Willoughby Spit, Coastal spit and neighborhood in Norfolk, Virginia, United States

Willoughby Spit is a narrow strip of land in Norfolk, Virginia, bordered on three sides by the Chesapeake Bay, Hampton Roads, and Willoughby Bay. It functions both as a natural landform and as a residential neighborhood, with sandy shores running along much of its length.

The spit took shape following a powerful storm in the 17th century that reshaped the coastline near land owned by Thomas Willoughby, one of the early colonists in the area. The storm deposited enough sand and sediment to create the landform that still exists today.

People who live here tend to organize their daily routines around the water, heading out to the bays for fishing, kayaking, or simply sitting by the shore. The waterfront streets feel distinctly residential, with houses turned toward the bay rather than away from it.

The spit is accessible by road from central Norfolk, and parts of the shoreline are open to the public for walking or watching the water. The warmer months bring more activity, but the views across the bay are worth a visit in any season.

In 1910, pilot Eugene Ely lifted off from the deck of the USS Birmingham, anchored in Hampton Roads just off the spit, and landed on the beach nearby in what was the first recorded flight from a naval vessel. The event took place so close to shore that local residents watched from the sand.