VIRGINIA COASTAL GUIDES
Virginia Beach beaches
Choose among separately researched Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay shores in Virginia Beach, an independent city. Refuge walks, park visits and swimming beaches retain their individual rules.
START WITH YOUR DAY
Find your fit in Virginia Beach (independent city)
9 published guides in this county. Start with restrooms (5 qualifying beaches) or dogs allowed (1 qualifying beach), then compare the named entrances. Feature counts describe documented routes, not all beaches or every entrance in the county.
Use the verified route features below to choose where to begin. Counts refer to beaches with a qualifying named entrance, not every entrance. These are planning details, not current opening or guard duty.
A few places to start
Starting points ranked by verified entrance facilities; these are not a county-wide quality ranking.
Croatan Beach
Entrance: Croatan parking facility, 920 Vanderbilt Avenue
Restrooms
Parking & entry: Parking & entry details
Check before going: Check the entrance-specific route and equipment details below before planning your visit.
See entrance details →Little Island Park Beach
Entrance: Little Island Park, 3820 Sandpiper Road
Restrooms
Parking & entry: Parking & entry details
Check before going: Check the entrance-specific route and equipment details below before planning your visit.
See entrance details →Ocean Park Beach
Entrance: Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility walkway under Lesner Bridge
Restrooms
Parking & entry: Parking & entry details
Check before going: Check the entrance-specific route and equipment details below before planning your visit.
See entrance details →Choose a shore and a lawful arrival
The Resort Oceanfront, North End, Croatan, Sandbridge and Little Island are separate named Atlantic destinations. Ocean Park and First Landing face Chesapeake Bay. Check each guide for exact parking, equipment, dog zones and guard coverage.
Back Bay Refuge prohibits swimming, surfing and sunbathing. False Cape's current swimming designation requires clarification; its guide does not recommend swimming. Reaching a remote beach does not establish permission for every activity.
Every published Virginia Beach shore guide
Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Atlantic beach with a boardwalk and public street approaches.
Atlantic shore · Arrival, facilities and sources
North End Beach
Atlantic shore north of the Resort Area, reached by public beach ramps.
Atlantic shore · Arrival, facilities and sources
Croatan Beach
Atlantic beach south of Rudee Inlet with a City beach parking facility.
Atlantic shore · Arrival, facilities and sources
Sandbridge Beach
Atlantic shore reached across the street from the northern Sandbridge beach facility.
Atlantic shore · Arrival, facilities and sources
Little Island Park Beach
Named City Atlantic beach park; its Back Bay launch is a separate water approach.
Atlantic shore · Arrival, facilities and sources
Ocean Park Beach
Chesapeake Bay beach reached by the City facility walkway; boat launch services remain separate.
Chesapeake Bay shore · Arrival, facilities and sources
First Landing State Park Beach
Sandy Chesapeake Bay beach in First Landing State Park; the Narrows is a separate tidal boating reference.
Chesapeake Bay shore · Arrival, facilities and sources
False Cape State Park Beach
Remote Atlantic shore for permitted park visits. No designated swimming areas are established in the current park publication.
Atlantic shore · Arrival, facilities and sources
Back Bay Refuge Beach
Atlantic refuge shore for wildlife observation, walking, fishing and shell collecting; swimming, surfing and sunbathing are prohibited.
Atlantic shore · Arrival, facilities and sources
Coverage and evidence
These 9 named guides do not certify an exhaustive city shoreline inventory or same-day opening. Military shore eligibility, neighborhood crossings and isolated candidates remain separately researched. Map pins are approximate planning references, not surveyed entrances or navigation waypoints.
Typical underwater clarity, shore snorkeling, offshore excursions, full nudity and female-topless use are separate questions. Only verified positive evidence qualifies for the corresponding filters.