Despite only having 112 miles of coastline, Virginia is lined with pristine beaches. Combining lakes and the mighty Chesapeake Bay with sand along the Atlantic Ocean, there are a variety of choices for travelers, but one thing’s for certain – it promises to be easy on the eyes.
Virginia is home to a record-breaking beach that is as long as any on the east coast of the United States. It’s a behemoth that brings in the crowds and overshadows some of the other beautiful beaches in Virginia.
Tucked away along the coast are preserves and state parks where you can camp after your beach day or gaze upon wild horses as they run along the sand. The range of experiences available is what makes Virginia such a fun state to enjoy the beach.
12. Yorktown Beach
On the edges of historic Yorktown, Yorktown Beach has everything you’d want for a day on the sand. Just steps away from shops, restaurants, and bars, the beach comes with designated picnic areas, bathrooms, and a pier that juts out in the oft-dead still water.
The convenient and free nearby parking makes getting to Yorktown Beach a breeze. From your parked car, you can jump on a shuttle and be on the white sand in no time. After laying down the beach town, gaze across the pristine York River and the bridge. Swimming here is pleasant, and you can also paddle along the river on a kayak or SUP.
After your day at the beach, visit the Victory Monument and the Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center.
11. Buckroe Beach
In Hampton along the Chesapeake Bay, Buckroe Beach is found on the edge of one of Virginia’s original public parks. Before it was a leisurely space, it was a base for some of the nation’s first settlers and a fishing camp in the years leading up to the Civil War.
Today, it’s a popular beach spot, complete with a lovely bridge that quickly fills with anglers on a sunny day. The family-friendly beach has a vibrant atmosphere thanks to regular concerts at the pavilion. Rental shops offer beach umbrellas, chairs, and kayaks so you can paddle around the pier. Beachgoers will also find nearby restaurants to fill up throughout the day.
10. Westmoreland State Park
In the Northern Neck region, Westmoreland State Park is a place for adventurous beach lovers. To reach the beautiful Fossil Beach on the Potomac River, you’ll first have to walk along the scenic Big Meadow Trail, which is just shy of a mile.
Upon arrival, you’ll find one of Virginia’s top shelling beaches. Young and old can scavenge the beach, hoping to find shark teeth from prehistoric times. Within the park, you can also get your hands on a kayak and paddle along the gorgeous coast to discover the majestic Horsehead Cliffs. To keep the fun rolling, book a cabin or set up a tent for a night under the stars.
9. Bethel Beach
Surrounded by a preserve, Bethel Beach is an unspoiled haven waiting for your footsteps. You won’t find much in the way of amenities here as the surrounding habitat is protected, but what it lacks in picnic areas it makes up for in tranquility.
The narrow speck of coastline has the Atlantic on one side and rolling dunes on the other. The ocean breeze that rolls through ensures the dunes consistently shifts shape.
Along the beach, you’ll find access points to beautiful lagoons, back bays, and narrow channels. The preserve is home to almost 200 species of local and migratory bird species, giving you plenty to see and do beyond the regular beach experience.
8. Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
On the lower end of Assateague Island is one of the most distinct experiences you’ll have at a beach in Virginia. The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is home to wild horses that roam that one mile of sparkling white sand.
Much of your time here will be spent admiring the beautiful horses as much as swimming and bathing in the sun, but as it is a wildlife refuge, you’ll find plenty of action just behind the shoreline. It’s a great place to go crabbing or explore the nearby dunes and marshes on foot. Migratory birds also flock to the island, creating some memorable birding opportunities.
7. Smith Mountain Lake Beach
One of the best choices for non-ocean beaches in the state is Smith Mountain Lake Beach. Curving around the shores of Virginia’s second biggest lake, the freshwater makes for marvelous swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, and kayak explorations.
The beach is split by a fishing pier, and you’ll spot boats pottering in the center of the lake. Charming cottages surround the lakeshore and travelers mix with weekenders, creating a family-friendly yet festive atmosphere.
To escape the sun, you can hang up a hammock on the many surrounding trees to enjoy some shade. You could even sleep overnight at the campground and wake up just steps from the white sand.
6. Colonial Beach
As a port town in the state’s Northern Neck, Colonial Beach combines that classic small-town feel with a gorgeous stretch of sand. It’s one of the closest beaches to Washington D.C. yet is regularly overlooked by travelers who prefer the coast around the famous Virginia Beach. However, those that make the plunge will not be disappointed.
Colonial Beach is a family-friendly destination that combines relaxing swimming with water sports and epic sunrises. Along the beach, you’ll find fishing at the Municipal Pier and on the nearby Potomac River Beach. Beachgoers will also be a short walk from the George Washington Birthplace National Monument.
5. Cape Charles Beach
On the eastern shores of the endless Chesapeake Bay is where you’ll find the serene Cape Charles Beach. The shallow waters are as calm as the beach’s vibe. It’s a great place to go to enjoy some soft white sand without the hearty crowds found elsewhere along the coast.
As it’s tucked away within the bay, you won’t find much surf here, making it a great swimming beach. Rental shops are found just beyond the sand offering lessons, tours, and gear, allowing you to get out on the bay in several ways, including on a kayak or by windsurfing.
If you’re traveling with your furry friend, Cape Charles Beach is pet-friendly all winter long. In the summer, you must come before 9am and after 9pm.
4. Chesapeake Beach
Home to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Chesapeake Beach is incredibly scenic in the morning light. Even if you’re not an early bird, the golden hour wake up will be worth it as you watch the sun paint the eastern horizon and reflect off the bridge.
Otherwise known as Chic’s Beach, this powdery stretch of sand spans for two miles from the bridge all the way to the scenic Lynnhaven Inlet. After sunrise, the shoreline slowly fills with beachgoers all looking for a different type of action. You’ll find as many sunbathers and swimmers as those kiteboarding or windsurfing. It’s also a fun spot to break out the SUP or kayak for a midday paddle.
3. First Landing State Park
No state park in Virginia receives more visitors annually than First Landing State Park. A part of that is its amazing history, but the other is the beautiful coastline. It was here in 1607 that the first English settlers arrived. In 1936, the park was established protecting the cypress swamps and the beach.
The beach itself is found on Chesapeake Bay and is one of just a handful of public access points in the harbor. The bay provides a break from the Atlantic swell and pleasant swimming conditions, especially for young ones.
To arrive, you’ll walk along a boardwalk across dunes and maritime shrubbery. Gone are the hotels and beachfront bars. It’ll just be you, nature, and the water. It doesn’t get much better than that!
2. Sandbridge Beach
You only have to ask one local to learn just how beloved Sandbridge Beach is among residents. Virginia Beach may bring in the travelers, but the remote sands of Sandbridge offer one of the best beach days in the state.
Tucked away on the Currituck Banks Peninsula, Sandbridge Beach is often compared to the resplendent beauty of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. For good reason too, thanks to the similarity of landscapes and lack of hotels.
Sandbridge is 4.5 miles long and has lifeguards spread throughout during the summer months. To combine a beach day with park amenities, you’ll also have access to Little Island Park at the south end of the beach, along with False Cape State Park.
1. Virginia Beach
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Virginia Beach is the longest pleasure beach on earth. Combining family friendly and inexpensive day time fun with a vibrant nightlife, Virginia Beach is a captivating place to be, at any time of day.
Not far from Chesapeake Bay, the beach has an effortless charm. Grass dunes fringe upon the sand and the fun waves roll in with exciting regularity, but so much of what makes a beach day here great extends beyond the sand and sea. The restaurants along Virginia Beach have a stellar reputation, while there is also a three-mile boardwalk and hiking trails through the Back Bay National Refuge.
Travelers will find plenty of accommodation on the water from great value rooms to luxurious experiences.
