First Landing State Park — Attraction in Virginia Beach

“So what’s the deal with First Landing State Park? It’s got ‘first’ in the name, which already sets expectations pretty high. You can’t call yourself ‘First’ and be average. That’s not how it works.”

And let me tell you—this place delivers… mostly. It’s like if a state park went to college, got a degree in hospitality, and then settled down near the beach with a solid 401(k).

You want beach? Oh, it’s got beach. The kind where you can toss a towel down, walk into the water, and not feel like you’re stepping into a glacial melt. The sunsets? Forget about it. They’re the kind of sunsets that make you rethink every decision you’ve made that didn’t involve going to the beach.

Camping here? Surprisingly cushy. The campsites are clean, some choice spots are spaced out enough that you’re not accidentally borrowing your neighbor’s marshmallows, and some are so close to the water it’s basically glamping by waddling distance. And the Archer Bathhouse—what a glow-up. It’s like HGTV came in and said, “Let’s show you what a state park restroom could be!”

The staff? All smiles, all helpful, clearly care. And the park itself? You can tell they’ve either got a better budget or know how to stretch a dollar like a yoga instructor on Black Friday. The buildings are newer, the activities are frequent and fun—crafts, nature walks, maybe even someone explaining what that weird bird sound was at 2 a.m.

Now the hiking? Cool trails through a swampy, moss-draped wonderland that makes you feel like you stepped into a nature documentary narrated by Morgan Freeman.

But hey—it’s not all sunshine and chirping birds.

Bugs? Oh yeah. The bugs here bite like they have attitude. Mosquitoes, ants, flies—it’s like an all-you-can-eat buffet and you’re the buffet. And if you're tent camping in July? Congrats, you're now a human sauna. The humidity after a rain? It's like walking through soup.

You’ll also hear traffic—cars, motorcycles, fighter jets doing morning zoomies like they’re late for brunch. Not exactly tranquil forest silence. And the roads? Some folks think twisty park roads are a NASCAR tryout. So keep an eye on the little campers and bike riders.

Also, fun stat: 200+ campsites... 4 washing machines. Hope you enjoy the smell of authentic outdoor musk.

Still, if you want a super affordable family beach vacation near Virginia Beach—and you're down to camp it out—First Landing’s a solid bet. Just remember: it’s part paradise, part jungle bootcamp. Choose your week wisely... and maybe bring bug spray...

Just north of all the hustle and bustle you'll find First Landing State Park. I've camped there at least three times over recent years and the thing I like the most is that the park gives you the coastal, beachy feeling while being entirely secluded from all the activity you associate with VA Beach. Compared to camping in any of Virginia's beautiful state parks in the western part of the state, I was concerned due to the location that First Landing would struggle to offer the same peaceful experience and Zen-like moments that you find when camping in the rural areas. This was blissfully not the case. In each situation, First Landing gave me and my family a calm, beautiful experience where you get back in touch with nature and time slowly down to a crawl. The campsites vary greatly in size though on average each of them have their benefits and possible drawbacks, depending on what you're looking for or how many people you have in your party. Use your best judgement when booking based on the map or online tools available and during your first stay, take a drive/walk/bike around the campground and make a note of your top 5 or 10 camp sites as well as any that you might want to avoid if you find any that wouldn't suit your future purposes. The bath houses, showers and bathrooms are nice. I've always found them to be clean and the facilities in good working order. The campground offers a few EV charging sites, a bonus for any Tesla owners. Many of the sites will offer a short walk to the beach and shores of the Chesapeake Bay, something I try to do on every visit. If you need anything there are grocery stores and other conveniences within a few minutes drive. The staff are friendly though I have to say after a few visits the only interaction you probably will have is during check in. If you want to take a prolonged walk, run or bike ride, there are long trails just across the road that take you through cypress swamp and nature area - something I have yet to capitalize on because I think this would be a good bike ride on a sunny day though in each case so far we have failed to bring our bikes. I plan to visit First Landing again and again because over several years this park has given us good memories and fun times. I would avoid camping in August because the heat and humidity can be a little too much to be...

Me and my family stayed at First Landing State Park for four nights of tent camping, and overall, the park itself is beautiful. The natural environment and vibe are wonderful, and the beach is a highlight—clean, scenic, and relaxing. The bathhouses and showers were consistently clean, which made camping more comfortable. The on-site store was convenient for essentials like ice and firewood, which we appreciated.

That said, there are several areas that made our stay less enjoyable. Many of the staff members we encountered had an unwelcoming attitude. I understand they may be short-staffed, but this also seemed to affect enforcement of the park rules. During our stay, I saw multiple groups walking across the sand dunes to and from the beach - someone was even storing their beach floats in the dunes, this is damaging to the dunes and puts the land at risk. I also witnessed a man who became intoxicated on the beach and left behind all of his belongings overnight—despite the fact that alcohol is not permitted on the beach.

The store, while convenient, had very limited reasonably priced items. Souvenirs were significantly overpriced—a medium tumbler was $47 and a tank top was $27. One of the items I did purchase was even overcharged at checkout (marked $14.99 but rang up $18.99).

The biggest issue for us, however, was something we also experienced on our visit last year: the constant noise from street bikes racing along the highway right next to the campground. This went on all night long, making it extremely difficult to sleep. Considering how close the road is to the park, I feel this could and should be addressed in cooperation with local police.

In summary, First Landing State Park has a lot of natural beauty and some great amenities, but the overall experience is undermined by noise issues, overpriced items, and lack of staff enforcement and good attitudes. With some improvements, this park could be outstanding, but as it stands, it left us feeling a little...