Want a Virginia Beach day out with sandy shores, shady forests, wildlife-filled wetlands, and more than 400 years of stories packed into one park?
First Landing State Park has all of that packed into 2,888 acres, with plenty of trails and calm waterways for paddling, fishing, and spotting turtles, ospreys, and deer.
With so much to explore, this itinerary helps you fit some of the park’s best experiences into a single day without spending hours figuring out where to go next.
Keep reading to see exactly how to plan an awesome day from start to finish.
1. First Landing Beach
First Landing Beach sits along the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia Beach, offering a wide sandy shore and calm, shallow water that is great for swimming.
You can reach the beach by following a wooden boardwalk that winds through the sandy dunes and coastal plants before opening onto the shoreline.
From there, settle onto the sand to work on your tan, wander the shoreline looking for shells and ghost crabs, or watch container ships slowly pass across the bay.
If you’re lucky, you might even spot a dolphin or two swimming offshore, making this the perfect place to kick off your day at the park.
2. First Landing State Park Visitor Center
After some time at the beach, take a five-minute walk to the First Landing State Park Visitor Center at 2500 Shore Drive to learn more about the area.
Inside, you’ll find historical exhibits following the English colonists who landed nearby in 1607 before continuing up the James River to establish Jamestown.
While you’re here, you can also ask the rangers about current trail conditions and which wildlife to watch for, including ospreys, turtles, herons, and foxes.
It’s a helpful stop before exploring further, especially if you need help picking a route through forests, wetlands, dunes, or cypress swamps.
3. Bald Cypress Trail
With your trail map sorted, head to the Bald Cypress Trail next, a 1.8-mile loop that starts at First Landing’s trail center and brings you straight into its swampy side.
The mostly flat path winds past tall bald cypress trees, hanging Spanish moss, and wooden boardwalk sections that keep your shoes above the soggiest ground.
Along the way, keep an eye on the water for turtles, frogs, and birds hiding around the cypress knees poking above the surface.
You can complete the entire loop in about an hour, depending on how often you stop for photos, making it an easy hike before tackling longer trails later in the day.
4. Cape Henry Trail
Next up, stretch your legs on Cape Henry Trail, the park’s longest route, which runs 6.1 miles between the picnic area and the 64th Street Narrows.
This wide, flat path winds through maritime forest, occasional swamps, and sandy sections, with several connecting trails if you want to take a different direction.
Hikers, joggers, and cyclists share this stretch, so listen for approaching bikes while watching for deer, turtles, herons, and other wildlife along the way.
And since you still have one more stop ahead, keep an easy pace and soak up the scenery around you without using up all your energy too soon.
5. The Narrows
Once you’ve covered some ground on Cape Henry Trail, finish your day at The Narrows, a peaceful channel connecting Broad Bay and Linkhorn Bay.
This spot sits near the 64th Street entrance, where you can launch a kayak, paddleboard, or canoe to explore the surrounding waterways.
The shallow shoreline is also a fun spot for wading, fishing, and watching egrets, herons, and ospreys hunt around the marshes.
As the afternoon winds down, find a spot by the water to relax and watch the sun sink lower for an easygoing end to your First Landing State Park day.
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