Accomack County Airport (MFV) — Melfa, Virginia
Accomack County Airport (IATA: MFV) serves Virginia's Eastern Shore from its location in Melfa, Accomack County, providing the primary general aviation hub for the northern portion of the Delmarva Peninsula within Virginia. The Eastern Shore is geographically isolated from the rest of Virginia by the Chesapeake Bay, making MFV a critical aviation resource for the peninsula's 50,000+ residents who need air access without navigating the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel or taking the Norfolk-to-Cape Charles ferry. The airport sits at nearly sea-level elevation amid the flat, fertile farmland that characterizes the Eastern Shore's agricultural landscape.
MFV serves a diverse mix of aviation users: agricultural aerial application operators supporting the county's extensive potato, sweet potato, and grain farming; recreational pilots exploring the area's barrier island beaches and wildlife refuges; charter operations serving the tourism industry; and business travelers accessing the region's growing aquaculture and food processing sectors. The airport's proximity to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Assateague Island National Seashore, and the famous wild pony herds makes it a popular destination for fly-in visitors from the mid-Atlantic region. Virginia DOT's Aviation Division has made infrastructure investments at MFV recognizing its importance as the Eastern Shore's primary aviation gateway.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Accomack County Airport from mainland Virginia?
Reaching Melfa from mainland Virginia requires either crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (approximately 17 miles of bridges and tunnels connecting Virginia Beach/Norfolk area to the Eastern Shore) or flying directly. The Bridge-Tunnel toll makes aviation an economically competitive option for trips that would otherwise involve the lengthy drive around the bay or through Maryland.
Is there commercial airline service at MFV?
Accomack County Airport (MFV) does not have scheduled commercial airline service. It is a public-use general aviation airport providing general aviation facilities, fuel, and FBO services. Passengers seeking commercial airline connections typically use Norfolk International (ORF) or Salisbury-Ocean City Regional Airport (SBY) in Maryland.
What makes the Eastern Shore a popular fly-in destination?
Virginia's Eastern Shore offers barrier island beaches, wildlife refuges, waterfowl hunting, charter fishing, and the world-famous Chincoteague wild ponies — all accessible within minutes of landing at MFV. The pastoral flatland scenery and proximity to the Atlantic coast make it a favorite day-trip destination for pilots from Richmond, Northern Virginia, and the DC area.
What aviation weather challenges exist on the Eastern Shore?
The Eastern Shore's coastal location creates unique weather patterns including sea fog, rapidly changing visibility near the bay and ocean shores, and thunderstorm activity that can move onshore quickly from the Atlantic. Pilots should obtain thorough weather briefings and have departure alternates planned when operating in the area.
Accomack County Airport - MFV Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Melfa, Virginia.
| Name | Accomack County Airport - MFV |
| Address | Parkway North, Melfa VA 23410 Map |
| Phone | (757) 787-4600 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Accomack County Airport - MFV
Airports near Melfa
MFV Airport — Gateway to Virginia's Eastern Shore
Accomack County Airport plays an outsized role in the Eastern Shore's transportation infrastructure relative to its modest size. The geographic isolation of the Delmarva Peninsula means that air travel is not merely convenient but genuinely important for medical emergency transport, time-sensitive business operations, and access to mainland Virginia without the cost and time of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel crossing. MedFlight and air ambulance operators regularly use MFV as a staging point for emergency medical transport from the peninsula to mainland Virginia trauma centers.
The airport's surrounding community of Melfa sits amid the rolling agricultural flatlands of Accomack County, where generations of farming families have cultivated some of Virginia's most productive soils. The Eastern Shore's growing aquaculture industry — Virginia is one of the top oyster-producing states in the country, with much of that production originating in Accomack and Northampton counties — has created new economic activity that generates aviation demand from buyers, distributors, and business partners flying in from mid-Atlantic markets. MFV's role in supporting this economic growth makes continued investment in the airport's runway and navigational aid infrastructure a priority for both Virginia DOT Aviation and FAA Eastern Region planning.