Middle Peninsula · Virginia
Gloucester Point Beach Park
- State
- Virginia
- County
- Gloucester
- City / community
- Gloucester Point
Gloucester Point is a community in Gloucester County; it is not an incorporated city.
Middle Peninsula
A public York River sand beach beside the Coleman Bridge, with designated swimming, a fishing pier and picnic space. No lifeguards; check the exact route and seasonal facilities before visiting.
Good fit: A public York River sand beach beside the Coleman Bridge, with designated swimming, a fishing pier and picnic space. No lifeguards; check the exact route and seasonal facilities before visiting.
Plan around: Check the entrance-specific route and equipment details below before planning your visit.
- Parking
- Free access · ordinary parking
Details & sources
Free access · ordinary parkingDetails & restrictionsGloucester Point Beach Park · parking entry ↗ - Dogs
- Beach scope needs clarification
Details & sources
Beach scope needs clarification
County park rule requires dogs controlled on a leash no longer than8ft; beach sand and swimming-area permission remain unverified.
Gloucester Point Beach Park · dogs ↗ - Restrooms
- Yes
Details & sources
Park bathrooms · seasonal showers
Bathrooms; showers seasonal. Exact seasonal dates and current operation require checking.
Gloucester Point Beach Park · restrooms showers ↗ - Lifeguards
- No
Details & sources
- Key restrictions
- Check before you go
Details & sources
Swim only in posted designated areas; strong current warning; under13s need adult supervision.
Gloucester Point Beach Park · public access rules ↗ - Best for
- See beach overview
Beach overview
A public York River sand beach beside the Coleman Bridge, with designated swimming, a fishing pier and picnic space. No lifeguards; check the exact route and seasonal facilities before visiting.
Sources & review dates
More planning facts: access, driving & fees
- Public access
- Public accessDetails & restrictions
- Beach driving
- Beach driving rulesDetails & restrictions
- Accessibility
- Mat described · check routeDetails & restrictions
Choose an entrance
County public Beach Park, 1255 Greate Road, Gloucester Point
Public county park beach access from Greate Road; adjacent VIMS property is separate.
Official route / restriction details ↗Parking, route & accessibility evidence
Parking & entry: Free access · ordinary parking. On-site parking; use ordinary spaces, not the boat-trailer-only lot.
Parking source ↗Accessibility: Mat described · check route. County lists ADA access; official tourism describes a Mobi Mat. Current mat deployment, endpoint and any sand gap remain unverified.
Accessibility source ↗Open the county entrance directory ↗
Use the directory to check each entrance’s identity and status. Guide map pins are approximate shoreline locations, not turn-by-turn entrance directions or proof of current opening.
Known for
York River views, designated swimming and waterbird watching.
Sources & review dates
known for
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-22
Rules & facilities
Check before you go
Review current county notices, VDH advisories and NWS weather; none establishes guaranteed safe swimming.
Sources & review dates
check before you go
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-22
Admission, payment & passes
DWR describes public site access as free. Boat-access permits and shelter reservations are separate uses.
Sources & review dates
admission payment passes
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-22
What to bring & supporting visit details
Plan your visit
Plan around daylight, posted swimming limits and seasonal showers. Bring personal supplies; check before depending on a specific mat or facility.
Sources & review dates
plan your visit
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-22
Public or private?
Public access
Who can visit: Visitors using the named lawful approach and obeying its separately sourced restrictions.
Entry route, fees & access boundaries
- Manager / access authority
- Gloucester County Parks, Recreation & Tourism
- Access basis
- Public county park beach access from Greate Road; adjacent VIMS property is separate.
- Where to enter
- Public county park beach access from Greate Road; adjacent VIMS property is separate.
- Fees & reservations
- See the entrance section for parking and entry details and sources.
- Restrictions & exceptions
- Swim only in posted designated areas; strong current warning; under13s need adult supervision.
- What this label covers
- Named coastal planning reference, not surveyed boundaries or a navigation waypoint.
Beach ownership, the route across land, public shoreline-use rights and access to facilities are separate questions. Rules vary by state and location. Use the identified public entrance or documented permission; neither a nearby resort nor an admission fee by itself establishes that a beach is private. A mapped beach is not permission to cross private property.
Access policy reviewed 2026-10-22. Not a live closure report or a property-boundary survey.
Allowed & prohibited activities
Alcohol: County parks prohibit alcohol.
Fires and grills: Open fires are prohibited.
Overnight camping: Overnight beach camping permission is not confirmed.
What still needs confirmation
Beach overnight use is not established; park hours end at sunset, with a separately stated fishing-pier exception.
Shore fishing: The sponsored license described by the county applies to the fishing pier; Virginia Fisherman ID registration remains required.
- Hours
- Hours & seasonal limits
Beach park: dawn–dusk; pier24h except damage/weather closure. County parks list Thanksgiving and Christmas closures.
Gloucester Point Beach Park · hours ↗ - Dogs on the beach
- Beach scope needs clarification
County park rule requires dogs controlled on a leash no longer than8ft; beach sand and swimming-area permission remain unverified.
Gloucester Point Beach Park · dogs ↗ - Lifeguards
- No · county confirms
No lifeguards.
Gloucester Point Beach Park · lifeguards ↗ - Restrooms
- Park bathrooms · seasonal showers
Bathrooms; showers seasonal. Exact seasonal dates and current operation require checking.
Gloucester Point Beach Park · restrooms showers ↗ - Access & beach rules
- Rules & restrictions
Swim only in posted designated areas; strong current warning; under13s need adult supervision.
Gloucester Point Beach Park · public access rules ↗ - Beach driving
- Beach driving rules
Use designated parking; no recreational driving-on-sand authorization was established.
Gloucester Point Beach Park · driving ↗
Conditions & activities Surf, sand, wildlife and suitability
Conditions at the beach
Local times use Eastern Time. NOAA tide predictions, the NWS land forecast, York River marine forecasts and dated VDH samples have separate locations and clocks. None establishes current swimming safety.
Source links and saved records
No beach weather-sensor observation is integrated. The NWS local-point forecast and linked regional observation sources are not measurements at this beach. Retain any observation source’s own station location and time; use the linked NWS information for current regional conditions.
Saved NWS Gloucester Point land forecast retrieved 2026-10-23T00:03:29.577Z, updated 2026-10-22T23:58:41+00:00; validity 2026-10-22T17:00:00+00:00/P7DT8H. These are dated land forecasts, not beach observations, swimming safety or an observed flag. Follow the source for current conditions.
Saved NOAA Gloucester Point station 8637624 high/low predictions for October 22–23, 2026 use MLLW feet; the source timestamps are UTC; local planning uses Eastern Time. This is a nearby tidal-river reference, not a beach observation or a safe-entry/current forecast.
York River marine forecast ANZ636 covers regional winds and waves. It is not an observed beach flag or surf suitability rating.
Sources & review dates
live weather
Source ↗ · research reviewed 2026-10-22
daily forecast
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-22
tides
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-22
surf rip forecast
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-22
Closures, flags & water quality
Check county park notices and VDH advisories before entering the water. No dated beach flag observation was established.
The retained VDH workbook contains 15 Gloucester Point Beach sample rows, May 19–August 25, 2026. The latest retained sample is August 25 at 9:10 a.m.; its historical “Open” label is not today’s status or an underwater-clarity rating. The workbook was retrieved October 12; this source review is October 22. Check current VDH advisories separately.
Sources & review dates
official flags closures
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · research reviewed 2026-10-22
water quality
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-22
Crowd meter
No current measured crowd rating is available.
Sources & review dates
crowds
Source ↗ · research reviewed 2026-10-22
Sand & sandcastles
Sandy estuarine shoreline; historical VIMS-authored geomorphology discusses wind-driven waves and erosion rather than an ocean swell beach.
Sources & review dates
sand shoreline
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-22
Surfing profile
No beach-specific surfing suitability assessment was established; river currents remain a separate hazard.
Sources & review dates
surf
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · research reviewed 2026-10-22
Beachcombing
No reliable beach-specific shelling quality or collection allowance was established.
No verified beach-specific shark-tooth finding expectation is published here.
Sources & review dates
shelling · shark teeth
Source ↗ · research reviewed 2026-10-22
Snorkeling & scuba diving
A documented public shore-snorkeling route has not been established; designated swimming does not itself establish snorkeling suitability.
No recreational beach scuba entry or local excursion departure is verified by this packet.
Sources & review dates
snorkeling
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · research reviewed 2026-10-22
scuba
Source ↗ · research reviewed 2026-10-22
Clothing-optional, nudity & topless sunbathing
Full nudity / clothing-optional: No verified designation or permission is established for this named county beach.
Female-topless sunbathing: Separate permission is not independently verified.
These remain separate research questions. The reviewed county park rules and state indecent-exposure provision do not establish a beach-specific exception; unavailable local code text is not permission or a verified prohibition.
Named beach rules ↗ · Reviewed October 22, 2026.
Shore & sky wildlife
DWR identifies year-round waterbird viewing, with strongest diversity in fall migration and winter; butterflies and dragonflies occur by the parking-edge vegetation in warmer months.
Sources & review dates
wildlife
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-22
History & interesting facts
The county offers The Point Walk as a self-guided York River interpretation route.
Sources & review dates
history
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-22
- Sand & shoreline
- Sand & shore character
Sandy estuarine shoreline; historical VIMS-authored geomorphology discusses wind-driven waves and erosion rather than an ocean swell beach.
Gloucester Point Beach Park · sand shoreline ↗ - Surfing
- Surf suitability unrated
No beach-specific surfing suitability assessment was established; river currents remain a separate hazard.
Gloucester Point Beach Park · surf ↗ - Water
- Dated sample information
The retained VDH workbook contains 15 Gloucester Point Beach sample rows, May 19–August 25, 2026. The latest retained sample is August 25 at 9:10 a.m.; its historical “Open” label is not today’s status or an underwater-clarity rating. The workbook was retrieved October 12; this source review is October 22. Check current VDH advisories separately.
Gloucester Point Beach Park · water quality ↗
Water clarity & shore snorkeling
Typical clarity: Not yet assessed. Typical underwater clarity is not assessed for this named shore. Water color, bacterial results and forecasts do not measure visibility.
Shore snorkeling not yet assessed. A documented public shore-snorkeling route has not been established; designated swimming does not itself establish snorkeling suitability.
Typical clarity describes how easily you may see through the water. It does not establish bacterial water quality, safe swimming, calm conditions or visibility today.
Evidence, location scope & review
Desk review 2026-10-22 · Gloucester Point Beach Park. This is not an on-site inspection or a current conditions report.
Gloucester Point Beach Park
Find clear-water and shore-snorkeling options ↗ · Report a change ↗
A closer look
Photos of this beach and its surroundings. Select a photo to view it larger. These are recorded views, not live conditions.
View larger ↗Gloucester Point Beach Park, January 8, 2020. Joan Smedinghoff / Chesapeake Bay Program; used by permission. Archival approach and pier, not current route or facilities.
Taken: 2020-01-08Gloucester Point Beach Park approach, January 8, 2020 · Joan Smedinghoff · Used by individual permission
Resized/cropped for display; original colors retained. Adaptations retain the stated license.
Food, stays & rentals
EXTEND YOUR BEACH DAY
Food & drink nearby
Local dining recommendations
Food & drink
Scoot's BBQ
Direct restaurant site confirms Gloucester Point address and menu.
2091 George Washington Memorial Highway, Gloucester Point; separate nearby venue off Route 17, not at the beach entrance
Visit Scoot's BBQ website ↗Website & source check
Website checked ↗ · checked 2026-10-22 (Eastern Time). Verify current hours/menu directly; no walkable-route, exact distance or beach concession claim.
Food & drink
YROC Coastal Bar & Grill
The current business name is YROC Coastal Bar & Grill; formerly York River Oyster Company. Offers dining and bar service at the marina.
8109 Yacht Haven Road, Gloucester Point; separate marina restaurant
Visit YROC Coastal Bar & Grill website ↗Website & source check
Website checked ↗ · checked 2026-10-22 (Eastern Time). No beach-admission, beach-alcohol, beach-concession or current boat-docking rights implied.
Research notes & location scope
Scoot’s BBQ on George Washington Memorial Highway and YROC Coastal Bar & Grill at Yacht Haven are separate nearby Gloucester businesses. Neither is a beach concession; check current opening and menu directly. Restaurant alcohol service does not change the county park prohibition.
Supporting research source ↗ · Supporting research source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-22
These listings are unpaid and contain no affiliate links.
Accommodations by the beach
Accommodation
Hampton Inn Gloucester
Direct Hilton page confirms hotel identity and address; this is lodging in Gloucester, not beachfront lodging.
6638 Forest Hill Avenue, Gloucester, VA23061; separate inland hotel off Route17, north of the beach
Visit Hampton Inn Gloucester website ↗Website & source check
Website checked ↗ · checked 2026-10-22 (Eastern Time). Official Hilton primary page identity/address independently retrieved and archived by root; inland lodging, not beachfront or beach-access entitlement.
Accommodation
Camp Cardinal RV Resort
Operator offers RV/tent sites, cabins and cottages. Separate resort guest/day-pass access and booking terms apply.
3149 Campground Road, Hayes; separate private Severn River campground, not Gloucester Point Beach Park
Visit Camp Cardinal RV Resort website ↗Website & source check
Website checked ↗ · checked 2026-10-22 (Eastern Time). Campground beach/day-pass scope is independently researched in field packet; do not infer access from a lodging booking or public ramp pass.
Before you book
Confirm the exact property or rental unit, view category, beach route, accessibility and total price directly. Nearby lodging does not establish access to a private beach, a boat transfer or permission to camp.
Research notes & location scope
Hampton Inn Gloucester is an inland hotel on Forest Hill Avenue. Camp Cardinal offers independently booked Severn River campground lodging in Hayes; it is not accommodation at Gloucester Point Beach. Confirm availability and resort access terms directly.
Supporting research source ↗ · Supporting research source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-22
These listings are unpaid and contain no affiliate links.
Activities & rentals
Camp Cardinal lists paddlecraft rentals at its separate Severn River resort, subject to its access, weather and water-temperature restrictions. Its current amenities page lists $5 per boat per hour while older 2023 material said day-pass rentals were included; confirm current terms with the operator. No Gloucester Point Beach rental concession or snorkeling/scuba excursion is established.
Sources & review dates
commercial activities rentals
Source ↗ · Additional source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-22
Review dates & updates
These dates record desk research of each named category, including searches that left a fact unresolved. They are not on-site inspections, current-opening confirmations or water-safety observations.
- identity location: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- summary description: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- known for: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- live weather: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · unresolved
- daily forecast: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- tides: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- surf rip forecast: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- official flags closures: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · unresolved
- water quality: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- public access: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- crowds: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · unresolved
- sand shoreline: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- surf: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · unresolved
- shelling: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · unresolved
- shark teeth: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · unresolved
- sea glass: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · unresolved
- driftwood: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · unresolved
- snorkeling: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · unresolved
- scuba: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · unresolved
- wildlife: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- accommodations: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- commercial activities rentals: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- alcohol rules: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- fire rules: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- camping rules: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · unresolved
- shore fishing rules: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- hours: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- dogs: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · unresolved
- lifeguards: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- restrooms showers: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- parking entry: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- accessibility: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- driving: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · unresolved
- public access rules: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- dining: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- history: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- managing authority: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- official source links: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- main photo: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · unresolved
- photo gallery: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · unresolved
- admission payment passes: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- plan your visit: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- check before you go: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- nearby beaches: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
- closer look: research reviewed 2026-10-22 · verified
Current advisories and changing seasonal facilities need separate checks. Unknowns retain their stated limitations and follow-up work. How reviews work
Sources & review date
Guide desk research reviewed 2026-10-22; this is not a field-by-field current verification or an on-site inspection. Official facts, dated agency evidence and editorial assessments retain their own scope. Unknowns and conflicts remain open. Methodology · Rating explanations · Correction history
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · identity location ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · summary description ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · known for ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · live weather ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · daily forecast ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · tides ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · surf rip forecast ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · official flags closures ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · water quality ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · public access ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · crowds ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · sand shoreline ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · surf ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · shelling ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · shark teeth ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · sea glass ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · driftwood ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · snorkeling ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · scuba ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · wildlife ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · accommodations ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · commercial activities rentals ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · alcohol rules ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · fire rules ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · camping rules ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · shore fishing rules ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · hours ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · dogs ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · lifeguards ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · restrooms showers ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · parking entry ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · accessibility ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · driving ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · public access rules ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · dining ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · history ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · managing authority ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · official source links ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · main photo ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · photo gallery ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · admission payment passes ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · plan your visit ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · check before you go ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · nearby beaches ↗
- Gloucester Point Beach Park · closer look ↗
An exact-beach scenic photograph is pending. No substitute photograph is displayed.
Visitor experiences
Original, moderated reviews and photographs. Visit dates and entrances provide context; visitor ratings and reports do not replace official facts or current conditions.
Read approved visitor experiences here when available.