Reviews: Oyster Farm Marina at Kings Creek

Reviews Summary

The reviews for Oyster Farm Marina in Cape Charles, Virginia, present a mixed picture of the facility and its services.

Positive aspects highlighted include:
- Navigation Assistance: Reviewers appreciated the Garmin Automatic Route feature, which provided safe and efficient navigation into the marina, ensuring a smooth entry despite local hazards.
- Customer Service: Many guests praised the friendly and attentive staff, noting that they felt valued and well taken care of during their stay.
- Facilities: The marina offers well-maintained amenities, including clean restrooms, a swimming pool with a view, and floating docks. The on-site restaurant, Oyster Farm Seafood Eatery, received high marks for its excellent food and waterfront dining experience.
- Location: The marina's proximity to Cape Charles and its charming atmosphere, including public beaches and local shops, was also appreciated.

However, several negative reviews pointed out significant issues:
- Limited Services: Some guests reported a lack of dock assistance and inadequate communication from the marina office, particularly regarding shallow water conditions in the entrance channel.
- Maintenance Concerns: Complaints included neglected docks, cleanliness issues, and high prices for services compared to other marinas in the area.
- Inconsistent Operations: The restaurant's limited hours and the office being closed on certain days were noted as inconveniences.

Overall, while many guests enjoyed their experience at Oyster Farm Marina, citing its welcoming atmosphere and good facilities, others raised concerns about navigation challenges, service limitations, and maintenance issues that could affect future visits.

Reviewed by: David Tyler , XTSEA II, on Aug 31, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 46'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

When we came to Oyster Farm Marina, we used our Garmin's Automatic Route feature to enter the channel into the Cape Charles, Virginia area. It proved both practical and reassuring. The system calculated a safe and efficient approach by considering water depths, known hazards, and navigational markers. We also kept a close watch on the green/red markers defining the channel, double checking the Garmin's route. As our vessel approached Cape Charles Harbor, Garmin automatically adjusted the route to align with the designated channel, ensuring clearance around shoals and shallow flats common in the area.
The guidance provided step-by-step course corrections, showing turn prompts and distance countdowns, which allowed for precise maneuvering through the channel entrance. Upon nearing the Oyster Farm Marina breakwater, the Automatic Route seamlessly transitioned into close-quarters guidance, helping us maintain confidence in tight quarters while avoiding risk areas.
This capability eliminated any guesswork, reduced the need for constant manual chart referencing, and allowed full attention on vessel handling and situational awareness. The result was a smooth and successful entry into Oyster Farm Marina—one of Cape Charles' most welcoming boating destinations.

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Reviewed by: David Tyler , XTSEA II, on Aug 17, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 46'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

When I came to the Oyster Farm Marina in Cape Charles, I was immediately struck by how well they take care of their customers. From the dockhands helping me tie up to the front office making sure everything was just right, everyone here treated me like more than just another boater passing through. They're genuinely nice people, and that makes all the difference.

The facilities are maintained—plenty of power, clean restrooms and showers, wide, floating docks, fuel, pump out, and even a swimming pool overlooking the water. On hot days, relaxing by the pool with a view of Kings Creek is a real luxury—it feels like a resort rather than just a marina. On top of that, they offer well-appointed villas you can rent (one and two bedrooms, full kitchen, living room, and complete bathroom), which is perfect if you have family or friends visiting who'd prefer to stay ashore in comfort.

One of the real highlights is the restaurant, the Oyster Farm Seafood Eatery. The food is excellent—fresh seafood, well-prepared dishes, and great service all in a waterfront setting that's hard to beat. Sitting there with a plate of oysters or fresh fish while watching the sun go down is the kind of experience you don't forget.

I've been to some marinas that feel like dumps—where docks are rough, staff hardly look up when you arrive, the "amenities" are little more than the bare minimum, and the restrooms are not clean. The Oyster Farm Marina is the exact opposite. Everything here is first-class, and you can tell they put effort into making it a place people want to come back to.

Another great part of staying here is how close it is to Cape Charles itself. It's only a short walk into town, and Cape Charles is a gem. The public beach is right on the Chesapeake, with soft sand and a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. The town is full of restaurants, cafés, and shops, and renting an electric golf cart is the best way to explore its historic streets. It's a small town with a big personality—friendly, walkable, and welcoming.

Coming to the Oyster Farm Marina isn't just about docking my boat—it's about enjoying the whole experience: great service, excellent food, top-notch facilities, a pool to unwind by, and the charm of Cape Charles right at my fingertips. For me, it's one of those places I know I can depend upon to offer great service.

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Reviewed by: George Langdon on Aug 12, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 46'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 2

No dock assistants, you are totally on your own, pool unusable, cannot see bottom, water appears dangerously rancid, bathroom soap, hand towels absent, docks so neglected lichen growing on them, cost per foot and electric significantly higher than any other marina in town, restaurant only open Thurs-Sun, fuel dock under construction. Management says lots of improvements coming. Would recommend waiting for arrival of same. Beautiful place in need of serious improvements.

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Reviewed by: Tommy Samuel on Jun 10, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 3

Nice marina and restaurant, but they need to update waterway info. Aqua map said 2.50/ft, I called and they are 4.00/ft 17.00/ 30 amp service and charge for water. They do not allow cancellations for anything. You loose your night deposit. Disappointing.

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Reviewed by: Mark O , DIVERSION, on Jul 3, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 38'
Draft: 5.4'

Rating: 4

There are few sailboats in the marina. Now I know why. Disclosure: was our "go-to" marina years ago but have not been in ~10 years (with opening of more accessible Cape Charles City Docks now Cape Charles Town Harbor.

Navigation: Draw 5'4" and planned transit on a +1 tide > MLLW (at the Coast Guard Station; Tide Times and Tide Chart for Cape Charles (tide-forecast.com). Water line was down ~ 2.5 feet on marks from high tide line. Called to see if prudent, VM and no call back. Direction/details from website outdated and WRONG.

30 June, grounded twice in the channel. Per watermen who came by "…When in doubt …stay to the red side…." Power boats appear to have little difficulty but sailboats…enter with caution.

Next day (7.1.21) went to the office to talk about the channel and learned they have an updated (not on website; 6.2.2021 version) soundings from Labor Day 2021. Key: at R4,6,8 as close as possible (even if departing). Departed the next day on a 1.25' positive tide and using "new" instructions saw good water throughout transit (shallowest water vic of the marina).

As transient, expect to be moored on "A" Dock which is as far away from anything as possible and completely exposed. Wifi at the Dockmaster office excellent but at A10 (berth) poor (generous). Hotspot from phone worked (ATT). Of note, number of boats with own addresses/routers and am sure high streaming rates may have impacted but signal still very, very weak.

Facilities above average repair and cleanliness. Very wide full length floating piers (both sides). Men's and women's showers (requires code and separate from open restrooms) are awesome compared to average marina. Pool is reasonable for facility.

Restaurant on site (Seafood Eatery). We had reservations 1830 and glad we did: crowded. Food was well prepared, but this is essentially the "go-to" for the cottages and other vacationers so expect very high noise (request seating as far from the door as possible and far side of aquarium), lots of very energized children: not elegant dining in days of yore. She-crab soup was very good (and recommended). Other dishes were served quickly, tasty and good value.

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Reviewed by: Joe Sigdestad , Knot 5280, on Jun 28, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 46'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

Good marina but limited services on site. The marina office should warn you of the shallow entrance when you book . The charts show 8-10 ft but we draw 4.3 ft and our depth registered 0 a few times. Favor the reds coming in. Out of pure luck on timing we entered at high tide and lucked out. Sailboats must enter at high tide or risk getting stuck.We saw one stuck in the channel for 3 hours and it wasn't even a transient boat! Once at our slip we enjoyed our 2 night stay.

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Reviewed by: Susan Spainhour on May 9, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 32'
Draft: 2.0'

Rating: 3

Easy well marked entrance to marina dockhands helped with gas and tie up. Great floating docks. Office closed Monday Tuesday. Low numbers of transient boaters. This is a busy weekend marina. Easy bike ride to town and public beaches. Restaurants and shops open. Pool opens Memorial Day. Marina beach behind restaurant lovely. Lots of sea grass. Cherrystone Fisheries adjoins marina. Lots of boating activity. Wonderful restaurant Oyster Farms Seafood Eatery.

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Reviewed by: Dan on Jun 8, 2020
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 26'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 2

Service was not good, no response when trying to contact the Dockmaster Amber. Closed at 3 in the afternoon on a Saturday. Closed all day Sunday, no service to the restrooms all weekend. The Channel, inbound when you turn at red maker 4, stay tight to the red side and go direct to red 6, stay tight to the red side. We followed a big sport fisher, glad the locals were in the channel.

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Reviewed by: Douglas Way on Sep 29, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Very nice marina and staff. Fuel prices tend to be high but that is due to their more remote location. Good restaurant onsite.

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Reviewed by: Capt. T on Sep 15, 2018
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 36'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Very nice marina and location. If your draft is more than 4' watch out coming in at low tide. You may run aground. Very narrow channel.

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Reviewed by: Jim Powell , Dawn to Dusk, on May 6, 2017
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 37'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

We all have had an idea of what we wanted a marina to look like. Most of us have held a vision of some colorful little spot in the Caribbean or the South Seas. Somewhere there were fascinating little bungalows and cottages scattered around. A pool. A truly excellent restaurant. An event center where we would be proud to see our daughters married. Spectacular sunsets. Great little Tiki Bar at the end of a promenade pier. Outstanding management and a relentlessly happy and smiling staff that is continuously on the run.
This search is over. This is the place. This is that special place where everyone is glad to see you. This is home. If you come here, you will want to stay here.

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