Travel/Airport
There are two regional airports: Norfolk International Airport (ORF) and Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF). A third option is the Richmond International Airport (RIC), is just east of Richmond and an hour away. While Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport is closest, Norfolk International Airport has the most flights and connections.
Unfortunately, there are no airport shuttles to the convention on hotels. If you don't rent a car from the airport, most major ride sharing services operate from the airport and will service the Hampton area. Fees will range based on time of day. If you are familiar with Uber or Lyft, you no doubt know you will need the phone app to schedule service to/from the airport.
Hotel Accommodations
See the Hotels page.
Hotel | Rooms |
---|---|
Comfort Inn & Suites | 20 |
Courtyard by Marriot | 55 |
Embassy Suites (Flagship Hotel) | 250 |
Holiday In Express | 30 |
Hyatt Place | 30 |
Springhill Suites | 25 |
Red Roof inn | 20 |
Parking is free at the hotels, with the exception of Springhill Suites.
Yes, there is a free shuttle that will run regularly throughout the period of the convention connecting all hotels with the convention center.
Registration
You can both join IPMS and register online at myipmsusa.org or in person.
March 1, 2025, Noon Eastern time
Yes, registration will open at 11:00 AM on August 6th.
- $55.00 for pre-registered
- $65.00 for on-site registration
- $25.00 for juniors
Family pre-registration includes up to TBD family guests.
Schedule
On the Schedule page.
Vendor Room | Open to Vendor | Open to Public |
---|---|---|
Wednesday | 8 am – 7 pm | 1 pm – 7 pm |
Thursday | 8 am – 5 pm | 9 am – 5 pm |
Friday | 8 am – 5 pm | 9 am – 5 pm |
Saturday | 8 am – 4 pm | 9 am – 4 pm |
Day | Time |
---|---|
Wednesday | 11 am – 9 pm |
Thursday | 9 am - 9 pm |
Friday | 9 am - 6 pm (closes for Judging at 6 pm) |
Saturday | 9 am - 4 pm |
Vendors
For these questions contact Mike Mattei at: vendorcoordinator2025@gmail.com
Not until close to the show, likely early July.
No, but we have ample hotel space between seven nearby hotels, all within 1.5 miles. Parking is free at the hotels, with the exception of Springhill Suites.
Shipping
- Pac N Ship with UPS and FEDEX - 110 Coliseum Crossing, Hampton
- FEDEX Ship Site In Office Depot - 2330 W Mercury Blvd, Hampton
- US Postal Service - 1062 W. Mercury Blvd, Hampton
TBD
ATMs
The Hampton Roads Convention Center has 4 ATM machines in the building. The convention center is working to ensure the ATMs will be replenished daily.
Contest
Yes, with some improvements.
The system is very intuitive and there are drop down menus build in that should make registering fairly simple for most. If you have questions, there will be staff on-site to assist during the model registration during the convention.
Scott Bregi is the contest Team lead; you can reach him at conventioncontest2025@gmail.com.
Yes, you must be a member to participate in the contest, however you can both join IPMS and register online at myipmsusa.org, or in person at the Hampton Roads Convention Center once the convention opens.
Yes. We are having a display only aspect called Tiger Meet.
You do not have to be a member of IPMS USA to participate in Tiger meet. Just pay the daily walk-in rate of $10.00.
They will be posted to the convention website once finalized, sometime in January or early February.
Judges are managed and tracked by the National Contest Committee of IPMS USA. The IPMS-USA website lists the membership of this committee with the category judges. Phil Perry ncc@ipmsusa.org is the chairman. You can email him with your interest or sign-up at the convention. If it is your first time judging, you will team with qualified judges to gain experience.
- NACA to NASA - Any Model, all scales related to the evolution of NASA
- Dawn of the Atomic Age - All Models fitting the period 1945 -1960
- Iconic Innovations - Models illustrating evolutionary technological change
- 250 Years - US Navy & Marine Corps - In honor of their Semi-quincentennial
August 8, 5:30 pm
TBD, August 9, after the Saturday Awards Banquet.
You can under exceptional circumstances and by pre-arrangement with the Contest Chairman.
Seminars
Contact Clint Mills at: seminars2025nats@gmail.com.
You will need to register for it during convention pre-registration at myipmsusa.org.
A complete list of seminars and their times will be published closer to the convention dates.
Tours/Activities
The tour activities planned for the convention include:
- Mariners Museum behind the scenes
- Naval Station Norfolk ship visit *
- Naval Station Norfolk CVN/Helo Squadron Tour *
- NAS Oceana F/A-18 Squadron Visit *
- Langley AFB Squadron Visit *
- U.S. Army Transportation Museum *
* These tours are subject to final DoD approval. Because of US military security concerns and limitations, participants in tours will be required to be US citizens and present an ID to present at the front gate.
You will need to register for each tour you wish to participate in during convention pre-registration at myipmsusa.org.
Local Attractions
Theme Parks
- Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Hampton Aquaplex (by Convention Center)
- Motorworld (Viriginia Beach)
- Oceanbreeze Water Park (Virginia Beach)
- Water Country USA
Historic Sites
- Colonial Williamsburg (ticketed attraction)
- Fort Monroe National Monument
- Historic Jamestown
- Jamestown Settlement – Living history Site / American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
- Yorktown Battlefield (Part of Colonial National Historic Park)
Museums
- Casement Museum at Fort Monroe
- Hampton Roads Naval Museum (in Nauticus, free to the public)
- Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum
- The Mariner’s Museum and Park/USS Monitor Center (Newport News, $1!)
- Military Aviation Museum (Virginia Beach)
- Nauticus / USS Wisconsin (Norfolk, combined ticket)
- US Army Transportation Museum (on Ft. Eustis, DoD ID reqd)
- Virginia Air and Space Center (Hampton)
- Virginia War Museum (Newport News)
Family Attractions
- American Rover Sailing Cruises
- Hampton Harbor Sightseeing Cruise
- Norfolk Botanical Gardens (by the airport)
- Victory Rover Naval Base Cruises
- Virginia Aquarium
- Virginia Beach Boardwalk
- Virginia Zoo (Norfolk)
Shopping
- IKEA (Norfolk)
- Norfolk Premium Outlets
- Colonial Williamsburg’s Merchants Square
- Williamsburg Antique Mall
- Williamsburg Premium Outlets
Restaurants
There are many one-of-a-kind restaurants and brew houses in the region. Here are a few:
- County Grill (BBQ, Hampton and Newport News)
- The Bier Garden (Euro, Portsmouth)
- Deadrise Fish House (Seafood, Hampton)
- Fuller’s Raw Bar (Seafood, Hampton)
- Harpoon Larrys (Seafood, Newport News)
- The Monastery (Slavic, Norfolk)
- Park Lane Tavern of Hampton (Euro Pub, Hampton)
- Smoke (BBQ, Newport News)
Area Information
- Regional terminology:
- “Peninsula” (Hampton, Newport News, Yorktown and Poquoson)
- “Southside” (Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake)
- Hampton Roads – For simplicity, the independent cities surrounding the lower James River and vicinity, centered on Norfolk – Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach
- Tidewater Virginia or just Tidewater – the low-lying plains of Southeastern Virginia, including the Eastern Shore.
- Regional Pronunciation. Norfolk (Nahfuk or Norfuk), Suffolk (Suhfuk), Poquoson (Pohkohsun)
- Tunnels are a hard to avoid feature of Hampton Roads area with 5 in total. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) provides traffic information on the first four tunnels listed below by dialing 511 or at www.vdot.virginia.gov/travel-traffic/
- The Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT). No-toll. A primary artery along I-64 between the Peninsula and Southside. Typically congested, expect delays. It is undergoing a significant expansion which is creating shifting traffic patterns, regular stoppages and further congestion.
- The Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel (MMBT). No-toll. The other principal artery from the Peninsula to Southside; I-664. It is typically less congested and faster, but not always.
- The Downtown Tunnel. Tolled with EZPass. A passage along I-264 between Norfolk and Portsmouth. It is also connected to a lift bridge, which opens regularly, impacting traffic.
- The Mid-town Tunnel. Tolled with EZPass. Between Norfolk and Portsmouth
- The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Tolled. 23 miles long, it opened in 1964. It links the Virginia Eastern Shore with the Southside carrying US 13. While it too is undergoing expansion, traffic is typically light.