Shore Drive, a divided road that becomes Atlantic Avenue, leads into Virginia Beach, separating the north and south sections of the park. The Chesapeake Bay forms the northern border. To the south, Long Creek flows into the protected Broad Bay, an area with cypress swamps where the trails flood during high tide. The beach, reached by dune crossings at the campground and at the Chesapeake Bay Center, is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but no lifeguards are on duty. A boat launch provides access to the bay, and the fee for use of the launch is waived for overnight guests. The bay side of the park is a popular spot for crabbing.
First Landing has almost 20 miles of hiking trails winding through the forest, over dunes and through marshy areas. Guided, interpretive hikes and a self-guided, accessible trail start at the Trail Center, in the southern section of the park. Bicycles are only allowed on the Cape Henry Trail, a 6-mile-long path that crosses a wooden bridge over the marsh and twists through the dunes. The Bay Store rents bikes during the summer season. Hikers and cyclists might cross paths with ospreys, foxes and warblers.
Twenty two-bedroom cabins at First Landing have full kitchens, a furnished common area and a bathroom with a shower. Cabins have fireplaces, screened porches, decks and outdoor grills. The cabins are in the section of the park across Shore Drive from the Chesapeake Bay, so getting to the water means taking a hike or driving. The campground at First landing, closer to the beach, has both primitive and hookup sites, and all are large, wooded and within walking distance of modern bathhouses and the beach. The Little Creek-Fort Story Joint Expeditionary Base, which is nearby, sometimes conducts night training, so campers might be disturbed by helicopter over-flights. Pets are allowed in cabins and the campground for an additional nightly fee. The campground and cabins are open year-round.
Fort Story, east of First Landing, occupies the spot where English settlers first landed in the New World. Commissioned in 1917, the fort played a major role in U.S. coastal defenses during World Wars I and II. George Washington authorized the construction of the Cape Henry Lighthouse (preservationvirginia.org), an octagonal, 90-foot tower on the military base completed in 1792. Visitors can climb the lighthouse year-round, but because of its location on a military base, they must bring identification to gain access. A half-mile away, the First Landing Cross marks the place where the settlers landed.
