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There are many free docks that welcome Snowbirders. Some are OK for overnight stays ... others are "Day Docks" where overnight stays are not allowed.

Mile 0.5 Daytime dock at High Street Landing in Portsmouth, VA. Tie up here and get a fresh cup of gourmet coffee at Susan's Coffee Kiosk. Within walking distance to historic Old Towne Portsmouth. ("Capella" stayed here overnight in September '05 and were not shooed away by the local gendarmes.)

Mile 12.0 (on the Virginia Cut Route): West bulkhead south of Great Bridge Lock, Great Bridge, VA. Tie up and walk south to restaurants, grocery store, bars and taverns. Overnight stays were "tolerated" in the fall of 2005.

Mile 12.2 (on the Virginia Cut Route): Fishing dock on East side of ICW south of Great Bridge, Great Bridge, VA. Tie up and secure your boat (this is, after all, free public fishing dock and people come and go at all hours), then walk south to restaurants, grocery store, bars and taverns. "Capella" stayed here almost a week waiting for hurricane "Ophelia" to pass Cape Hatteras.

Mile 10.6 (on the Dismal Swamp Route): Free dock just south of Deep Creek Lock, Great Dismal Swamp Canal, VA. A 100 foot dock maintained by William Spaurin in honer of his wife, Elizabeth. Walk to restaurants, grocery store, a hardware store, a small shopping mall, bars and taverns

Mile 28.0 (on the Dismal Swamp Route): Free dock at North Carolina Welcome Center, Great Dismal Swamp Canal, NC

Mile 32.1 (on the Dismal Swamp Route): Tie up (only after the last lock through of the day) on dolphins immediately south of the lock at South Mills Lock, Great Dismal Swamp Canal, NC. There is no where to land a dinghy in the vicinity so you'll have to stay on board.

Mile 50.8 (on the Dismal Swamp Route): Free docks at Elizabeth City, NC. 14 Slips maintained by the city. No electricity, but water is available under the iron plate behind the water fountain.

Mile 181.5 Town dock at Oriental, NC. At the head of the harbor. Room for up to three 35 foot boats drawing 5 feet or less. Get a cup of coffee at the "Bean" coffee shop, then put your feet up on the porch and watch the comings and goings along the bulkhead.

Mile 354.5 Barefoot Landing, North Myrtle Beach, NC. (In 2006 electric and water hookups were installed. Now a $1.25 per foot per night fee is charged at this formerly free dock.) A 500 foot floating dock on the east side of the waterway. Visit many outlet shops and many restaurants, bars and taverns in the Barefoot Landing complex.

Mile 536.4 Daytime free dock at Beaufort, SC. Located at the west end of the "Downtown Marina" with room for 3 or 4 boats. No overnight docking, but we have used the dock one day, moved a quarter mile to the anchorage for the night, and then returned the next day. Walk to restaurants, grocery store, bars and taverns.

Mile 716.4 City Marina at Fernandina Beach, FL. Tie up for an hour for free. Two to four hours additional will cost you 20 cents per foot per hour. Walk to restaurants, souvenir shops, bars and taverns. Unfortunately, except for a convenience store, there is no grocery store within walking distance.

Mile 846.2 Daytime dock at New Symnra Beach, FL. Tie up to one of two curved public fishing docks immediately north of the 65' fixed bridge. A "No Overnight Docking" sign is posted, but "Capella" stayed there overnight in October 2005 and was not hassled. Walk to restaurants, bars and taverns.

Mile 897.9 Daytime dock at Cocoa, FL. A 200 foot dock (with about 5 feet of water) within walking distance of the old Town of Cocoa. Walk to restaurants, souvenir shops, bars and taverns.