GENERAL INFO: Originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, First Landing State Park is located on the Chesapeake Bay. The park, which is Virginia’s most visited state park, is nestled in Virginia Beach. First Landing offers boating, swimming, nature and history programs, hiking, biking, picnicking, a boat launch, cabins and 19 miles of trails on 2,888 acres. It also has campsites that have water and electric hook-ups and nearby access to restrooms and showers. The park's name was changed in 1997 from Seashore State Park to First Landing State Park to reflect its heritage as the first place where members of the Virginia Company landed. They went on to settle Jamestown.
AT-A-GLANCE: The pictographs directly below show park offerings. Click on those of interest or read below for more detail. Mouse-over the image for a short text description or click here to view a legend in which each pictograph's meaning is expressed.
LOCATION: From
I-64, take Northampton Blvd.-U.S. 13 North (Exit 282). Go through eight lights,
then turn right at the Shore Drive/U.S. 60 exit (last exit before the Chesapeake
Bay Bridge Tunnel). Take a right on Shore Drive and go four and a half miles
to the park entrance. To reach the Chesapeake Bay Center, park office, camping
or cabins, turn left off U.S. Rt. 60 at the stoplight and check in at the
contact station. For the Trail Center, picnic area and trails, turn right
instead.
Drive Time : Northern Virginia, three and a half hours; Richmond, two hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, 20-30 minutes (this facility is in the area); Roanoke, five and a half hours
Click here for a Google map.
PARK MAP: Click here (PDF) for the park guide for the park guide. Click here (PDF) for the trail system guide.
OVERNIGHT FACILITIES: For information on availability of overnight accommodations, particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 1-800-933-PARK. Click here for park fees.
Click here for details on reservation cancellation and transfer policies. A fee is charged per pet per night for overnight stays.
Cabins
Weekly rentals begin Friday, Saturday or Sunday. The contact station open 24 hours Memorial Day through Labor Day. All cabins have two bedrooms. Although near the Chesapeake Bay, none has a view of the water. Cabins 1 through 6 are wood-frames with hardwood floors. Cabins 7 through 20 are cinderblock with cedar siding and have concrete floors. All cabins are across Shore Drive, which separates them from the beach and bay.
Total sites of each type: Two-bedroom frame: 6. Two-bedroom cinderbock: 14.
Site type:
Two-bedroom frame: Sleeps four, allows six. One double bed and two singles.
Two-bedroom cinderbock: Sleeps four, allows six. One queen-size bed and two singles.
Total cabins: 20
Camping
Park has sites with and without electric/water hookups.
Total sites of each type: EW-20ft, 76. EW-30ft, 16. EW-50ft, 17. Std-20ft, 82. Std-50ft, 7.; E01-E20 Group Campground, 20.
Site type:
EW-20ft - Electric/water site for tents, pop-ups and RVs up to 20 feet long. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire-grill. Bathhouse with hot showers. 15-amp service.
EW-30ft - Electric/water site for tents, pop-ups, RVs up to 30 feet length. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire-grill. Bathhouse with hot showers. 30 and 50-amp service.
EW-50ft - Electric/Water site for RVs only 32-50 feet in length. . Each campsite has a picnic table and fire-grill. Bathhouse with hot showers. 30 and 50-amp service.
Std-20ft - No electric/water on this site. Accommodates tents, pop-ups and RVs up to 20 feet in length. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire-grill. Bathhouse with hot showers.
Std-50ft - No electric/water on this site for RVs 32-50 feet in length only.
These sites are on gravel and unsuitable for tents. Each campsite has a picnic
table and fire-grill. Bathhouse with hot showers.
E01-E20 Group Campground - No electric/water on these sites. Three-site
minimum purchase required. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire-grill.
Bathhouse with hot showers. Tents, pop-ups, RVs up to 34 feet. Group camp area
- site specific; maximum six people per site.
CABINS, CAMPING: Click here for park fees. Rental rates for cabins and camping vary by season, offering and park. Rates are subject to verification by DCR's state parks reservations staff (1-800-933-PARK). First, determine the appropriate season, which can vary by park, then the relevant rate.
SWIMMING: Swim at your risk in Chesapeake Bay; no lifeguards. No swimming in the Narrows or at boat launch.
TRAILS: Hiking, bicycle and self-guided trails. Nine walking trails total approximately 19 miles. The most popular, the first section of the Bald Cypress Trail, is one-mile, crosses dunes and ponds and is handicapped accessible. A brochure for the self-guided tour is available at the Trail Center. Trail walks are conducted by interpreters throughout the year, and trail guidebooks are available in the Trail Center. Bicycles allowed on Cape Henry trail only. The park's Bay Store rents bikes.
FISHING, BOATING: Fishing and crabbing are popular from the Narrows located between Broad Bay and Linkhorn Bay. A valid Virginia saltwater fishing license is required. Annual parking-launching passports are available by calling 1-800-933-PARK.
Boating: Motorboats and other small craft may be launched from the Narrows boat ramp located at the 64th Street extension in the park’s southern area. Facilities include the use of launching ramps, parking for cars and boat trailers and restrooms. No swimming in the Narrows or at boat launch.
Canoes and kayaks are not available for rent within the park but can be rented from outfitters nearby in Virginia Beach.
PARKS CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.
THE TRAIL CENTER / VISITOR CENTER, GIFT SHOP: The Trail Center has a meeting room for up to 45 people. It is available for rent; call (757) 412-2320. The center features exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the park.
NATURE, HISTORY PROGRAMS: The park offers many various self-guided and guided programs that cover crabbing, junior rangers, beach walks, nature hikes and structured environmental education programs. Large clubs, school groups and community organizations can request specific historical, cultural and environmental programming related to their educational goals. The park participates in Virginia's State Parks: Your Backyard Classrooms, a 40-activity curriculum guide used by K- 12 teachers and home-school coordinators. Call the park for more detail.
The area's biggest paddle sports event of the year, PaddleFest, takes place at First Landing in mid-September. There's something for both newcomers and pros alike at this hands-on event. Associated parking and try-out fees support the park. Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.
Special events include Clean the Bay Day, March for the Parks, International Coastal Clean-Up and the Fall Harvest Festival.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER: First Landing's Chesapeake Bay Center features a wet lab and educational displays that focus on the First Landing by English settlers here in 1607. The center features programs developed in cooperation with the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. A visitor information center at the park also has information on area tours and attractions.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, Virginia Beach boardwalk, Norfolk Naval Base, Cape Henry Lighthouse and First Landing Cross in adjacent Fort Story. Check www.vbfun.com and www.virginia.org for more info.
PICNIC SHELTERS: The picnic area is equipped with drinking water, fire grills, refuse disposal, tables and restroom facilities. A large picnic shelter is available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis by calling the Reservation Center at 1-800-933-PARK. Click here for park fees.
First Landing State Park Picnic Shelter
One shelter is available for rent. It can be rented from 8 a.m. to dusk (all day). Parking fees are not included in shelter rental.
Cancellation policy: No refund within 14 days before reserved date. Before then, there's a cancellation fee.
Amenities: The shelter has six charcoal grills, electricity, picnic tables and access to restroom (restroom closed November 1 to April 1).
The shelter is in the main picnic area, which is not on the beach side of the park (on same side of Shore Drive as the Trail Center). The shelter can accommodate about 80 people under the shelter. Seating for larger groups is available around the shelter in the main picnic area. The picnic area as a whole is not reserved and the general public will be permitted to use the other tables around the shelter.
Other facilities, including a courtyard, gazebo and amphitheater, can be rented for weddings, conferences, special events and seminars. Call the park at (757) 412-2320 for details.
SPECIAL FEATURES: Amphitheater, courtyard with gazebo
CONCESSIONS: The Bay Store has a variety of groceries, snacks, camping supplies, firewood and outdoor recreation supplies. Concessions operate daily with the following schedule: Mid-April to Memorial Day, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.; hours vary from Labor Day to Mid-October. The store also rents bikes, fishing equipment and crabbing gear, and sells bait, souvenirs, cold sandwiches, hot dogs, nachos and T-shirts.
LAUNDRY: A laundry facitlity with washing machines and large capacity dryers is available in the park. Soap, other laundry products and change are available at the Bay Store.
RESTAURANT: None in park but there are many restaurants nearby in Virginia Beach. Groceries are available in the park's Bay Store.
HISTORY: In 1933, the Commonwealth of Virginia bought the park's more than 2,000 acres from the Cape Henry Syndicate Inc. for $157,000. The park was built in the early 1930s by mainly African-American CCC workers. It was dedicated June 15, 1936. In 1965 the park’s natural area was included in the National Register of Natural Landmarks because of its distinction as the northernmost location on the East Coast where subtropical and temperate plants grow and thrive together. In 1977, the park's trail system was designated as part of the U. S. Department of Interior's National Recreational Trail System.
The park's name was changed in 1997 from Seashore State Park to First Landing State Park to reflect its heritage as the first place where members of the Virginia Company landed. They went on to settle Jamestown. In 2007, the park will re-enact the first landing with a series of special events. The National Register of Natural Landmarks and the National Register of Historic Landmarks have listed First Landing State Park because of its historic heritage.
