice smooth trail. A bit too short for me so I rode it back and forth a few times, and added miles by cruising down Bob White Parkway and through one of the adjacent neighborhoods. Construction is on-going to extend the trail east of Shoulders Hill Road. This will definitely be one to go back to once it's extended. Then why the 3 stars?? Just because of the current length - ask me again after the next segment is complete.
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