10 Best Beaches in Virginia
What Are the Most Popular Beaches in Virginia?
When it comes to the best beaches in Virginia, you will be spoiled for choice. From inland lake beaches to sandy Atlantic shorelines, wild islands and nature preserves to lively beach towns, there is something for every age, interest, and activity. Between the Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay, and Atlantic Coast, there’s a ton of variety, so let us give you a taste of what to expect.
You can explore ever-shifting shorelines, wander along boardwalks and nature trails, and spot fossilized shark teeth and rare, protected birds. From family-friendly to secluded and meditative, a day trip to an extended vacation, follow this guide to find your perfect beach along the coastlines and waterways of Virginia.
1. Sandbridge Beach
A hidden gem on the Atlantic coast
适合： 经济, 家庭
Framed with sand dunes and sea oats, Sandbridge is a secluded beach just south of Virginia’s Oceanfront District. As part of “The Outer Banks of Virginia,” this 4.5-mile beach has gentle waves and a sandy bottom, making it a great place for you to try out surfing. At the southern end of the beach, there’s a fishing pier, where you can fish or simply take in the views for a small fee.
The community of Sandbridge faces the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Back Bay of the Currituck Sound to the west. It is a short 15-mile drive south of the Virginia Beach Boardwalk and parking is free during the cooler months.
地址： 3820 Sandpiper Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, USA
开放时间 Daily from 5.30 am to 8.30 pm
电话： +1 757-385-7324
Sandbridge Beach
2. Cape Charles Beach
Not your average beach town
适合： 经济, 照片, 历史
You will find Cape Charles Beach in the historic district of the Eastern Shore’s southernmost town, just 10 miles (16 km) north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Its clean, shallow waters flow from both the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay.
Sitting in one of America’s “Happiest Seaside Towns” this beach is the perfect introduction to a coastal lifestyle. The white sands stretch from the fishing pier in the south to the statue of Neptune, God of the Sea, in the north. The area is brimming with history and surrounded by parks and wetlands, dunes, and more than 240 species of migratory birds, so you may never want to leave.
地址： 4 Bay Ave, Cape Charles, VA 23310, USA
电话： +1 757-709-1207
Cape Charles Beach
3. Westmoreland State Park
From ancient shark teeth to American eagles
适合： 经济, 照片
Westmoreland Beach marks the edge of Westmoreland State Park where it reaches the Potomac River. It’s just a 2-hour drive from Washington D.C. and Richmond, VA, and be prepared to leave your cell phone service and worries behind. The beach is most famous for the ancient shark teeth fossil hunters collect along the river’s shores.
If beachcombing is not your thing, there is also camping, fishing, boat rentals, and birding. The area is excellent for spotting American bald eagles, ospreys, kingfishers, great blue herons, common terns, green herons, and gulls, as well as wintering waterfowl. Be sure to bring your binoculars.
地址： 145 Cliff Rd, Montross, VA 22520, USA
开放时间 Daily from dawn until dusk
电话： +1 804-493-8821
Westmoreland State Park
4. Hungry Mother State Park
A beach trip away the coast
适合： 经济, 家庭, 情侣/夫妇
Considered a crown jewel of the Virginia park system, Hungry Mother State Park in southwestern Virginia features a pristine freshwater lake with a sandy beach near its northern tip. The park is great for a day trip or overnight camping with kids, and you can enjoy fishing, boating, and swimming off the shores of the 108-acre lake. To make your visit even simpler, you can rent canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and hydro bikes when you arrive.
The beach itself is a great spot to hang out, picnic, and enjoy the views. It’s also a handy start/stop point of hiking the Hungry Mother Lake Loop trail. Visit in fall when the forest scenery is especially breathtaking.
地址： 2854 Park Blvd, Marion, VA 24354, USA
开放时间 Daily from 8 am to 10 pm
电话： +1 276-781-7400
Hungry Mother State Park
5. Assateague Island National Seashore
Wild horses and ever-shifting sands
适合： 经济, 照片, 冒险
Home to wild horses and windswept beaches, you can reach Assateague Island by car in under 10 miles (16 km) from either Ocean City, MD or Chincoteague, VA. At the south of the island you’ll reach Assateague Beach, a long spit of sand with Tom’s Cove to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It’s a popular spot so it has facilities like restrooms and a changing area, and it’s best to swim or surf in areas supervised by the life guards.
Shell collecting and shell fishing, especially crabbing, are popular activities, but enjoying Assateague’s horses is the biggest draw. They have survived and thrived by reverting to their wild state and are best admired from a distance.
地址： 7206 National Seashore Ln, Berlin, MD 21811, USA
电话： +1 410-641-1441
Assateague Island National Seashore
6. Colonial Beach
A versatile beach for all beach dwellers
适合： 经济, 照片
Colonial Beach is one of the few remaining small seaport towns on the Potomac River, located at the northern tip of Virginia’s Northern Neck. Colonial Beach is 2 miles (3.2 km) long and has 5 distinct beachfronts where you can fish, sail, boat, and crab. The beaches are broad and sandy, so there’s also plenty of space to simply roll out your blanket and enjoy your snacks in the sun.
Most popular in the 1940s and 50s, Colonial Beach is experiencing a renaissance. Along the downtown boardwalk you can enjoy a beachside meal, shop for locally crafted souvenirs, rent kayaks and paddleboards, or fish off the Municipal Pier.
地址： 315 Douglas Ave, Colonial Beach, VA 22443, USA
电话： +1 804-224-7181
Colonial Beach
7. Buckroe Beach and Park
Perfect for fun family activities
适合： 经济, 家庭, 照片
Buckroe Beach and Park is 1,300 yards (1.2 km) of Atlantic Ocean seafront perfect for watching ships come and go from Norfolk, VA, just 40 minutes south. If you’re planning a party or event, there are picnic shelters and a pavilion for rent, and the local amenities make this a stress-free day out.
On a sunny day, the surf is gentle and the sand soft, perfect conditions for building sandcastles and playing beach games. In winter, the weather can get wild and Atlantic storm watchers should know that the beach is closed during inclement weather, so be sure to check the forecasts before you head out.
地址： 100 S First St, Hampton, VA 23664, USA
开放时间 Daily from 7 am to 7 pm
电话： +1 757-848-1068
Buckroe Beach and Park
8. Bethel Beach Natural Area Preserve
For nature lovers and bird watchers
适合： 经济, 家庭, 情侣/夫妇
Bethel Beach Natural Area Preserve sits on a narrow sandy shoreline, with low dune and salt marsh habitats nearly 90 minutes from Richmond and Newport News, VA by car. Portions of the shoreline are constantly reshaped by storms and the strong currents of the lower Chesapeake Bay.
Some of Virginia’s rarest wildlife lives here and portions of the preserve (land and water) are closed during specific times of the year to protect these species and their habitats. You can spot up to 185 different bird species alone. Know that this is a “leave no trace” park, so there are no toilets, garbage cans, or access to drinking water. So, bring what you need with you but leave nothing behind.
地址： State Route 609, Onemo, VA 23130, USA
开放时间 Daily from 6 am to 7.30 pm
电话： +1 804-786-7951
Bethel Beach Natural Area Preserve
9. Ocean View Beach Park
Ready for stress-free days on the beach
适合： 经济, 照片
If you like spending your time at the beach more than getting there, Ocean View Beach Park on Norfolk, VA’s Chesapeake Bay is for you. Book into one of the many hotels and spend your whole day enjoying the over 7 miles (11 km) of sand. In addition to plenty of room to spread out, you’ll have easy access to the area’s attractions and eateries, making for a very relaxed vacation.
Ocean View Beach Park is a particular highlight, with its boardwalk, bandstand, beach lifeguards, and green space. All summer there are themed party nights, movies, kids’ activities, and live music. You can fish from the pier or head out onto the water for a swim, windsurf, or jet ski.
地址： 100 W Ocean View Ave, Norfolk, VA 23503, USA
开放时间 Daily from 6 am to 7 pm
电话： +1 757-664-6510
Ocean View Beach Park
10. Lake Anna State Park
A historic park with a gold mine
适合： 经济, 照片, 历史
Lake Anna State Park contains one of Virginia’s most popular lake beaches, just an hour drive northwest of Richmond, VA. The Swim Beach is located between the visitor center and Lake Anna Snack Bar, and while there is plenty of parking it will fill up quickly during peak season so get in early. As well as swimming, you can paddleboard and make use of the boat launch.
Beyond the golden sands of the lake’s shore, the park’s history of gold mining makes panning for gold a favorite activity, and there is even a guided tour of the Goodwin Gold Mine. Plus, with more than 15 miles (24 km) of trails, you can use the beach as you base and go hike, bike, and horse ride through the forests.
地址： 6101 State Park Ln, Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA 22551, USA
开放时间 Daily from dawn until dusk
电话： +1 540-854-5503
Lake Anna State Park
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