Campgrounds and RV parks near Virginia Beach, VA

The three-mile oceanfront boardwalk is the main draw, with a paved bike and skate lane, fishing pier, and easy access to swimming beaches. Families use First Landing State Park for hiking and biking on 19 miles of trails through maritime forest and cypress swamp, plus swimming and a boat launch on the Chesapeake Bay side. Other nearby options include the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, dolphin-watching cruises from Rudee Inlet, and back-bay kayaking in False Cape State Park and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge south of Sandbridge. The Cape Henry Lighthouse and the Military Aviation Museum give rainy-day alternatives. Cyclists can ride the Cape Henry Trail, which runs about six miles between the state park and the oceanfront.

Peak season runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, when highs sit in the low to mid-80s Fahrenheit and ocean temperatures climb into the high 70s by August. Oceanfront private campgrounds and First Landing book heavily on summer weekends and around July 4, so sites often fill weeks or months ahead. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, and humidity is high. Late August through October falls within the peak of Atlantic hurricane season, with September climatologically the highest-risk month for tropical impacts along the Virginia coast. Direct hits are uncommon, but rain bands, coastal flooding, and rip currents from distant storms can disrupt a trip. Travellers should monitor forecasts and understand their campground's cancellation policy. Spring and fall shoulder seasons offer milder temperatures, thinner crowds, and easier reservations. First Landing State Park's campground operates from the first Friday in March through the first Monday in December, while most private parks in the area stay open year-round with reduced services in winter.

First Landing has a back-to-nature feel, with wooded and dune-side sites, water and electric hookups on many sites, bathhouses with hot showers, a camp store, and beach access on the Chesapeake Bay side. There are no full hookups at the state park and no on-site restaurants, but grocery stores sit just outside the park. Check-in is 4 p.m. and checkout is 10 a.m. Private parks in the area typically offer full hookups, pools, playgrounds, Wi-Fi, and organized activities, which suits families travelling with young children. Sites near the oceanfront can be tight, and traffic on Shore Drive and Atlantic Avenue is heavy in summer, so plan arrivals outside peak beach turnover hours.