Surf Travel Guide: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Beach does not hide its surf scene behind a long drive or a boat ride. You park near the Boardwalk, walk past the hotels, and paddle out at a jetty that has been the heart of East Coast surfing since the 1960s. It is crowded, it is cold half the year, and it is still one of the most searched surf towns on the Atlantic seaboard for a reason.

Why Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach built its reputation on the stretch of sand around First Street Jetty and Rudee Inlet, where a man made jetty traps sand into rights and lefts that hold up even when the rest of the coast is flat.

→ The jetty itself is the draw. It focuses swell energy into a more defined peak than the open beach breaks nearby, which is why this short stretch of sand has hosted East Coast surfing contests for decades.

↪ Surfers chasing hurricane swells in late summer and fall treat Virginia Beach as a proving ground, since storms spinning offshore in the Atlantic can turn the whole oceanfront into a genuine event, even as lifeguards post rip current warnings the same week.

Getting There and Getting Around

• Fly into Norfolk International Airport (ORF), about 20 minutes from the oceanfront.
• → From the airport, take I-64 East then I-264 East toward the Oceanfront, following signs to Atlantic Avenue and 19th Street.
• ↪ If you are driving down from the north, cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, then pick up Shore Drive and Atlantic Avenue south.
• Three municipal parking garages near the Boardwalk run 24 hours a day, and seasonal surface lots and meters operate April through October. Rates were being restructured for 2026 at the time of writing, so check the VB Go app or call Parking Management before you go.

When to Surf

Surf season: Summer, especially July, is the most consistent stretch, with clean, surfable waves roughly a third of the time. Winter brings bigger, more powerful swell from nor'easters and distant storms, but the water turns cold and the crowd thins out.

Swell and wind: South to southeast swell lines up best here, and offshore wind blows from the west. Hurricane season, August through October, can send distant storm swell marching up the coast, producing some of the best waves of the year even as red flag warnings go up for swimmers.

Water and crowds: Water temperature runs from the mid 50s Fahrenheit in winter up to near 80 in July and August, so plan on a full wetsuit from late fall through spring. First Street Jetty is crowded on weekdays and packed on weekends, with a protective local lineup, so newer surfers should expect to earn their waves.

Safety notes: Rip currents are a regular concern, and the city posts red flag warnings during hurricane swell events and other high risk days. Watch for rocks around the jetty structure itself. The city also enforces seasonal surfing restrictions, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, banning surfing in the main resort strip between 10am and 4pm on weekdays and 10am and 6pm on weekends outside designated surfing areas near Rudee Inlet and between 4th and 5th Streets. Rules are posted at every beach access point, so check current signage before you paddle out.

Surf Breaks

• First Street Jetty:
  Wave: A sandbar and jetty break with rights and lefts, holding a defined peak even when the open beach is mushy, with care needed around the jetty rocks.
  Level: All levels on smaller days, more experienced surfers on bigger swells.
• Rudee Inlet:
  Wave: One of the city's designated surfing areas, a inlet break that works alongside First Street.
  Level: Intermediate, due to boat traffic and current near the inlet mouth.
• North End beach breaks:
  Wave: Open beach peaks further up the coast, less consistent but far less crowded than the jetty.
  Level: Beginner to intermediate on smaller days.

Photographing Virginia Beach (Surf Snaps)

A packed lineup at First Street Jetty on a good July morning is exactly the kind of session worth capturing, and exactly the kind that is easy to lose track of once everyone paddles in. If you shoot the oceanfront regularly, upload your gallery to Surf Snaps, where photos start at $8, there is no subscription, listing fee or storage bill, and you keep copyright, with a 10% revenue share only when a photo actually sells. If you were out at the jetty this morning, search Surf Snaps by sport, place and date to find your session.

Where to Stay

→ Lodging clusters along the oceanfront strip, from a hostel in the quieter North End to full service resorts right on the Boardwalk.

Budget ($)

Angie's Guest Cottage (HI Virginia Beach Hostel), North End
A long running hostel a couple of blocks from the beach, popular with surfers and backpackers. Approx. $95/night, seen October 2026, per Priceline.

Mid-Range ($$)

Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront
A straightforward oceanfront hotel within walking distance of the jetty. Approx. $81/night, seen October 2026, per Kayak.

Beachfront/Luxury ($$$)

Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront
A full service beachfront hotel on the Boardwalk, with rates that climb sharply on peak weekends. Approx. $115/night for a standard room, seen October 2026, per Kayak.

Food and Drink

→ Waterman's Surfside Grille, right on Atlantic Avenue near the jetty, serves a Crab Ripper, a fried crab cake with mozzarella and bacon, for $17.99, or a cup of she-crab soup for $8.25. Rockafeller's, by Rudee Inlet, is known for its Hot Crab Dip at $19.99. Pelon's Baja Grill, a surf themed Mexican spot on the oceanfront strip, sells two fish tacos for $9.50 or a seafood filled Surfs Up Burrito for $14.50, all current menu prices seen October 2026.

FAQ: Surfing at Virginia Beach

Is Virginia Beach good for beginner surfers?

Smaller days at First Street Jetty and the North End beach breaks work for newer surfers, though the main jetty lineup is crowded and can feel territorial, so beginners often do better taking a lesson away from peak hours.

What is the best time of year to surf Virginia Beach?

Summer, especially July, gives the most consistent surfable days, while hurricane season from August through October can bring the biggest swells of the year, alongside rip current warnings.

Are there surfing rules at Virginia Beach?

Yes. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, surfing is restricted in the main resort area during midday hours outside designated surfing zones near Rudee Inlet and 4th to 5th Streets. Signs are posted at beach access points, so check current rules on arrival.

How cold is the water at Virginia Beach?

It ranges from the mid 50s Fahrenheit in winter to near 80 in July and August, so most surfers wear a full wetsuit from late fall through spring and switch to boardshorts or a rash vest in summer.

Where can I find photos of my Virginia Beach session?

Search Surf Snaps by sport, place and date on the explore page to find galleries from your session at the jetty.