Beaches · Virginia

Best beaches in Virginia

Virginia’s coast runs the full range — we’ve mapped 11 of its best beaches, from wild, family, scenic, surf shores. Find the vibe you want, then build the trip around it.

Assateague Island (VA)WildChincoteague · Best: Spring & falla wild seashore famous for its free-roaming ponies.Buckroe BeachFamilyHampton · Best: Summera calm, historic Chesapeake Bay beach with gentle water.Cape Charles BeachScenicCape Charles · Best: Summera bayside town beach famous for sunsets on the Eastern Shore.Chincoteague BeachWildChincoteague · Best: Summer & fallAssateague surf, dunes, and pony-country marsh reached from Chincoteague.Colonial BeachFamilyColonial Beach · Best: Summera Potomac River beach town with boardwalk calm and Northern Neck sunsets.Croatan BeachSurfVirginia Beach · Best: Summer & falla quieter surf-friendly stretch just south of the Virginia Beach resort strip.First Landing State ParkFamilyVirginia Beach · Best: Summera quiet bay beach where the first Jamestown colonists landed.Ocean View BeachFamilyNorfolk · Best: SummerChesapeake Bay sand with calmer water, fishing piers, and Norfolk neighborhood texture.Sandbridge BeachFamilyVirginia Beach · Best: Summera quieter residential beach south of the Virginia Beach strip.Virginia BeachFamilyVirginia Beach · Best: Summera big three-mile boardwalk resort beach at the Chesapeake mouth.Yorktown BeachFamilyYorktown · Best: Summera small riverfront beach beside Revolutionary history and a walkable waterfront.

Check local conditions, parking, and seasonal fees before you go — and always heed posted flags, rip-current warnings, and lifeguard guidance.