First Landing State Park is 2,888 acres in North Virginia Beach on Cape Henry where visitors can enjoy swimming, boating, hiking, camping, picnics, and a plethora of other outdoor activities for the family. First Landing State Park is part of North Virginia Beach and is located on Cape Henry.
We recommend this weekend itinerary if you decide to stay longer:
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About First Landing State Park
Admission to the park is charged per vehicle on weekdays and is slightly higer on weekends. Grounds and trails are open during daylight hours with the main entrance being off Route 60/Shore Drive. The Information Center is located off the main parking lot and is open from 9am to 5pm daily. A secondary entrance can be located on the opposite end of route 60 with trailhead and cabin parking entrances as well as access to restroom and the Trail Center. The boat launch, beach and bike trails are located at the 64th street entrance with an additional $4 fee for access to the boat launch unless staying overnight in the park.
Recreational Activities
There are many recreational activities to participate in while visiting First Landing State Park. Visitors should make sure to visit the Virginia State Park website for additional details on fees, regulations and details before visiting.
Camping- First Landing State Park offers more than 200 campsites that are all pet friendly. Campsites are primitive and located near Chesapeake Bay and the beach dunes. Some campsites are able to accommodate up to 50’ RVs while others offer no utilities. Camping is not allowed from December through March1st. Each campsite does have a picnic table, fire ring and grill. 2 cars are allowed on each campsite.
Cabin Rentals- There are 20 cabins available with a one week minimum stay during peak summer seasons. Cabins are available all year excluding some holiday check in times. Cabins can be rented online or through calling the Virginia Park Services. All cabins have AC, a fireplace, deck, screened porch, 2 bedrooms, and sleeps up to 6 people. Kitchens are stocked with dishes and appliances, but visitors should bring soap and coffee filters, extra linens and toiletries. Pets are welcome. There is no TV.
Camp Store- A camp store is at the main office where campers can purchase fire wood, some food items, and other travel items. There are also bicycles available for rent and a small laundry facility available for use with coin machines.
More Recreational Activities
Chesapeake Bay Beach- Families enjoy bringing children to the Chesapeake Bay Beach because the surf is much calmer. There is a lot of natural vegetation along the dunes and a maritime forest which attracts a variety of insects. Four boardwalks provide access to the sand dunes and beach, visitors should avoids walking directly on the sand dunes. Many areas of the coast are expansive areas of clean white sand. There are no lifeguards on the beach. There are showers available along each of the boardwalks and restrooms near each walkway on the non-beach end of the boardwalk.
Hiking- First Landing State Park features 19 miles of hiking trails. The Trail Center is where most of the hiking trails can be accessed from with the secondary access point being off the 64th street entrance. The Trail Center offers natural exhibits of wildlife, ecology, natural history, and geology. The Trail Center has seasonal hours of operation that can be found online. The longest tril, Cape Henry, is 6 miles and is the most popular. The trail is wide, worn, and sandy but sections are paved and cross boardwalks covering multiple habitats such as swamps, marsh and forests. The Bald Cyprus Trail is a shorter trail at 1.5 miles that circles through the Cyprus swamps and part of the forest dunes. For a bird watching experience, the long Creek Trail takes visitors through While Hill Lake and open wetlands, a salt marsh boardwalk and onto a great viewing platform.
The Narrows- The boat launch at the Narrows is the only one located at First Landing State Park. This launch offers access to Linkhorn and Broad Bays which will take boaters to the Atlantic Ocean through the Chesapeake. There is a fee for the boat launch unless visitors are staying in the camp ground. Narrows Beach has posted signs that there is no swimming allowed; however, there are often anglers in the water and shell fisherman. Bathrooms are available at the boat launch parking lot. There are also 2 trail heads located here for Cape Henry and Long Creek Trails.
First Landing State Park, 2500 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23451, Phone: 757-412-2300