Virginia Beach runs about 35 miles of Atlantic coastline from the Chesapeake Bay mouth south to the North Carolina border. The city includes everything from a dense hotel strip to remote barrier island access. Most visitors default to the Oceanfront, but the southern end at Sandbridge gets much less traffic and has more open water. Here are 6 beaches worth knowing.
Sandbridge Beach
Sandbridge Beach sits at the southern end of the Virginia Beach resort area, about 10 miles from the main Oceanfront strip. It rates 4.8 stars across 1,215 reviews on BeachCheck, making it the highest-rated beach in Virginia with a significant review count.
The beach runs along Sandfiddler Road, a narrow strip of land with vacation rentals on one side and open Atlantic water on the other. Parking is limited to a public lot at the north end and street access where available. The lack of commercial development here is the main draw: no hotels, no arcades, quieter surf.
Little Island City Park anchors the southern end with a parking lot, restrooms, a fishing pier, and a boat ramp. Arrive before 9am on summer weekends if you want a space without a long wait. The water here is unguarded outside of city park patrol hours, so check conditions before swimming if you have young kids.
Drive time from the Virginia Beach Oceanfront: about 30 minutes.
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North End Beaches
The North End refers to the residential stretch of Virginia Beach above 42nd Street. It rates 4.8 stars across 205 reviews. The beach itself is the same Atlantic sand as the main strip, but the boardwalk ends at 40th Street and the crowd drops off noticeably above it.
Public access points are at street ends along Atlantic Avenue every few blocks. Metered parking fills up by 10am in July and August. The neighborhood north of 60th Street is largely single-family homes, which keeps the beach tone quieter and better suited to early morning walks than peak-summer afternoons.
Lifeguard coverage is seasonal and varies by block. Check the city's beach safety page for current coverage zones before your visit.
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Ocean View Beach
Ocean View Beach is in Norfolk, across Hampton Roads from the main Virginia Beach resort area. It rates 4.7 stars across 532 reviews. The beach faces the Chesapeake Bay rather than the open Atlantic, which means calmer water, smaller waves, and water temperatures that warm up faster in spring and cool down slower in fall.
Ocean View Avenue runs parallel to the beach and has a multiuse path for biking and walking. The park area has restrooms, picnic areas, a fishing pier, and free parking in surface lots. It draws a local crowd rather than vacation tourists, so it tends to be less packed on summer weekends than the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
The tradeoff is that the water is less clear than the Atlantic side and swimming conditions can vary with Chesapeake Bay water quality. Norfolk Recreation runs lifeguard coverage during summer.
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Croatan Beach
Croatan Beach is a small residential access point on the Atlantic, tucked between the main Virginia Beach Oceanfront and Sandbridge. It rates 4.7 stars across 173 reviews. The beach is publicly accessible from a small parking lot on Croatan Road, but it has no commercial facilities and very limited parking.
The area has a quiet residential character. It gets families and locals who know about it rather than tourist crowds. Surf conditions here are similar to the main Oceanfront but without the lifeguard coverage or facilities. Not a good choice if you need amenities or guaranteed lifeguard presence, but useful if you want Atlantic water with much less company.
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Little Creek Beach
Little Creek Beach sits on the Chesapeake Bay at the north end of Virginia Beach, near the joint military base. It rates 4.5 stars across 214 reviews. Like Ocean View, the bay location means calmer water and better conditions for young swimmers than the Atlantic beaches.
Access is straightforward from Little Creek Road. The beach has a grassy lawn area, parking, and restrooms. It draws naval families and local residents. The military base proximity means the surrounding area has some restrictions, but the beach itself is open to the public.
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First Landing Beach
First Landing State Park covers the northernmost tip of Virginia Beach where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic. The beach here rates 4.7 stars across 176 reviews. The park takes its name from the 1607 English landing point.
The beach is on the bay side, so water is calm. The park has 19 miles of hiking trails through maritime forest, cypress swamp boardwalks, and 218 campsites. Day-use parking fills quickly on summer weekends: the park recommends arriving before 9am or using the reservation system. Admission is $7 per vehicle for day use.
The combination of a calm bay beach, nature trails, and camping makes this the most versatile park in the Virginia Beach area for a full-day visit.
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Practical Notes
Atlantic vs. Chesapeake Bay: Virginia Beach has both. Atlantic beaches (Sandbridge, North End, Oceanfront, Croatan) have surf, stronger rip currents, and the ocean swimming experience. Bay beaches (Ocean View, Little Creek, First Landing) have calm flat water, faster warmup in spring, and are better for young kids.
Lifeguard coverage: The main Oceanfront strip (2nd to 42nd Street) has the most consistent coverage. Sandbridge has coverage at Little Island City Park. All others: check seasonally with the city.
Parking: The Oceanfront has paid garages. Sandbridge and North End both fill early on summer weekends. Ocean View and First Landing have free lots that also fill by mid-morning in peak season.
Find all Virginia Beach beaches and current ratings at BeachCheck US.