This guide provides a comprehensive look at the scheduled openings and clearance heights of drawbridges, an indispensable tool for planning your trip. However, it's important to remember that bridge schedules can change due to repairs, maintenance, or local events. Always confirm the latest information on Waterway Explorer at www.waterwayguide.com or by calling ahead.

Drawbridge clearances are vertical, in feet, when closed and at Mean High Water in tidal areas.

We compile bridge heights and clearances using data from various state and federal sources, but these figures may not always reflect current conditions. On-location signage, water depth, and other factors can affect the actual clearances. For the safety of your vessel and crew, proceed with caution and consider these variables as you navigate.

Remember, this information is for reference only, and Waterway Guide Media does not guarantee its accuracy. It's part of every mariner's duty to ensure their passage is safe by staying informed and prepared for any changes along their chosen route.

Virginia Bridges & Locks

MM 2.6, 6ft - Belt Line Railroad Bridge: Usually open. Remote operation. Announcements made 30 min and 15 min in advance, and immediately before lowering over VHF Channel 13. Contact: 757-271-1741.

MM 2.8, 145ft - Jordan Bridge: Fixed.

MM 3.6, 10ft - Norfolk & Western Railroad Bridge: Usually open. Clearance of 9 feet or less has been reported. Contact: 757-494-7371.

MM 5.8, 35ft - Gilmerton Bridge: Opens on signal, except from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Mon. through Fri. (except federal holidays), when the draw need not open. Draw will not open if adjacent railroad bridge is closed. Contact: 757-485-5488/-5567.

MM 5.8, 7ft - Norfolk Southern #7 Railroad Bridge: Usually open. Remote operation. Contact: 757-924-5320.

MM 7.1, 65ft - I-64 Bridge: The draw will open on signal if at least 24-hour notice is given.

MM 8.9, 95ft - Veterans Bridge: Fixed.

MM 11.3 - Great Bridge Lock: Opens on signal but coordinates with Battlefield Blvd. Bridge. Contact: 757-547-3311.

MM 12.0, 8ft - SR 168 (Battlefield Blvd.) Bridge: Opens on signal, except from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily, when the draw need only open on the hour. Drawtender may delay the hourly opening up to 10 min. past the hour for approaching vessels. Timed to open with Great Bridge Lock. Contact: 757-482-8250.

MM 13.0, 65ft - Chesapeake Expressway (VA 168 Bypass) Bridge: Fixed.

MM 13.9, 7ft - Albemarle & Chesapeake Railroad Bridge: Usually open.

MM 15.2, 4ft - Centerville Turnpike (SR 170) Bridge: Opens on the hour and half-hour, except from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Mon. through Fri. (except federal holidays and weekends), when the draw need not open. Drawtender may delay the hourly opening up to 10 min. past the hour for approaching vessels. Contact: 757-547-3631/-3632.

MM 20.2, 6ft - SR 165 (North Landing) Bridge: Opens on signal, except from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., when the draw need only open on the hour and half-hour. Contact: 757-482-3081.

MM 28.3, 65ft - Pungo Ferry (SR 726) Bridge: Fixed.

MM 49.9, 65ft - Coinjock (U.S. 158) Bridge: Fixed.

North Carolina Bridges & Locks

MM 84.2, 14ft - Alligator River (U.S. 64) Bridge: Opens on signal. (Note: Bridge may not open if wind speed exceeds 34 knots.) Contact: 252-796-7261.

MM 113.9, 65ft - Fairfield (NC 94) Bridge: Fixed.

MM 125.9, 64ft - Wilkerson (U.S. 264) Bridge: Fixed. (Also known as the Walter B. Jones Bridge.) (Note: This bridge is lower than the authorized 65-foot fixed vertical clearance.)

MM 157.2, 65ft - Hobucken (NC 33/304) Bridge: Fixed.

MM 195.8, 65ft - Core Creek (NC 101) Bridge: Fixed.

MM 203.8, 65ft - Beaufort Channel (U.S. 70) Bridge: Fixed.

MM 203.8, 4ft - Beaufort Channel Railroad Bridge: Usually open.

MM 206.7, 65ft - Atlantic Beach Bridge: Fixed. (Note: Clearance may be closer to 63 feet.)

MM 226.0, 65ft - B. Cameron Langston Bridge: Fixed. (Also known as the Emerald Isle Bridge.)

MM 240.7, 12ft - Onslow Beach Swing Bridge: (Use northwest draw.) Opens on signal, except from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., when the draw need only open on the hour and half-hour. You MUST signal, even though the operator may see you waiting. Contact: 910-440-7376.

MM 252.3, 64ft - NC 210 Hwy. Bridge: Fixed. (Note: This bridge is lower than the authorized 65-foot fixed vertical clearance.)

MM 260.7, 65ft - Surf City (NC 50) Bridge: Fixed.

MM 278.1, 20ft - Figure Eight Island Swing Bridge: Opens on the hour and half-hour. (Note: Bridge may not open if wind speed exceeds 30 mph.) Contact: 910-686-2018.

MM 283.1, 20ft - SR 74 Bridge: Opens on the hour from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Schedule may change during special events. (Also known as Wrightsville Beach Bridge.) (Note: Actual clearance is lower than charted. May be as low as 14 feet.) Contact: 910-256-2886.

MM 295.7, 65ft - Snows Cut (U.S. 421) Bridge: Fixed.

MM 311.8, 65ft - Oak Island (NC 133) Bridge: Fixed.

MM 316.8, 67ft - Middleton Street Bridge: Fixed.

MM 323.6, 65ft - Holden Beach (NC 130) Bridge: Fixed.

MM 333.7, 65ft - Ocean Isle (NC 904) Bridge: Fixed.

MM 337.9, 65ft - Mannon C. Gore (Sunset Beach) Bridge: Fixed.

South Carolina Bridges & Locks

M 347.2, 65ft - Nixon Crossroads Bridge: Fixed.

MM 347.3, 7ft - Captain Archie Neil "Poo" McLauchlin (Little River) Swing Bridge: Opens on signal. Contact: 843-280-5919.

MM 349.1, 65ft - Robert Edge Parkway Bridge: Fixed. (Also called the North Myrtle Beach Connector Bridge.)

MM 353.3, 31ft - Barefoot Landing Swing Bridge: Opens on signal. Contact: 843-361-3291.

MM 355.5, 65ft - Conway Bypass (SC 22) Twin Bridges: Fixed.

MM 357.5, 65ft - Grande Dunes Bridge: Fixed.

MM 360.5, 65ft - Grissom Parkway Bridge: Fixed.

MM 365.4, 16ft - SCL Railroad Bridge: Usually open. (Referred to with adjacent railroad bridge as Combination Bridges.)

MM 365.4, 65ft - U.S. 501 Bridge: Fixed.

MM 366.4, 65ft - Fantasy Harbor Bridge: Fixed.

MM 371.0, 11ft - Socastee Swing Bridge: (Use southeast draw.) Opens on signal. Contact: 843-347-3525.

MM 371.3, 65ft - Socastee (SC 544) Hwy. Bridge: Fixed. (Note: Clearance as low as 61 feet has been observed.)

MM 372, 65ft - Carolina Bays Parkway (SC 31) Bridge: Fixed.

MM 402.1, 65ft - Ocean Hwy. (U.S. 17) Bridge: Fixed.

MM 411.5, 0ft - Estherville-Minim Canal Bridge: Usually open, except when a vehicle needs to cross (infrequent). Watch for flashing yellow lights on sign. This is a floating swing bridge. The bridge rests against the east bank of the river when in the open position.

MM 458.9, 65ft - Isle of Palms Connector Bridge: Fixed. (Note: Clearance may be lower than charted.)

MM 462.2, 31ft - Ben Sawyer Memorial (SC 703) Bridge: Opens on signal, except from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Mon. through Fri. (except federal holidays), when the draw need not open. On Sat., Sun. and federal holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. the draw need open only on the hour. Use the west span. Contact: 843-883-3581.

MM 469.9, 67ft - James Island Expressway Bridge: Fixed.

MM 470.8, 33ft - Wappoo Creek (SC 171) Bridge: Opens on signal, except from 6:00 a.m. to 9:29 a.m. and 3:31 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, (except federal holidays), when the draw need not open. Between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except federal holidays), when the draw need only once an hour on the half hour. Contact: 843-852-4157.

MM 479.3, 65ft - John F. Limehouse Hwy. Bridge: Fixed.

MM 501.3, 65ft - McKinley Washington Jr. (SR 174) Bridge: Fixed.

MM 536.0, 30ft - Lady's Island (Woods Memorial) Bridge: Opens on signal, except from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Mon. through Fri. (except federal holidays), when the draw need not open to navigation; and from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., when the draw need open only on the hour. During the months of Apr., May, Oct. and Nov., Mon. through Fri. (except federal holidays), the draw will open on signal except from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., when the draw need not open to navigation; and from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., when the draw need open only on the hour and half-hour. Contact: 843-521-2111.

MM 539.7, 65ft - McTeer Memorial Twin Bridges: Fixed.

MM 557.5, 65ft - Wilton J. Graves (U.S. 278) Hwy. Bridge: Fixed.

Georgia Bridges & Locks

MM 579.9, 21ft - Causton Bluff (Sam Varnedoe/SR 26) Bridge: Opens on signal, except from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Mon. through Fri. (except federal holidays), when the draw need only open at 7:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m., and 5:30 p.m. (Note: Clearance may be higher than charted.) Contact: 912-897-2511.

MM 582.8, 65ft - State of Georgia Memorial (U.S. 80) Bridge: Fixed. (Also called Thunderbolt Bridge.)

MM 592.9, 65ft - Diamond Causeway (Skidaway) Bridge: Fixed.

MM 674.5, 65ft - F.J. Torras Causeway Bridge: Fixed.

MM 684.4, 65ft - Jekyll Island (SR 520) Bridge: Fixed.