The 7 Best Beaches in Virginia that You Should Visit

1. Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach, VA

It’s no surprise that Virginia Beach takes the top spot on our list of the best beaches in Virginia. The beach borders the Atlantic Ocean and has a long white sand shore. The water is swimmable all year, but the it warms up at the end of spring and during the summer.

Since it’s near Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Beach also has many activities and hotels to choose from! Some activities include snorkeling, biking at the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, exploring the massive three-mile boardwalk, and much more!

2. Colonial Beach

Colonial Beach, VI

Located in Northern Virginia between the Potomac and Monroe Bay, Colonial Beach is a beautiful beach with plenty of activities. The shore is 2.5 miles long and borders the Atlantic. It’s also a great option for people with boats because it has several marinas nearby for long days of fishing.

The beach allows pets from October to March, which makes this a great place to vacation if you want to bring your four legged friend along with you. It is also part of a small seaport town so you can go to the city as well and explore its many dining options or learn its rich history.

3. Westmoreland State Park

Montross, VI

Westmoreland State Park has a whopping 1.5 miles shoreline along the Potomac. The park is a lovely choice if you wish to be in nature and at the beach all at once.

Westmoreland State park is known for its sense of peace. It also has incredible scenery, like the spectacular views of the horsehead cliffs. But there are also many activities to do at Westmoreland State Park, like hiking and fishing. You can even stay on the actual park grounds in beautiful cabins!

Perhaps the thing that makes it one of the best beaches in Virginia is its lovely sunsets!

4. Sandbridge Beach

Virginia Beach, VI

Sandbridge Beach is the place to go if you want to experience Virginia Beach without tourists. It’s part of Virginia Beach, but it’s technically also its own beach with an incredible 4.5 miles of shoreline on the Atlantic.

If you want to get away from the crowds and experience the location for what it is, then this is where Sandbridge Beach earns its spot as one of the best beaches in Virginia.

It has fewer restaurants, hotels, and shops than Virginia beach, but it is a better place to enjoy the sunsets, sand dune activities, and to really feel the power of the Atlantic through its big waves.

There’s also False Cape State Park not too far away where you can do other activities like swimming and hiking.

5. Assateague Island National Seashore

Chincoteague, VI

Assateague Island National Seashore is one of the prettiest places in Virginia, period. It not only has 37 miles of beautiful shoreline that goes from Virginia all the way to Maryland, but it also has many scenic landscapes, and even ponies!

Yes, you read that right, Assateague Island is known for being the home to wild Chincoteague Ponies. It’s also a fantastic place for bird watchers as a lot of rare birds migrate past Assateague each year.

Assateague Island National Seashore is a fantastic beach, but as you can see, it’s so much more than that. That’s how it earned its spot as one of the best beaches in Virginia.

6. Cape Charles Beach

Cape Charles, VI

Located on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, Cape Charles Beach is truly one of the best beaches in Virginia. It’s perfect for those who want a quiet experience, but still want to be in a town as opposed to a park.

The beach is known for its shallow and warm water, so it’s a great spot to take the little ones, too. While it is a quiet area, there are still plenty of places you can book excursions if it strikes your fancy.

The beach is also pet friendly, so you can truly bring the whole family to you vacation here! In fact, this is one of the best beaches in Virginia for a relaxing family holiday.

7. Croatan Beach

Virginia Beach, VI

Yet another beach that is but isn’t part of Virginia Beach, this is a great Atlantic Ocean shore for those who love outdoor activities. Croatan Beach is located south of Rudee Inlet and north of Camp Pendleton.

Croatan Beach is one of the best beaches in Virginia for surfing. Home to the East Coast Surfing Championships for 40 years, this is definitely one of the best beaches in Virginia for anyone interested in water sports.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is essential as a beach outing exposes you to light and heat for more hours than your skin is likely accustomed to. Thus sunscreen is crucial for preventing anything from serious diseases caused by too much UV exposure like skin cancer to more minor afflictions like sunburn.

There are plenty of good sunscreens out there, but we suggest Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray. It’s vegan and healthy for your skin, all while preventing sunburns!

Sun Shelter

Another way to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful effects is to seek cover under the cool shade, and what better way to do that than to have a tent or an umbrella?

Bringing your own tent or umbrella is a great way to keep yourself safe from the heat and the sun. They can prevent dehydration and sunburn.

As far as tents go, we recommend the SUN NINJA Pop-Up Beach Tent Sun Shelter. Featuring UPF50+ protection, this tent will keep you cool and safe from UV rays.

The Two-Towel Rule

Anyone who goes to the beach might be familiar with this great rule: you need two towels! One to dry yourself, and one to lay on.You shouldn’t put the towel you dry yourself with on the ground, or it will become caked in sane and consequently cover you with sand when you use it to dry off a second time.

The solution is to bring a second towel!

We recommend you get Utopia Towels Cabana Stripe Beach Towels on Amazon!

Chairs

What’s better than sitting in a chair, looking out at the beach, and drinking an ice-cold drink? Not much in our opinion! That’s why we suggest you bring one yourself. If you’re not laying down on a towel, a chair is a great way to relax on the beach.

We recommend the Rio Beach 17″ Extended Height 4 Position Folding Beach Chair. This is a comfy and portable chair with a cupholder that will serve you well at one of the best beaches in Virginia.

Snacks and Beverages

While you can go out to eat at a nearby restaurant, the fact remains that you’ll probably get a bit hungry before you do that. There’s nothing that awakens your hunger as much as spending a day in the sun!

That’s why bringing snacks is essential. Chips or deli meat sandwiches will more than suffice at the beach, and beverages are also important to stay hydrated.

The best way to store these items and keep them fresh is in a cooler. That’s why we suggest getting the Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Cooler.

Accessories

Sunscreen and tents aren’t the only things you should bring to protect yourself from the sun. Items like sunglasses and hats are great tools to keep you safe, too!

Sunglasses protect your eyes from the harmful light of the sun. A hat is important for protecting your scalp, which is more vulnerable to sun damage than most people think!

For sunglasses, we recommend Joopin Square Sunglasses Polarized. These glasses will protect your eyes from the harsh sunlight and make you look stylish! As far as hats go, we recommend Connectyle Outdoor Mesh Sun Hat.