First Landing State Park Camping: The Complete 2027 Virginia Beach Campground Guide
First Landing camping in Virginia Beach: 200+ bayside sites, hookups and RV limits, yurts and cabins, the March–December season, reservations and what to do.
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Better camping decisions, faster trip planning, and clearer gear choices. Use this article as your starting point, then keep going with related camping guides and practical help articles below.
First Landing camping is the easiest way to sleep on the beach in Virginia Beach without paying oceanfront hotel prices. First Landing State Park sits at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, where English colonists first came ashore in 1607 before moving on to settle Jamestown. Today it's Virginia's busiest state park, with more than 200 campsites tucked into the dunes, 1.5 miles of sandy bay beach and about 20 miles of trails through a rare coastal forest.
This guide covers the campground layout, hookups and RV limits, yurts and cabins, the season, reservations and what to do once you're set up.
First Landing State Park: The Basics
- Address: 2500 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23451.
- Phone: 757-412-2300.
- Operator: Virginia State Parks (Department of Conservation and Recreation).
- Beach: 1.5 miles on the Chesapeake Bay. There are no lifeguards, so swimming is at your own risk.
- Trails: about 20 miles across 10 trails.
- Parking: a daily parking fee applies to day visitors. Check the Virginia State Parks fees page for current rates.
The park was called Seashore State Park until 1997. Its natural area became a National Natural Landmark in 1965, because it's the northernmost spot on the East Coast where subtropical and temperate plants grow side by side. That's why you'll see Spanish moss hanging from bald cypress trees a few minutes from the Virginia Beach strip.
The First Landing Campground
The campground sits on the bay side of Shore Drive, in the dunes, so most sites are a short walk from the beach. Every site has a picnic table and a fire grill, and the bathhouses have hot showers.
Site Types and Hookups
| Site type | Sites | Hookups | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (20 ft) | 75 | None | Tents only |
| Electric/water (20 ft) | 45 | 20-amp | Tents, pop-ups, RVs up to 20 ft |
| Electric/water (30 ft) | 27 | 20/30/50-amp | Tents, pop-ups, RVs up to 30 ft |
| Electric/water (50 ft) | 36 | 20/30/50-amp | RVs only, 32 to 50 ft |
| Group sites | 22 | None | Tents only, three-site minimum |
Group sites allow up to six people per site, and you have to book at least three together. They work well for scout troops and family reunions.
RVs
First Landing takes rigs up to 50 feet, which is unusual for a beach campground. Long rigs need one of the 36 "EW-50ft" sites, and those book out first. Sites don't have sewer hookups, so arrive with empty tanks and plan to use the dump station. The sandy loops can be tight, so arrive in daylight if you can.
Is the Campground Open?
The campground and yurts run from the first Friday in March through the first Monday in December. In practice, the 2026 season ends Monday, December 7. The cabins stay open year-round.
The cabins are under renovation through about May 2027, so check availability before you plan around them. The campground isn't affected.
Yurts and Cabins
Yurts
There are four yurts in the dunes along the bay. Each sleeps three (four max) on a queen bed and a twin trundle. They have no electricity, water, lights, heat or air conditioning, so think of them as a tent with a floor. Water is at the bathhouse. Check-in is 4 p.m. and checkout is 10 a.m. Weekend stays require both Friday and Saturday nights, and pets aren't allowed, except service animals. If you're new to this style of stay, our what is glamping guide explains what to expect.
Cabins
There are 20 two-bedroom cabins that sleep four or six. They're in the woods on the other side of Shore Drive, so you won't see the water. Bring your own linens. From Memorial Day through Labor Day there's a six-night minimum, which drops to four nights three months out and two nights in the final month. The rest of the year, the minimum is two nights. Pets are allowed in the cabins for a nightly fee.
First Landing Camping Reservations
Book through the Virginia State Parks reservation system at reservevaparks.com, or call 800-933-7275 (800-933-PARK). Summer weekends sell out early, especially the 50-foot RV sites and the yurts. Shoulder-season weeknights in April, May, September and October are much easier to get, and they're often the nicest weather of the year.
Nightly rates vary by season and site type, and Virginia State Parks publishes them on its prices and fees page. Check there before you book rather than relying on old rates.
Weekend warning: First Landing is busy. When the parking lot fills, the park turns day-use arrivals away. Registered campers can still get in, but expect delays on Shore Drive.
Things to Do at First Landing State Park
- The bay beach. The water is calmer than the oceanfront, which makes it good for kids, paddleboards and sunset walks. There's still no lifeguard, so watch the currents near the inlet.
- Bald Cypress Trail. This 1.5-mile loop crosses cypress swamps on boardwalks. It's the park's signature hike.
- Cape Henry and Live Oak trails. These are the only trails where bikes are allowed. Cape Henry runs most of the length of the park.
- Paddling and fishing. Broad Bay and Narrows are sheltered water for kayaks. The boat launch is free for overnight guests. A Virginia fishing license may be required.
- Chesapeake Bay Center. It has exhibits on the park's history and the bay's ecology.
- Cape Henry. The historic Cape Henry lighthouses and the First Landing cross are a few minutes east, on Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story. You need ID to get on the base.
- Virginia Beach oceanfront. The boardwalk is about 15 minutes away.
Tips for Camping at First Landing
- Expect military noise. A training center next door operates year-round, and night training can run past midnight. Pack earplugs.
- Bring bug protection. Mosquitoes and biting flies are serious from late spring through early fall, especially near the swamps.
- Stake for sand and wind. Bay breezes are steady, so pack sand stakes. Our how to set up a tent guide covers pitching in sand.
- Pets need a leash no longer than six feet, and Virginia Beach requires proof of a rabies vaccination. See camping with dogs before you go.
- Buy firewood at the park. It's sold on-site in season, and it keeps invasive pests out of the forest.
- Want more Mid-Atlantic beach camping? Assateague Island is about two and a half hours north, and Cape Henlopen in Delaware is a good weekend trip.
Recommended Gear
A few things make a First Landing trip easier:
- Coleman Sundome Tent. It has a full rainfly for bay thunderstorms and is easy to pitch on the tent-only standard sites.
- Helinox Chair One. It packs small enough to carry down the dune path for sunset on the bay.
- Black Diamond Spot 400-R Headlamp. You'll want it for the walk to the bathhouse, especially from a yurt with no lights.
For everything else, use our camping checklist and beach camping guide.