Is First Landing State Park Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

First Landing State Park Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

What is the best time to visit First Landing State Park Campground?

First Landing State Park Campground is open Camping is available from the first Friday in March until the first Monday in December.. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at First Landing State Park Campground?

First Landing State Park Campground does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Are dogs allowed at First Landing State Park Campground?

Pets are not allowed at First Landing State Park Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at First Landing State Park Campground?

First Landing State Park Campground offers: Electrical Hookups, Water Hookups. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

First Landing State Park Campground

4.57

154 reviews

Top 14% in VAFall

Seasonal ranking by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.

Family FriendlyScenic ViewsGreat Hiking

Quick Facts

49 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Camping is available...

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

Partial Hookups

Book on Virginia State Parks Official Website

Get Directions

Elevation by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.

Quick Facts

49 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Camping is available...

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

Partial Hookups

Book on Virginia State Parks Official Website

Get Directions

Elevation by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.

First Landing State Park Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

No campsite fee categories listed.

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I manage this campground

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Campground Map

First Landing State Park Campground

36.9066, -76.0217

Weather at First Landing State Park Campground

Best Time to Camp at First Landing State Park Campground

Fall delivers the sweet spot: mid-50s to mid-70s°F, crisp evenings, thinner crowds after Labor Day, and easier parking at the beach and boat launch. Late spring already brings mid-90s heat indexes and heavy populations of biting flies and mosquitoes that multiple sprays won't fully suppress. Summer means peak beach crowds, parking waits, and heat. Storms and rain hit even the cooler shoulder months, so pack for wet conditions. Military jets from the nearby base fly over in the mornings around 8 AM year-round.

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

5.0 / 5

Top 14% in VA

Fall described as the 'sweet spot': mild temps, thinner crowds and easier beach/boat access.

Planning Tips

Operating Season: Camping is available from the first Friday in March until the first Monday in December.

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.

About First Landing State Park Campground

First Landing State Park Campground sits on the Chesapeake Bay shore in northern Virginia Beach, with wooded loops of tent and RV sites plus cabins that book months ahead. A 5-minute boardwalk crosses the dunes to a wide sandy beach. The park has clean bathhouses, 24-hour ranger presence, an educational visitor center, and an extensive trail network through cypress swamp and maritime forest.

Weather and SeasonsFall delivers the sweet spot: mid-50s to mid-70s°F, crisp evenings, thinner crowds after Labor Day, and easier parking at the beach and boat launch. Late spring already brings mid-90s heat indexes and heavy populations of biting flies and mosquitoes that multiple sprays won't fully suppress. Summer means peak beach crowds, parking waits, and heat. Storms and rain hit even the cooler shoulder months, so pack for wet conditions. Military jets from the nearby base fly over in the mornings around 8 AM year-round.

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground occupies heavily wooded terrain of live oaks and pine at 49 feet elevation, providing substantial shade and natural separation between sites. Elevated boardwalks transition from maritime forest through dune grassland to the Chesapeake Bay shoreline, where campers watch dolphins offshore and walk the calm bay beach. Beyond the campground loops, the park's trail system threads through unique cypress swamps with standing water, mature bald cypress, turtles, dragonflies, and dense bird habitat. Ships pass in the bay. Sunsets over the water frame the bridge silhouette.

Best Campsites

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Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are not allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Best CampsitesSite 152 is spacious, well-shaded, equipped with water and electric hookups, and sits roughly equidistant between two bathhouses. Reviewers note it fills months in advance along with other coveted shaded sites near beach access. Some sites in the loops run small or short for larger RVs, so check individual dimensions before booking.

Need help booking First Landing State Park Campground?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

Virginia State Parks Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

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Cancellation Alerts

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Amenities available

Total sites of each type : EW-20ft, 45. EW-30ft, 27. EW-50ft, 36. Std-20ft, 75. 44-65 Group Campground, 22. 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. 20-amp service. EW-30ft: Electric/water site for tents, pop-ups, RVs up to 30 feet in length. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire-grill. Bathhouse with hot showers. 20, 30 and 50-amp service. EW-50ft: Electric/Water site A 24-hour laundry facility, across from the camp store, is open during camping season. The camp store sells laundry supplies, and a coin machine is onsite.

Electricity hookups

Water hookups

I manage this campground

Things to do at First Landing State Park Campground

Hiking5.0/5Top 6% in Virginia

Extensive, well‑marked trail network (boardwalks, Bald Cypress, Cape Henry, Long Creek etc.).

Fishing4.0/5

Chesapeake Bay shoreline and park boat launch suggest good bay/shore fishing opportunities.

Swimming4.0/5

Wide sandy beach reached by a 5‑minute boardwalk from the campground.

Biking4.0/5Top 17% in Virginia

Trails explicitly noted as suitable for biking and gravel biking.

Boating4.0/5

Chesapeake Bay access and a boat launch support recreational boating.

Beach activities4.0/5

Wide, sandy, secluded beach with dune boardwalk access from the campground.

Signature experiences

Photography5.0/5Boardwalks, dunes, swamp, maritime forest and offshore dolphins offer excellent photo subjects.

Not sure what to pack?Our complete camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

No Potable WaterThis campground does not have potable water on-site. Bring all the water you need for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

No Cell ServiceCell phone service is not available at this campground. Plan accordingly for emergencies and download offline maps before arriving.

No Flush ToiletsFlush toilets are not available at this campground. Expect vault or pit toilets only.

No Dump StationThere is no dump station at this campground. Plan to use a dump station along your route or at a nearby facility before or after your stay.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Good to know

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, and timing, compiled by Outdoorithm from public reviews and operator information.

Reviews

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From Booking Sources

4.6

154 reviews

Top-Rated

First Landing State Park Campground is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews

Reviewers consistently praise First Landing State Park Campground for its well‑maintained, varied trails, secluded beach access, and rich wildlife in a unique cypress swamp setting. Campers highlight clean facilities, a helpful visitor center and park staff, and many camping options (cabins, tent and RV sites) that make it a popular, peaceful getaway.

Review Summaries

Based on 154 reviews

What Campers Love

["Extensive, well‑marked trail network (boardwalks, Bald Cypress, Cape Henry, Long Creek, Osmanthus, Kingfisher, Fox Run) suitable for hiking, biking, gravel biking and day hikes","Secluded, scenic...

Based on 154 reviews

Reviews on Outdoorithm

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First Landing State Park Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

No campsite fee categories listed.

Get Notified When Available

We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.

Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans

263,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account

Learn more about alerts →

Share this campground

Virginia State Parks

Provider

Go if

Fall campers who want beach access without ocean surf will find their sweet spot here: mild temps, thinner crowds after Labor Day, dolphin sightings from the boardwalk, and trails through bald cypress swamp that hold up even on rainy days.

Skip if

Light sleepers and late risers will notice the military jets at 8 AM, and anyone expecting a private site should know the loops can feel close-together, study the site map before booking and aim for larger, tree-buffered spots.

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Kiptopeke State Park Campground sits on Virginia's Eastern Shore with 10 shaded tent sites overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. The park's location on a natural migratory funnel makes it one of the premier birding destinations on the Atlantic coast. Sites range from 60-65 feet long with full shade cover.