Virginia Beach is the largest of Virginia's public beach areas. Visitor will find that there are 35 miles of public beach in Virginia Beach along the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. Visitors seem to find their favorite sections along the beach that include the northern most beaches along the Chesapeake Bay, beaches on the Atlantic Ocean in the resort area near hotels, entertainment and shopping and pristine, secluded ocean beaches south of the resort area in Sandbridge.
The Chesapeake Bay beaches are most easily accessible from parking at First Landing State Park or a spot on the side streets. City owned day lots and street parking can be found along the resort beaches and in Sandbridge, and municipal parking lots are available near the beach.
Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau
757-437-4888
800-446-8038
vbfun.com
Located along the shores of the Chesapeake on the north side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, are the quiet beaches of the Chesapeake Bay along Virginia's eastern shore. With little surf, these beaches are perfect locations for bird watching, family fun, on shore fishing and kayaking. Beaches can be found at Kiptopeke State Park and in the quaint town of Cape Charles.
These beaches are not located along commercial stretches, so if travelers plan to visit, they should pack a lunch and other necessities for the day. The beach at Kiptopeke State Park charges a small daily entrance fee.
Kiptopeke State Park
3540 Kiptopeke Drive
Cape Charles, VA 23310
757-331-2267
dcr.virginia.gov
In Norfolk and Hampton, both south of Virginia Beach, public beaches can be found at Norfolk's Ocean View Beach and Hampton's Buckroe Beach. Both beaches are on the Chesapeake Bay near deep water marinas. Ocean View Beach is eight miles long and offers fishing piers, picnic areas and a bathhouse. Buckroe Beach and Park encompasses eight acres of day use area and provides the visitor with beach chair, umbrella, kayak and paddleboat rentals. This is a popular area for windsurfing and sailboarding.
Ocean View Beach
757-441-1852
Buckroe Beach
757-850-5134
Due south of Washington, D.C. and located in Westmoreland County, Colonial Beach offers one of the few remaining river front public beaches near the Potomac River. The sand beach and marinas located on Monroe Bay have been operating for over a century. The area was popular in the1950s but is currently seeing a resurgence of interest for swimmers, boaters, sailors and crabbers.
Colonial Beach Chamber of Commerce
6 N Irving Ave.
Colonial Beach, VA 22443
804-224-8145
colonialbeach.org
