First Landing State Park
Managed by Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
2,949 acres19.9 mi of trail
Long Creek TrailCape Henry TrailOsmanthus TrailOsprey Trail+1
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Photo: DanRVA · CC BY-SA 4.0AOutdoors
Outdoors in Virginia Beach
30% of Virginia Beach’s land is conserved: 46,715 acres
94% of residents live within a half mile of a park. 203 miles of mapped trail cross Virginia Beach, 0.8 per square mile of land. The biggest trail networks: First Landing State Park (19.9 mi), Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (2.7 mi), West Neck Creek Nature Area (2.6 mi).
Ahead of 93% of U.S. towns · #23 of 253 in Virginia State. What drives it
Conserved land
30%
46,715 acres · of 244.7 sq mi of land
Trails
203 mi
0.8 per sq mi of land
Park land
13,247 ac
29 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
94%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
73 mi
14 mi lanes · 56 mi paths
Highest peak
59 ft
Mount Trashmore
Lakes & rivers
69
22 beaches · 17 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Virginia Beach?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Virginia Beach have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Virginia Beach is ahead of 93% of U.S. towns, #23 of 253 in Virginia State. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; conserved land ranks highest, park acres per resident lowest.
A
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Virginia Beach’s overall grade.
Conserved land30% of the land · typical VA town 4% · U.S. 4%ATrails0.8 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (203 mi) · VA 0.7 · U.S. 0.4A−Park land29 acres of park per 1,000 residents (13,247 acres) · VA 8 · U.S. 13B+Parks close to home94% of residents within a half mile of a park · VA 76% · U.S. 72%A−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 93%
LessMore
Virginia State towns of 2,500+ (253)Ahead of 91%
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Virginia Beach ranks #47 on Outdoors.
Water is more than half of Virginia Beach’s area (253 of 497 square miles), so every share here is of land; over land and water together, the conserved share would read 15%.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would still be A. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is First Landing State Park, with 19.9 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Managed by United States Fish and Wildlife Service
13,618 acres2.7 mi of trail
Bay TrailSeaside Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
West Neck Creek Nature Area
Park
189 acres2.6 mi of trail
Whitehurst TrailMuddy TrailBuffington TrailScout Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Pleasure House Point Natural Area
Park
68 acres1.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
False Cape State Park
Managed by Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
3,842 acres1.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trail signWebsite ↗
Lake Lawson/Lake Smith Natural Area
Park
29 acres0.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
All 115 parks & preserves
First Landing State Park2,949 acres · 19.9 mi of trail · Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
DirectionsBack Bay National Wildlife Refuge13,618 acres · 2.7 mi of trail · United States Fish and Wildlife Service
DirectionsWest Neck Creek Nature Area189 acres · 2.6 mi of trail
DirectionsRed Wing Park88 acres · 2.2 mi of trail
DirectionsPleasure House Point Natural Area68 acres · 1.8 mi of trail
DirectionsFalse Cape State Park3,842 acres · 1.7 mi of trail · Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
DirectionsCity View District Park43 acres · 1 mi of trail
DirectionsLake Lawson/Lake Smith Natural Area29 acres · 0.9 mi of trail
DirectionsWhitehurst Tract377 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
Bayville Farms Park35 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsWoodstock Park29 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
Mount Trashmore Park167 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · City of Virginia Beach
DirectionsKempsville Lake Community Park16 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsPrincess Anne Commons Gateway Park14 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsGreat Neck Park49 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
Marshview Park140 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsProsperity Park126 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsSalem Woods Neighborhood Park23 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsSalem Lakes Park4 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsWilliams Farm Park31 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Red Mills Farms Park16 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsBirchwood Malibu Park14 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsRosemont Forest West Park12 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Middle Plantation / Bishop's Gate Park10 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsBeach Garden Park6 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · City of Virginia Beach
DirectionsLittle Neck Park6 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsKempes Landing Park4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Charlestown Lakes South Park10 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Colonial Oaks Park6 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation
Woodstock Cove Park6 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Thalia Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Lockhaven Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsOcean Lakes East Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
24th Street Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsPrincess Anne Wildlife Management Area1,418 acres · Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge866 acres · United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Pocahontas Marsh461 acres
Trojan Marsh338 acres
Beasley Tract243 acres
Munden Point Park76 acres
Plaza Park29 acres
DirectionsOcean Lakes Park23 acres
DirectionsPungo Ferry Landing Park19 acres
Woodbridge Park16 acres · City of Chesapeake
Lark Downs Park12 acres
Level Green Park10 acres
Aragona Park10 acres
Brill Field10 acres
Ferry Point Park10 acres · City of Virginia Beach
Kempsville Recreation Center10 acres
Oak Springs Park10 acres
Chesapeake Beach Park8 acres
DirectionsBrigadoon Woods Park8 acres · City of Virginia Beach
Old Dam Neck Park8 acres
DirectionsChatham Hall Park8 acres
DirectionsLago Mar Park8 acres
Carlestown Athletic Complex Park6 acres
Diamond Springs Gardenwood Park6 acres
Newlight Park6 acres
Fairfield Park6 acres
Kepler Bend Park6 acres
DirectionsLandstown Lakes Park6 acres
DirectionsKings Grant Park6 acres
Chimney Hill Community Park6 acres
Larkspur Greens Park6 acres
Liberty Ridge Park6 acres
Pine Meadows Park6 acres
Blackwater Park4 acres
JEB Park4 acres
DirectionsStrawbridge Park4 acres
Princess Anne Quarter Park4 acres
Landstown Meadows Park4 acres
DirectionsBrigadoon Park4 acres · City of Virginia Beach
Dunwoody Park4 acres
Fox Fire Park4 acres
Brigadoon Pines Park4 acres · City of Virginia Beach
DirectionsHaygood Point Park4 acres
Culver Park4 acres
DirectionsHillcrest Farms Park4 acres
Aviation Historical Park4 acres
DirectionsBellamy Woods Park4 acres
Glenwood Community Park4 acres
Buckner Farms Park4 acres
Centerville Park2 acres
Creeds Neighborhood Park2 acres
Sunstream Park2 acres
Rosemont Forrst Park2 acres
Landstown Meadows West Park2 acres
DirectionsUpton Estates Park2 acres
Parliament Village Park2 acres
Cedar Hill Park2 acres
Cypress Point North Park2 acres
DirectionsLineberry Park2 acres
Strawbridge East Park2 acres
Ocean Lakes North Park2 acres
Creeds Wayside Park2 acres
Southgate Park2 acres
DirectionsCardinal Estates Park2 acres
Bronney Park2 acres
Alexandria Park2 acres
Wyndamere Park2 acres
Lamplight Manor Park2 acres
DirectionsSalem Village Park2 acres
Pembroke Meadows Lake Park2 acres
Revere Drive Field and Park2 acres
Bellamy Plantation Park2 acres
Fairfield Forest Park2 acres
Birchwood South Park2 acres
Stoneybrook Park2 acres
Renwood Park2 acres
Neptune's Park2 acres
DirectionsVeterans Memorial Park2 acres
DirectionsHolland Woods Park2 acres
Hermitage Park2 acres
Carolanne Park2 acres
Who protects it
46,715 conserved acres
30% of Virginia Beach’s land. Water is left out: Virginia Beach has 244.7 square miles of land and 252.8 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Virginia Beach’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city27,874 ac
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service19,164 ac
State conservation14,237 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits6,444 ac
Other state land1,784 ac
State fish & wildlife1,636 ac
Other or Unknown Local Government803 ac
National Wildlife Refuge · 19,164 acState Conservation Area · 17,207 acLocal Park · 13,667 acConservation Easement · 11,152 acOther Easement · 11,019 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 11,879 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 9 of 841 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 17,361 | Restricted |
| False Cape State Natural Area Preserve State Conservation Area | State conservation | 7,166 | Restricted |
| North Landing River State Natural Area Preserve State Conservation Area | State conservation | 7,100 | Restricted |
| First Landing State Park State Park | Not recorded | 5,820 | Open |
| False Cape State Park State Park | State conservation | 3,886 | Open |
| North Landing River Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 3,645 | Closed |
| Princess Anne Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 2,941 | Open |
| Stumpy Lake Natural Area Local Park | Not recorded | 2,085 | Open |
| Camp Pendleton State Military Reservation Military Land | Other state land | 1,937 | Restricted |
| Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 1,803 | Restricted |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
327 places to go in Virginia Beach
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Virginia Beach
Bay Colony Dog Beach
DirectionsChix Beach
DirectionsFishing & Dog Beach
DirectionsSandbridge Beach
DirectionsSeabreeze Beach
DirectionsShifting Sands Beach
DirectionsSurfing Beach
DirectionsSylvan Beach
DirectionsPlus 14 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Public pools in Virginia Beach
Aeropines Water Park
DirectionsBiarritz Pool
DirectionsCanary Island Pool
DirectionsHook's Lagoon
DirectionsHot TubIn Kempsville Lake Community Park
DirectionsKempsville Community PoolIn Kempsville Lake Community Park
DirectionsMontego Island Pool
DirectionsSouth Seas Silly Slides
Directions1 more public pool
Summer Station Swimming Pool
DirectionsPlus 5 public pools without a name on the map.
Playgrounds in Virginia Beach
Bellamy Plantation East Park Playground
DirectionsBellamy Woods Park PlaygroundIn Bellamy Woods Park
DirectionsChimney Hill Community PlaygroundIn Chimney Hill Community Park
DirectionsChimney Hill Community PlaygroundIn Chimney Hill Community Park
DirectionsCoventry Park Playground
DirectionsDiamond Springs Greeenwood Playground
DirectionsEggshellIn Lago Mar Park
DirectionsFunVille Playground and Cafe
Directions16 more playgrounds
Hermitage Park PlaygroundIn Hermitage Park
DirectionsHillcrest Farms Park Playground
DirectionsKids CoveIn Mount Trashmore Park
DirectionsLittle Island Playground
DirectionsLittle Neck Park - PlaygroundIn Little Neck Park
DirectionsOutdoor Swings
DirectionsPembroke Meadows Playground
DirectionsPrincess Anne Park PlaygroundIn Princess Anne Commons Gateway Park
DirectionsRosemont Forest West Park Playground
DirectionsSalem Lakes Park PlaygroundIn Salem Lakes Park
DirectionsSpraygroundIn Kempsville Recreation Center
DirectionsSunstream Park Playground
DirectionsVillage Bend Park
DirectionsVillage Bend Playground
DirectionsWoods Edge PlaygroundIn Kempsville Lake Community Park
DirectionsWoods Edge playgroundIn Kempsville Lake Community Park
Directions237 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Virginia Beach
Outdoor Pet Recreation Area
DirectionsPups and Pints
DirectionsPlus 8 dog parks without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Virginia Beach
Alanton Boat Ramp
DirectionsCarolanne Park Kayak Launch
DirectionsDozier Bridge Canoe Launch
DirectionsLynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility
DirectionsMill Landing Boat Ramp
DirectionsPlus 12 boat launches without a name on the map.
Fishing spots in Virginia Beach
Little Island Fishing Pier
DirectionsPeaks in Virginia Beach
Mount Trashmore59 ft elevation · In Mount Trashmore Park
DirectionsWhite Hill33 ft elevation · In First Landing State Park
DirectionsEncore HillIn Mount Trashmore Park
DirectionsPicnic areas in Virginia Beach
Picnic Benches
DirectionsPicnic Benches
DirectionsPlus 11 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Virginia Beach
First Landing State Park CampgroundHours: Mar - Dec · Fee · In First Landing State Park · Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
DirectionsVirginia Beach KOA HolidayFee · KOA
DirectionsDisc golf in Virginia Beach
Bayville Farms Disc Golf CourseIn Bayville Farms Park
DirectionsPlus 1 disc golf course without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Community gardens in Virginia Beach
Prayer of the Blue Skies Community Garden
DirectionsTrails & water
25 named trails and 63 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 4.4 miHorses · 0.7 miUnpaved · 39.4 mi
Long Creek Trail4.0 mi
Cape Henry Trail3.7 mi
Chix Beach2.5 mi
Osmanthus Trail2.4 mi
Osprey Trail1.6 mi
Bald Cypress Trail1.5 mi
White Hill Lake Trail1.4 mi
Muddy Trail1.0 mi
Ridge to Cape Henry0.9 mi
Whitehurst Trail0.9 mi
15 more trails
The Ridge
0.9 miLaskin Construction Gauntlet
0.8 miKingfisher Trail
0.6 miCypress Swamp Trail
0.6 miBuffington Trail
0.4 miFox Run Trail
0.4 mi64th Side Track
0.4 miBay Trail
0.3 miWoodStock Trail
0.3 miScout Trail
0.3 miLittle Island Trails
0.2 miHigh Dune Trail
0.2 miMKSP Connector
0.2 miLive Oak Trail
0.2 miBishops Gate Trail
0.2 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Ashville Park Lake 10ApondBanbury LakepondBeverly PondpondBirchwood Malibu Park PondpondBlack GutlakeBrown's LakelakeBumper BoatspondCarol PondpondCentral Park LakepondChub LakereservoirCoventrylakeCrab CreekGreat Neck LakereservoirGreenlaw PondpondGrey Friars Chase LakepondInlynnview LakelakeKings LakereservoirLake BradfordreservoirLake ByrnelakeLake CharlesreservoirLake ChristinereservoirLake ChristopherlakeLake EdwardlakeLake JamesreservoirLake JoycereservoirLake LawsonreservoirLake RedwingLake RudeeLake SmithLake Susan ConstantlakeLake TecumsehLake TrashmorelakeLake WesleyLake WhitehurstreservoirLake WindsorlakeLarkspur Greens LakelakeLittle Creek ReservoirreservoirLittle LakeMiddle Lake HollylakeNorth Lake HollylakePaxford ShallowsPleasure House CreekRegent Mall fountainRegent University PondpondRevere PondpondRudee InletSandee LakereservoirSherwood Lake #1lakeSherwood Lake #2lakeSouth Lake HollylakeBuchanan CreekEastern Branch Elizabeth RiverEastern Branch Lynnhaven RiverGreat Neck CreekKeeling DrainLittle Neck CreekLondon Bridge CreekLong CreekLynhaven RiverNorth Landing RiverThe NarrowsThurston BranchWestern Branch Lynnhaven River
Biking & sports
73 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
14 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
56 mi
off-road bike paths
3.0 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
269Tennis
216Baseball
205Basketball
100Soccer
92Golf
63Pickleball
38Football
17Multi-sport
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →36 places on the National Register, 2 of them National Historic Landmarks
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 27 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Pembroke ManorBuilding · listed 1970
About itOld Donation ChurchBuilding · listed 1972
About itPleasant HallBuilding · listed 1973
About itKeeling HouseBuilding · listed 1973
About itUpper WolfsnareBuilding · listed 1975
About itU.S. Coast Guard StationBuilding · listed 1979
About itHolland-de Witt CottageBuilding · listed 1988
About itDr. John Miller-Masury HouseBuilding · listed 1997
About itShirley HallBuilding · listed 1999
About itCApe Henry (Second Tower) Light StationStructure · listed 2002
About it24 more on the History page.
When to get out
The best walking months in Virginia Beach: April and May
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.9 | 10.8 | 11.9 | 13.1 | 14.1 | 14.7 | 14.4 | 13.6 | 12.4 | 11.2 | 10.1 | 9.7 |
| High (°F) | 50 | 52 | 59 | 68 | 76 | 83 | 87 | 86 | 80 | 72 | 61 | 54 |
| Rain (in) | 3.4 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 5.5 | 5.3 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 3.0 | 3.3 |
February is the driest month (2.9 in) and July the warmest (highs of 87 °F). 5.5 inches fall in July, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 87 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Virginia Beach →
Next door
Virginia Beach and its neighbors
Virginia Beach has the most mapped trails of the 3 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | 30% | 0.8 | 29 | 94% | A |
| Norfolk | 8% | 0.6 | 7 | 86% | B+ |
| Chesapeake | 36% | 0.4 | 37 | 71% | A− |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Virginia Beach
Where can I hike in Virginia Beach?
The longest trail networks: First Landing State Park, 19.9 miles; Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 2.7 miles; West Neck Creek Nature Area, 2.6 miles; Red Wing Park, 2.2 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Virginia Beach is conserved land?
30% of its land, against a typical 4% for a Virginia State town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Virginia Beach’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at First Landing State Park (on leash). For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Virginia Beach?
73 miles of bike routes are on the map: 14 of painted or protected lanes, 56 of off-road paths and 3.0 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Virginia Beach?
25,708 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Virginia Beach or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 13,340 of them inside the city line.
How much outdoors does Virginia Beach have?
Ahead of 93% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #23 of 253 in Virginia State. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Virginia Beach neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →