Public Beaches in Virginia
Virginia’s locally-owned, tidal beaches and state parks provide access to Chesapeake Bay, its tributaries, and the Atlantic Ocean. The map below may not show every public beach site, but it does show sites where swimming or wading is permitted. It also includes some of the state parks that allow swimming and wading. It does not show federally-owned properties, in particular military bases, nor any of the local and state parks that have water front but do not allow certain water activities.
Click on top left arrow to view legend. Full page map. Click on dots for more basic information
Want more information on some of the public beaches or beaches and dunes?
- Chesapeake Bay Beach "Reports"
- Public Beaches: “Virginia’s Public Beach Board, 20 Years of Coastal Management”.
- Chesapeake Bay’s Sandy Shorelines: “Sands of the Chesapeake”