First Landing State Park

This campground was in the perfect location, just a short walk from our camper and we were at the beach. The Virginia Beach boardwalk is also just a short drive away.

Our campsite was in direct sun for the majority of the time, so it did get fairly hot. However there are many sites that offer more shade. One of the bonuses to this site was that it offered a great amount of privacy.

Be aware on your drive in - Our GPS directed us to go to the state park entrance, and the signage on the busy road doesn't give you ample time to get over to the campground side. We ended up pulling into the state park entrance and had a mildly difficult time turning around and we do have a smaller rig. So just keep in mind that the campground is on the opposite side.

We would definitely stay at this campground again!

First Landing is one of our top camping experiences so far. The site we booked backed up to an expansive area of beach vegetation. It was deeply secluded and had ample space for our three kids to roam and play. We stayed in March, so the vegetation wasn't fully grown in. We imagine the sites are even better with full growth.

Our camp hosts were phenomenal. Not only were they helpful and patient when we pulled in early by accident, but they recommended two amazing restaurants and checked in on us frequently. We didn't interact with much of the other staff but everyone else we spoke with was very kind and helpful.

The showers are hot and strong, and private if you're planning a trip during the pandemic. Cell coverage is strong enough across multiple carriers if you're a remote worker and/or home schooling. AT&T seemed to be the strongest.

We have no complaints but we do want to mention the noise from the nearby air base. The jets and helicopters run frequently throughout the week. It can be quite noisy, sometimes into the evening or early morning. We weren't bothered by it. However, if you're looking for serene quiet, they will likely be disruptive.

We'll be planning a return trip during warmer months so we can really take advantage of the beach.

My family started vacationing here when I was a kid, in the late 1960's. Since retiring, my wife and I have returned most every year in late September to early October. A wonderful time to be there after the bugs and all the people. Love the simple remoteness of a place so close to the ocean. Perhaps the facilities are not up to the standards of some folks, but show me another state park so close, yet remote and inexpensive.

Arrived for the first time, when check-in received crime prevention tips flyer suggesting to protect belongings. The site was separated from 4 lanes road by high fence and couple feet bushes. Bathrooms are outdated and not very clean. Beach lovers will appreciate walking distance to the beach. Campground is not worth the price but it is one of the cheapest options to visit Virginia Beach. Try to choose sites far away from Shore Drive.

We stayed in Nov. and it was pretty quiet, very few other folks around. The camp store and laundromat were closed. We had a pull through site, which was great because we were staying in our RV for the first time and were nervous about backing in or out. We were a couple sites from the closest bathhouse and boardwalk to the ocean. I believe there were 4 boardwalks in the entire campground. The boardwalk takes you across the dunes to 1.5 miles of beautiful sand beach at Chesapeake Bay Beach. This is calmer than the "ocean side" around the corner on Virginia Beach. The bathhouse was rustic and could be cleaner. We had water and electric hook-up and had no complaints about either. The campground is located in the First Landing State Park which includes numerous trails. We biked the Cape Henry Trail and enjoyed the opportunity to experience the cypress swamp. The picnic table was pretty "seasoned" and we didn't use it. We bought wood at the office at the Visitor Center when we checked in. It wouldn't burn without our own kindling. But we did enjoy a fire one night. All in all we found it a good spot to camp, despite being a little rough around the edges. One thing that is worth mentioning is that the noise from the nearby military base is almost non-stop.

My planned 2 night stay at VA Beach coincided with Hurricane Michael's pass over the area. I experienced high wind gusts and lots of rain overnight my first night. The rangers were very good about warning campers about the risks and the options. The park even offered a full refund if I chose to cancel. My site felt safe to me. I was blocked pretty well. And though I did find it tough to sleep throughout the night I was glad to see there was no damage to my rig. And the site itself looked fine. Anyway, what I liked best about my site was it was a short walk to the beach. I could hear the waves crashing from my site. My Verizon signal was a good one. The sites are not too close together and have a little bit of privacy. Bonus: my site was level. I knew I had electric at the site but was surprised to see water was also available. (I don't know how I missed that.) The bathhouse was clean. There are private showers available though I did not check them out. One last thing: Google GPS got me lost getting there however Waze did the trick. I mentioned this at check-in and the Rangers said they had heard complaints from others in the past about Google.

This is a beautiful campground with quick access to the beach. Site 178 was pretty tight to back our rig in and we would not pick this site again. However, there are plenty of better sites we would choose from next time. The sites have a lot of privacy due to the trees and vegetation that separate them. We did not use the bath houses so I am not sure they looked. The dump station was one of the nicest we have seen thus far. Very clean with easy access. My favorite part of the campground was the state park across the road. It had great hiking trails and very helpful staff. There are also a lot of great restaurants near the campground.

We planned to stay for 2 nights, but ended up staying 5 - having to move twice due to tight availability. There are two basic types of sites - with water / electricity book up and without. Big RVs may have very hard time fitting in unless you know and reserve the right site, but smaller RVs will have little issue. Sites are very uneven though.

Beach access is directly from the park and it is the best feature here. The are also plenty of trails, sightseeing and great seafood restaurants to visit. The city is close by, but traffic can be bad, especially at the bridges and tunnels. Park is located right next to the active military base and you will wake up every morning at 8am to a national anthem played by loud speakers on the base.

Park is very pet friendly and pets are welcome at the beach and trails too.

We had great time here and will definitely come back for longer stay to better explore nearby Norfolk and Williamsburg.