First Landing State Park
2500 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Located at the site where English settlers first landed in America, First Landing State Park is Virginia’s most-visited state park. A diverse ecosystem of beach, lagoon, marsh, maritime forest, and cypress swamp, it offers a wide range of activities for visitors, including hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, kayaking, boating, and camping.
The park spans more than 2,800 acres (1,100 hectares) and includes a 1.5-mile (2.5-kilometer) beach and around 20 miles (32 kilometers) of hiking and biking trails for visitors to enjoy. The park also offers a number of nature and historical programs. Guided trail walks and guided kayak ecological tours of the marshes and bays are available in season; find historical and educational exhibits at the Chesapeake Bay Center. Opt for an overnight stay to explore the park at your leisure.
- There’s a vehicle fee to enter the park, and an additional fee to stay overnight.
- Amenities include restrooms, showers, picnic areas, grills, boat ramp, camp store, cabins, yurts, and campsites.
- There are no lifeguards in the park, and no swimming areas at the boat launch or the Narrows.
- A valid saltwater fishing license is required to fish.
- Bicycles are only allowed on the Cape Henry and Live Oak trails.
- Portions of the park are accessible to wheelchairs, including parts of the Cape Henry trail; a specialized beach wheelchair is available.
- Pets are allowed but must be kept on a leash.
The park is located just north of Virginia Beach. The main entrance is at US Route 60 and Shore Drive, and provides access to the beach, campgrounds, trail center, and Chesapeake Bay Center. The 64th Street entrance is at the south end of the park, at US Route 60 and Atlantic Avenue, and provides access to the Narrows, boat launch, and beach. From late May through September, the Virginia Beach Wave bus runs between the park and the resort areas of Virginia Beach.
The park is open from 8am to dusk for day use purposes. Overnight areas can be accessed 24 hours a day, and should be booked in advance, particularly in high season. During the winter, some facilities are closed entirely, or only open on weekends.
There are plenty of things at the park to keep visitors occupied. For a change of pace, though, there are several popular attractions nearby, such as the Cape Henry Lighthouse, Norfolk Naval Base, the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, and the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center.
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