Cost of living index in Yorktown is 8.7% lower than the national average.
Social Media
You can follow Naval Weapons Station Yorktown on Twitter and Facebook social media websites. Get information on events happening around the base, stories and photos by following NWS Yorktown. Visit the sites and tag along. If you want something posted or announced on these websites, contact the NWSY PAO at 757-887-4939.
Gate 3
Located off Jefferson Ave is the main access gate to Naval Weapons Station Yorktown and is open 24/7.
Gate 1
Gate 1 at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown is off Yorktown Road. It is fully automated and can be accessed 0600-0800 and 1500-1700 inbound and outbound with a valid CAC card.
Cell Phones/Texting
Effective July 1, 2013, "TWD" (Texting While Driving) Now Outlawed In Virginia: Text messaging while driving is banned in the State of Virginia. The law prohibits drivers from using wireless communication devices to send text messages, except in cases of emergency. A violation of the new law is a traffic infraction punishable by a $120 fine for a first offense, and a $250 fine for a second or subsequent offense.
Cell phones are prohibited from use while driving on the installation; this includes hands free devices.
There is a lengthy waiting list for childcare centers in the Hampton Roads area. Consider family home care in military housing or civilian childcare options if care is needed immediately.
Defense Service Network (DSN) Dialing Instructions
The DSN is the provider of long-distance communications service for the Department of Defense (DoD). Every installation has a special DSN number and the numbers vary by world-wide location. In order to place a call using DSN, the caller must be using a military phone on an installation. Cell phones cannot dial DSN numbers. When dialing a DSN number from a United States installation to another United States installation, it is unnecessary to dial the DSN 312 area code. When dialing a DSN number to/from overseas locations, the DSN area code must be included.
Naval Weapons Station Yorktown and Cheatham Annex provide responsive, quality support for explosive ordnance storage, maintenance, logistics, research and development, and support services; expeditionary logistics training and operations; warfare training for Sailors, Marines, and other Services; and to serve as a premier recreation destination for service members and dependents.
The installation was first established in 1918, as the Naval Mine Depot. The Weapons Station is one of many Navy installations in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. For more information, please visit Yorktown's homepage.
THE CORRECT LINK FOR WPNSTA YORKTOWN IS Naval Weapons Station Yorktown (navy.mil)
Military bases in close proximity to the Weapons station are Joint Bases Langley-Eustis, Naval Station Norfolk, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Naval Air Station Oceana, Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Portsmouth Naval Hospital. Together, they support approximately 87,787 joint force military personnel with additional 111,328 family members, over 58,525 retirees and 46,695 DoD personnel and civilian employees.
Virginia’s Historic Triangle, defined as the area encompassing the City of Williamsburg, James City County, and portions of York County (Bruton District, the Naval Weapons Station, and the Yorktown village), is located in the Virginia Coastal Plain on the peninsula formed by the James and York Rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. It is part of the Hampton Roads region and the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News VA NC Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). This area has been dubbed the Historic Triangle because of its unique role in the founding of our nation. The western point of the triangle, Jamestown, located in James City County, was founded by the first settlers in 1607 and is the site of the first permanent English settlement and the first colonial government in America. Williamsburg, the northern point, served as Virginia’s colonial capital during most of America’s struggle for independence. The eastern point, Yorktown, where independence was won, is located in York County and is the site of the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War.
With 207 square miles, the Historic Triangle occupies slightly over half the total land area (53%) of the Virginia Peninsula, which also includes lower York County and the Cities of Newport News, Hampton, and Poquoson. According to the 2010 Census, the Historic Triangle is home to slightly more than 94,000 people. The population has grown by about a third (34%) since 2000. Over three quarters of this growth – 79% – took place in James City County, which now accounts for 71% of the Historic Triangle’s population; Williamsburg and upper York County/Yorktown account for 15% and 14% of the population respectively. The area’s population grew by 34.4% between 2000 and 2010 – 39.3% in James City County, 17.3% in Williamsburg and 31.2% in York County (upper York/Yorktown). By comparison, the state of Virginia grew by 13.0% between 2000 and 2010.
Military bases in close proximity to the Weapons station are Naval Station Norfolk, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Naval Air Station Oceana, Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Portsmouth Naval Hospital. Together, they support approximately 87,787 joint force military personnel with an additional 111,328 family members, over 58,525 retirees and 48,695 DoD personnel and civilian employees. Also, in close proximity to the Weapons Station are Joint Bases Langley-Eustis and the Coast Guard Training Center at Yorktown.
The Weapons Station is located at the northern end of what is known as the Virginia Peninsula, bordered by the York River, Colonial National Historic Park, York County, City of Newport News and James City County. Naval Weapons Station Yorktown is one of the Navy's major East Coast ordnance facilities. Yorktown is considered to be a military town with the cost of living being slightly higher than average. The base operator's phone number is 757-887-4000, DSN 312-953-4000.
Peninsula's attractions include Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia Air & Space Center, Riverside 3D IMAX Theater, Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. For more information on what there is to see and do, please visit the tourism website.
Hampton Roads has 2 major airports:
Personnel flying in to Hampton Roads should make prior arrangements with their sponsor for transportation from the airport to their command. If no prior arrangements have been made, personnel flying into the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport should check with either the USO or the airport Information Booth for transportation options. USO staff can aid the service member with contacting his or her command for assistance. The airport Information Booth will have Taxi and shuttle service information. Taxi and shuttle services are available to and from Naval Weapons Station Yorktown. Taxi fees range between $32.00 - $35.00 dollars one way and shuttle fees are as low as $25.00 dollars one way.
USO can be reached by calling 757-233-0567. Hours of operation are Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - Midnight and Saturday - Sunday 9 a.m. - Midnight.
Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport Information Booth can be reached by calling 757-877-0221 extension 255. Hours vary with staffing.
Should you arrive on a weekend, report to Combined Bachelor Quarters Nelson House, Building 704 (located inside Gate 3) then to the command on the next working day with your transfer package for in processing.
Contact numbers and hours of operation for Norfolk International Airport:
The Military Information Booth can be reached by calling 757-444-8040. Hours of operation are, Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sat – Sun and Holidays 08:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
USO can be reached by calling 757-969-5604. Hours of operation are, Monday - Sunday 9 a.m. - Midnight.
Access to Gate 3 from Richmond
Follow Interstate 64 East until exit 247. At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn left onto route 143 (Jefferson Avenue). Travel to the first stop light and turn left for access to Gate 3.
Access to Gate 3 when Arriving from Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport
If arriving at Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, turn right onto route 143 (Jefferson Avenue) and continue for approximately six (6) miles. Cross over Yorktown Road and continue for approximately three quarters of a mile. Turn right onto Longfellow Road which leads into Gate 3.
Access to Gate 3 from Norfolk
Follow Interstate 64 West until exit 247. At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn right onto Yorktown Road. Turn left at the first light on to route 143 (Jefferson Avenue). Continue on Jefferson Avenue for three quarters of a mile. Turn right onto Longfellow Road, which leads into Gate 3.
NOTE: If reporting to a tenant command onboard NWSY, proceed straight to gate three, and ask the security personnel there to assist you with directions to your new command.
Currently there is no base transportation on this installation.
757-887-4000, or DSN 312-953-4000
Release 2024.03.06.1