College Visit Guides

Drive guide · 2 days, 2 campuses

VCU and Hampton University in 2 Days: A Virginia College Road Trip

A parent-first plan for seeing Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and Hampton University on the Virginia Peninsula in two days: how each visit works, where to park, five hotels from budget to upscale, drive times, science museums for siblings and seasonal weather, every fact sourced and checked Oct 29, 2026.

The red-brick Memorial Church with its clock tower at Hampton University, with a Hampton University banner on a lamppost, hedges and a lawn in front
Memorial Church at Hampton University (Jul 2013). Photo: Douglas W. Reynolds · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Last checked Oct 29, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).

The short version

Trip at a glance

Schools
Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA) · Hampton University (Hampton, VA)
Days
2 days: VCU on day 1, then about 1 hr 35 min southeast to Hampton; Hampton University on day 2. Arrive the evening before.
Fly into
Richmond International (RIC), about 20 minutes from VCU's Welcome Center with no traffic. Fly home from Norfolk (ORF) or Newport News/Williamsburg (PHF), each under 25 minutes from Hampton University, or drive back to RIC (about 1 hr 28 min).
Best base
Night 1: Graduate by Hilton Richmond, about a 14-minute walk from VCU's Welcome Center. Night 2: The Landing at Hampton Marina, about 4 minutes by car from Hampton University.
Car or transit
Rent a car: the campuses are about 79 miles apart, and Hampton's visitor parking starts at the main gate.
Registration
Both schools take tour sign-ups online. A VCU session is a walking tour followed by an information session; a Hampton visit starts with an admission presentation, then a student-led walking tour.

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents with a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, who want to compare two very different Virginia universities in one short trip: Virginia Commonwealth University in the middle of Richmond and Hampton University on the waterfront in Hampton, about 79 miles to the southeast.

VCU's visits start at its Welcome Center on the ground floor of the West Broad Street parking deck, and Hampton visitors check in at the main gate near Tyler and East Queen Streets.

Why this order

  • Day 1: each VCU campus tour session includes a walking tour followed by an information session.
  • Day 2: a Hampton visit begins with an admission presentation, then a walking tour led by Student Recruitment Team Ambassadors that takes in the Student Center, the William R. Harvey Library, the Dining Hall, Memorial Church, Legacy Park and the waterfront.
  • Each stop has a science museum for siblings: the Science Museum of Virginia is about 5 minutes by car from VCU's Welcome Center, and the Virginia Air & Space Science Center is about 5 minutes from Hampton University.
Plan ahead: registration and timing
  • VCU: pick a campus tour session on the official sign-up page. Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Hampton: click a green date on the visit calendar to sign up. Tours run most weekdays at set times from September through April, with limited availability in summer and during finals.
Tour availability varies by season.
  • VCU's Fall Open House is an all-day event, and VCU's parking decks offer free parking to Open House guests; check the Open House page for remaining dates.
  • VCU also offers departmental and school sessions and virtual information sessions if you want to go deeper into a major.

2. The suggested 2-day drive

  • Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, using addresses geocoded with OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Leave extra time at rush hour, especially on the interstate between Richmond and Hampton Roads.

Arrival evening: fly into Richmond

  1. Richmond International Airport (RIC) → Graduate by Hilton Richmond (301 W. Franklin St.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~19 min, 10.8 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving and walking
    Rental car
  • If you plan to fly home from Norfolk (ORF) or Newport News/Williamsburg (PHF), check one-way rental car options before you book.

Day 1: Virginia Commonwealth University, then on to Hampton

  1. Graduate by Hilton Richmond → VCU Welcome Center (1111 W. Broad St.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~3 min, 0.8 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving and walking
    ~14 min walk, 0.6 mi

  2. VCU Welcome Center → Science Museum of Virginia (2500 W. Broad St.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~5 min, 1.6 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving and walking
    Rental car

  3. Science Museum of Virginia → Hampton University (100 E. Queen St.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~1 hr 36 min, 79.7 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving and walking
    Rental car
  • Book a campus tour session: a walking tour followed by an information session.
  • For lunch, VCU Dine has more than 20 locations across its two campuses, including the all-you-care-to-eat Shafer's Market 810 and retail spots such as Chick-fil-A, Panda Express and Einstein Bros. Bagels.
  • The Science Museum of Virginia, in historic Broad Street Station, is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Day 2: Hampton University, then fly home

  1. The Landing at Hampton Marina (700 Settlers Landing Rd.) → Hampton University

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~4 min, 1.2 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving and walking
    ~16 min walk, 0.8 mi

  2. Hampton University → Hampton University Museum (on campus)

    Driving (no traffic)
    Leave the car parked
    Driving and walking
    ~2 min walk, 0.1 mi

  3. Hampton University → Virginia Air & Space Science Center (600 Settlers Landing Rd.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~5 min, 1.4 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving and walking
    Rental car

  4. Hampton University → Norfolk International (ORF) or Newport News/Williamsburg (PHF)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~24 min, 14.8 mi to ORF; ~23 min, 14.4 mi to PHF (no-traffic estimates)
    Driving and walking
    Rental car
  • Stop at the main gate near Tyler and East Queen Streets, where University Police issue a one-day visitor parking pass and direct you to a lot.
  • Your visit starts with an admission presentation, then a student-led walking tour; the Office of Admission is on the first floor of the Multi-Purpose Use Facility.
  • The Hampton University Museum, which calls itself the oldest African American museum in the country, is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; tickets are required.
  • Driving back to RIC instead takes about 1 hr 28 min, 71.3 miles, with no traffic.

3. Campus by campus

A street corner on VCU's Monroe Park campus with a white historic house, a white building marked VCU and brick buildings behind bare trees under a blue sky
VCU's Monroe Park campus in Richmond (Feb 2025). Photo: Packer1028 · CC0 1.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA)

Where visits start
  • Each campus tour session includes a walking tour followed by an information session. Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • The VCU Welcome Center is on the ground floor of the West Broad Street parking deck at 1111 W. Broad St.; by car, turn onto Shafer Street from West Broad and the deck entrance is on the right.
  • VCU also runs Open House days, departmental and school sessions, and virtual information sessions.
Visitor parking
  • VCU's visitor parking decks charge $3 for up to 1 hour, $5 for 1 to 2 hours and $2 for each added hour, up to $17 a day; decks take credit or debit cards only.
  • Pay-by-plate surface lots cost $2 an hour, up to $16 a day, credit only, and VCU accepts the Passport Parking app.
Getting there
  • VCU's Welcome Center is about a 14-minute walk from the Graduate by Hilton Richmond, a 12-minute walk from the Quirk Hotel and about 20 minutes by car from RIC with no traffic.
What to know
  • The VCU photo in this guide shows a corner of the Monroe Park campus, where historic houses sit beside newer university buildings.
  • The Science Museum of Virginia, about 5 minutes by car from the Welcome Center, has a planetarium dome, hands-on labs and live demonstrations.
Contact
VCU Undergraduate Admissions: ugrad@vcu.edu. VCU Welcome Center, 1111 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA.

Last checked Oct 29, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: VCU: Visit VCU · VCU: Departmental and school sessions · VCU: Virtual information sessions · VCU: Visitor parking

The red-brick Memorial Church with its clock tower at Hampton University, with a Hampton University banner on a lamppost, hedges and a lawn in front
Memorial Church at Hampton University (Jul 2013). Photo: Douglas W. Reynolds · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

Hampton University (Hampton, VA)

Where visits start
  • Each visit begins with an admission presentation, followed by a walking tour led by Student Recruitment Team Ambassadors covering the Student Center, the William R. Harvey Library, the Dining Hall, Memorial Church, Legacy Park and the waterfront.
  • Tours run most weekdays at set times from September through April; availability is limited in summer and during finals.
  • If no tour fits, you can take a self-guided tour: pick up a campus map at the Office of Admission in the Multi-Purpose Use Facility.
Visitor parking
  • Check in at the main gate near Tyler and East Queen Streets. University Police issue a one-day visitor parking pass and give directions to a lot.
  • For GPS, Hampton gives 100 Cemetery Rd., Hampton, VA 23668 as its address for driving directions.
Getting there
  • Hampton University is about 4 minutes by car (or a 16-minute walk) from The Landing at Hampton Marina, about 10 minutes from the Embassy Suites and Red Roof Inn near the Coliseum, and under 25 minutes from ORF or PHF with no traffic.
What to know
  • The Hampton photo in this guide shows Memorial Church and its clock tower, a stop on the student-led tour.
  • Hampton's tour page also points visitors to the Emancipation Oak on campus.
  • The Hampton University Museum is about a 2-minute walk from the main campus address and is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact
Hampton University, 100 E. Queen St., Hampton, VA 23668; (757) 727-5000. Office of Admissions (first floor, Multi-Use Facility Building): (800) 624-3328 or (757) 727-5328.

Last checked Oct 29, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: Hampton: Schedule a tour · Hampton: Tours · Hampton: Visitor parking · Hampton: Driving directions

4. Where to stay: one night in Richmond, one in Hampton

Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Hotel · Our pickUpscale

Graduate by Hilton Richmond

301 W. Franklin St., Richmond, VA 23220

Why here

  • It's about a 14-minute walk from VCU's Welcome Center and about 19 minutes by car from RIC, and Expedia notes it's near the VCU Institute for Contemporary Art and the Altria Theater.
  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 4-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists 205 rooms, a rooftop terrace, an on-site restaurant (Brookfield), valet parking for a fee and a minimum check-in age of 21, and notes that one dining venue closes seasonally from Oct. 31 to May 1. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateMid-range

The Landing at Hampton Marina, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

700 Settlers Landing Rd., Hampton, VA

Why here

  • Our night-2 base: about 4 minutes by car or a 16-minute walk from Hampton University, and Expedia notes it's close to Hampton University and the Virginia Air and Space Center.
  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3.5-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists four on-site restaurants, self-parking for a fee, no pets and a minimum check-in age of 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateMid-range

Embassy Suites by Hilton Hampton Convention Center

1700 Coliseum Dr., Hampton, VA 23666

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3.5-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's on Coliseum Drive, about 10 minutes by car from Hampton University with no traffic.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists free continental breakfast, a free daily manager's reception, an indoor pool, the Cyprus Grille restaurant, valet parking for a fee and a minimum check-in age of 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateBudget

Red Roof Inn Hampton Coliseum

1918 Coliseum Dr., Hampton, VA 23666

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 2-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's on Coliseum Drive, about 10 minutes by car from Hampton University with no traffic.

Good to know

  • Expedia notes a 2025 remodel and lists free self-parking, a seasonal outdoor pool and a minimum check-in age of 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateUpscale

Quirk Hotel Richmond

201 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 4-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's on West Broad Street, about a 12-minute walk from VCU's Welcome Center, and Expedia lists an on-site art gallery.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists 73 rooms renovated in 2025, The Lobby Bar, valet parking for a fee and a minimum check-in age of 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Sleep in Richmond the first night so you can walk to VCU in the morning, then drive to Hampton after your visit and spend night 2 near the waterfront. On day 2, ORF and PHF are each under 25 minutes from campus.

5. Meals between tours

Hours change, so check before you go.

On campus at VCU

VCU Dine has more than 20 locations across two campuses; check hours before you go.

Eat

Shafer's Market 810

Monroe Park campus, Richmond, VA

VCU's all-you-care-to-eat dining hall, per VCU Dine.

Details →

Eat

Ram City Market

Monroe Park campus, Richmond, VA

A grocery in the center of campus with ready-to-eat meals; it's open late and takes cash and cards, per VCU Dine.

Details →

On campus at Hampton

Hampton's dining is run by Luxe Life Dining; Visa, Mastercard and debit cards are accepted in the food court and Dining Hall. Check hours before you go.

Eat

The Dining Hall

530 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA

Two levels on the waterfront, with a full-service food court on the second floor, per Hampton.

Details →

Eat

Student Center food court

Hampton University Student Center

Chick-fil-A (Monday through Saturday), Pizza Hut and Bagel Beaux, per Luxe Life Dining.

Details →

6. Things for siblings along the route

With siblings

Science Museum of Virginia

2500 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220

In historic Broad Street Station, about 5 minutes by car from VCU's Welcome Center, with a planetarium dome, hands-on labs and live demos. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Official page →

With siblings

Hampton University Museum

Hampton University campus, Hampton, VA

The oldest African American museum in the country, per Hampton, steps from the main campus. Open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; tickets are required.

Official page →

With siblings

Virginia Air & Space Science Center

600 Settlers Landing Rd., Hampton, VA 23669

The official visitor center for NASA Langley and one of 12 official NASA Visitor Centers, about 5 minutes by car from Hampton University; general admission includes an IMAX film. Check hours on its website.

Official page →

With siblings

A Rams or Pirates game

Richmond and Hampton, VA

Check the VCU and Hampton athletics calendars for a home game on your dates.

Official page →

7. Practical tips

Driving and parking

  • VCU's Welcome Center to Hampton University is about 78.6 miles and 1 hr 33 min with no traffic, so plan the drive for after your VCU session.
  • At VCU, the Welcome Center sits in the West Broad Street parking deck, and decks take credit or debit cards only. At Hampton, get your one-day pass at the main gate.

Flying in and out

  • Richmond International (RIC) is about 19 minutes from the Graduate by Hilton Richmond and about 1 hr 28 min from Hampton University with no traffic.
  • Norfolk International (ORF) is about 24 minutes and Newport News/Williamsburg (PHF) about 23 minutes from Hampton University with no traffic, so you can fly home without backtracking.

Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Richmond International Airport)

  • Spring: April averages about 70°F highs and 46°F lows, with about 3.2 inches of rain.
  • Summer: July averages about 90°F/69°F, with about 4.4 inches of rain, so bring water for the walking tours.
  • Fall: October averages about 71°F/49°F, with about 3.4 inches of rain.
  • Winter: January averages about 48°F/29°F, with about 3.7 inches of snow.

Parent checklist

  • Register for a VCU campus tour for day 1 and a Hampton campus visit for day 2.
  • Book a rental car, and check one-way options if you'll fly home from ORF or PHF.
  • Book night 1 in Richmond and night 2 in Hampton.
  • Bring a credit or debit card for VCU's parking decks.
  • After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.

8. Student-athlete recruiting visits

For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.

Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.

Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.

2 Division I

NCAA basics for parents

  • Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
  • Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
  • Division I (Virginia Commonwealth University and Hampton University): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
  • Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.

Planning around the season

  • Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
  • Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.

Student-athlete sources

All checked Oct 26, 2026.

  1. NCAA, 2026-27 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (pp. 3, 21–25)
  2. NCAA.org: NCAA Recruiting
  3. NCAA: Division I and II Recruiting Calendars and Guides
  4. NCAA Directory: Virginia Commonwealth University
  5. Virginia Commonwealth University Athletics (official site)
  6. Virginia Commonwealth University Athletics: Compliance
  7. Virginia Commonwealth University Athletics: Staff Directory
  8. Virginia Commonwealth University Athletics: schedule of events
  9. NCAA Directory: Hampton University
  10. Hampton University Athletics (official site)
  11. Hampton University Athletics: Compliance
  12. Hampton University Athletics: Staff Directory
  13. Hampton University Athletics: schedule of events

Trip planner

Plan this trip

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Sources

All checked Oct 29, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.

  1. VCU Admissions: Campus tours (official sign-up)
  2. VCU Admissions: Visit VCU
  3. VCU Admissions: Fall Open House
  4. VCU Campus Maps: How to get to VCU and the Welcome Center
  5. VCU Parking and Transportation: Visitor parking
  6. VCU Dine: 2026–27 dining brochure
  7. VCU Business Services: Dining
  8. Hampton University Admissions: Campus visit sign-up
  9. Hampton University: Schedule a tour
  10. Hampton University: Orientation FAQ (tours)
  11. Hampton University: Visitor parking
  12. Hampton University: Driving directions
  13. Hampton University: Contact HU
  14. Hampton University: Dining services
  15. Luxe Life Dining: Hampton University hours and locations
  16. Hampton University Museum
  17. Science Museum of Virginia: Hours & schedule
  18. Science Museum of Virginia: Directions & parking
  19. Virginia Air & Space Science Center
  20. Virginia Air & Space Science Center: Contact us
  21. Expedia listing: Graduate by Hilton Richmond (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-29) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Richmond-Hotels-Graduate-Richmond.h17725982.Hotel-Information)
  22. Expedia listing: Quirk Hotel Richmond (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-29) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Richmond-Hotels-Quirk-Hotel-Richmond.h11581272.Hotel-Information)
  23. Expedia listing: The Landing at Hampton Marina, Tapestry Collection by Hilton (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-29) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Newport-News-Hotels-The-Landing-At-Hampton-Marina.h3729.Hotel-Information)
  24. Expedia listing: Embassy Suites by Hilton Hampton Convention Center (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-29) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Newport-News-Hotels-Embassy-Suites-By-Hilton-Hampton-Convention-Center.h1172219.Hotel-Information)
  25. Expedia listing: Red Roof Inn Hampton Coliseum (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-29) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Newport-News-Hotels-Days-Inn-By-Wyndham-Hampton-Near-Coliseum-Convention-Center.h7033.Hotel-Information)
  26. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), driving profile
  27. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), foot profile
  28. OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoder
  29. NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Monthly Normals, Richmond International Airport, VA (USW00013740)
  30. VCU Rams Athletics: Calendar
  31. Hampton Pirates Athletics: Calendar