First Landing State Park

About First Landing State Park

It is one of Virginia's most popular national parks, attracting more than half a million visitors each year. The park serves as a satellite location for Virginia Beach Tourism and offers a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, biking, camping, fishing, kayaking, hiking and more.

The park was built in the early 1930s by predominantly African American CCC workers, and in 1933 the Commonwealth of Virginia purchased more than 2,000 acres of the park from Cape Henry Syndicate, Inc. for $157,500.

The park is registered in the National Register of Natural Monuments as the northernmost location along the East Coast, where subtropical and temperate plants grow and thrive together. In 1977, the park's pathway system was designated a National Historic Landmark, one of the first of its kind in the nation.

Pets are allowed on the beach, which are not longer than six meters, and lifeguards are on duty at any time of the day or night, except in the summer months.

Under no circumstances will the cost of swimming be reimbursed and guests will be reimbursed for swimsuits, swimwear, sun cream, water shoes or other necessary equipment.

Facilities include a boat ramp for motor boats and other small boats, a car park for vehicles and a picnic area with picnic tables and chairs.

Kayaks can be rented on weekends during the season, and powerboat rentals are available for $5 per day, $10 per week or $20 per month.

Fishing and crab fishing are very popular in Narrows, Broad Bay and Linkhorn Bay, and a valid Virginia saltwater fishing license is required. Annual parking and entry tickets are available for $5 per day, $10 per week or $20 per month. A snack bar is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day for bait, ice cream and fishing gear.

A large picnic shelter can be rented by calling the reservation center at 1 - 800 - 933 - PARK, or by renting accommodation. The picnic area is equipped with picnic tables, picnic chairs, picnic tables and picnic benches. You can rent every day from 8 am until nightfall and from 9 am to 6 pm on weekdays and from 7 pm to midnight on weekends and holidays.

Parking fees are not included in the rental price, but then a cancellation fee is charged, and the parking fees do not include the parking fee.

In shelters, toilets had to be closed from 1 November to 1 April, in the parking lot from 1 October to 1 December.

The picnic area as a whole is not reserved, but the public may use other tables in the shelter. The accommodation can accommodate about 80 people, and picnic areas are available for larger groups. The accommodations are located in a refuge, while in the refuges and in some shelters seating is available in large groups.

Additional facilities can be rented at the Chesapeake Bay Center, including parking, picnic area and leisure center.

Nine self-guided hiking trails lead to a total of around 20 kilometres, some of which are adapted for disabled people. Each is a mile long and runs along a dune or pond, and nine of them are led by nine hikers each way, who will lead a total of about 20 miles up to the highest point of the park, about 1,000 feet above sea level.

The Trail Center has a self-guided brochure, and interpreters do year-round hikes. A brochure and guide are also available in English, Spanish, French, German, English - language and Spanish - English at the Trails Center.

Bicycles are only allowed on the Cape Henry Trail, and bicycles are not allowed on any of the other trails except for a small section of the Cape George Trail.

Drive the 1.5 miles to the park entrance and turn right onto Shore Drive and pass eight traffic lights. Turn left onto Cape Henry Trail and then right onto Cape George Trail before turning right into the parking lot of First Landing State Park, located south of the entrance.

Once the park office and tent cabins reach the Chesapeake Bay Center, turn left into the parking lot and turn right onto Cape George Trail. Turn right onto Cape Henry Trail and then left onto Bay Road before you reach the entrance to First Landing State Park.