If you were planning to book one of First Landing’s 20 rental cabins for a 2026 trip, know this upfront: they’re closed for renovation through Halloween 2026. That’s a significant chunk of the year for anyone who’d counted on cabin lodging specifically. The good news is that everything else that makes this park a genuine standout, nearly 3,000 acres wedged between the Chesapeake Bay and the resort strip of Virginia Beach, remains fully open, including 20 miles of trails winding through cypress swamp, maritime forest, and dunes that feel a world away from the boardwalk a few miles south.
Here’s what’s currently open, what’s closed, and how the park’s fee and entrance system actually works.
First Landing State Park Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Location | 2500 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 |
| Park size | 2,888 acres |
| Park hours | 7 a.m. to dusk daily; overnight areas accessible 24 hours |
| Vehicle entrance fee | $7 most of the year; $10 peak weekends and select holidays |
| Beach frontage | About 1.5 miles along the Chesapeake Bay |
| Trail mileage | 20 miles across cypress swamp, salt marsh, maritime forest, and dunes |
| Camping | 200+ campsites, $30–$46/night plus tax (Virginia residents discounted) |
| 2026 cabin status | Closed for renovation through Halloween 2026 |
| Bike-permitted trails | Cape Henry Trail and Live Oak Trail only |
| Lifeguards | None, anywhere in the park — swim at your own risk |
The Cabin Closure: What It Means for Your Trip
This is the single most important update for anyone planning a 2026 overnight stay. All 20 of the park’s rental cabins, located across Shore Drive from the main campground, are undergoing renovation and will remain closed through Halloween 2026. If cabin lodging was central to your trip planning, you’ll need an alternative: the campground itself remains fully operational with 200-plus sites, and yurts continue to be available for booking as a different style of overnight accommodation.
Given how popular First Landing is as a Virginia Beach-area camping destination, book your campsite or yurt well in advance rather than assuming last-minute availability, particularly for summer weekends when demand typically peaks regardless of the cabin situation.
Understanding the Two Entrances
First Landing effectively splits into two distinct access points serving very different parts of the park, and knowing which one you need saves real driving time. The main entrance, off Shore Drive at US Route 60, provides access to the Chesapeake Bay beach, campgrounds, the Chesapeake Bay Center, and the park office. On the opposite side of Route 60, a secondary entrance serves the Trail Center, picnic areas, and most of the hiking trailheads.
A separate entrance at 64th Street, on the south end of the park off Atlantic Avenue, provides access to an entirely different area: the Narrows boat launch and beach, plus additional hiking and bike trail access. If your visit centers on paddling or boat launching specifically, this southern entrance is where you want to head rather than the main Shore Drive entrance.
Swimming: No Lifeguards Anywhere in the Park
This is worth understanding clearly before you plan a beach day here. Unlike some state parks with seasonal lifeguard coverage, First Landing has no lifeguards at all, not at the Chesapeake Bay beach, and not at the Narrows. Swimming throughout the park is entirely at your own risk, and swimming specifically isn’t permitted at the boat launch area at all. If supervised swimming is a requirement for your group, particularly with young or inexperienced swimmers, plan accordingly and keep a closer eye on conditions than you might at a lifeguard-staffed beach.
The Chesapeake Bay side offers a fairly typical beachfront experience, while the Narrows, on the park’s south side, functions more as a quieter, locally favored spot for a different kind of water access.
Trails: Where You Can and Can’t Bike
With 20 miles of trails crossing cypress swamp, salt marsh, maritime forest, and freshwater wetlands, First Landing offers genuinely varied terrain within a relatively compact footprint. But bicycles are restricted to just two specific routes: the Cape Henry Trail and the Live Oak Trail. If you’re planning a biking day, confirm your route falls within these two trails before setting out, since the rest of the park’s trail network is hiking-only.
Some trails lack extensive signage in certain stretches, so downloading the park’s trail map ahead of time, or checking in with a ranger at the Trail Center, helps avoid getting turned around, particularly given how the trail system winds through multiple distinct habitat types that can look similar at a glance.
Fishing and Boat Launch Access
Anglers need a valid Virginia saltwater fishing license to fish anywhere in the park, a requirement regardless of residency status. The boat launch at the 64th Street/Narrows entrance carries a $4 use fee, though this is waived for registered overnight park visitors, a detail worth knowing if you’re camping and also planning to launch a boat during your stay.
What’s New for 2026: Visitor Center Exhibits
On a more positive note, First Landing’s visitor center is set to open new exhibits in spring 2026, focused on exploring the park’s history in greater depth than previous displays offered. If you’re visiting after this rollout, it’s worth building in time at the visitor center beyond a quick restroom stop, particularly for anyone interested in the park’s cultural and natural history alongside its recreational offerings.
Seasonal Transportation: The Virginia Beach Wave
From late May through September, the Virginia Beach Wave bus service connects First Landing to the resort areas of Virginia Beach, offering a car-free way to combine a day at the park with time on the main tourist strip. If you’re staying at a Virginia Beach hotel without a rental car, this seasonal bus service is worth checking into rather than assuming you need your own vehicle to reach the park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can I still book a cabin at First Landing for a 2026 visit?
No. All 20 cabins are closed for renovation through Halloween 2026. Campsites and yurts remain available as alternatives if overnight lodging is part of your plan.
Q2. Is it safe to swim without lifeguards present?
Swimming is entirely at your own risk throughout the park, since there are no lifeguards at either the Chesapeake Bay beach or the Narrows. Supervise children and less experienced swimmers closely, and know that swimming isn’t permitted at all near the boat launch area.
Q3. Which entrance should I use if I want to launch a boat?
Use the 64th Street entrance on the park’s south end, which provides direct access to the Narrows boat launch. The main Shore Drive entrance serves the Chesapeake Bay beach, campground, and Chesapeake Bay Center instead.
Q4. Can I ride my bike on all 20 miles of trails?
No. Bicycles are only permitted on the Cape Henry Trail and Live Oak Trail. The rest of the park’s trail network is reserved for hiking only, so confirm your planned route falls within these two trails before setting out with a bike.
