Is it too early for a beach review? Nah, we need something to look forward to this Winter. Sandbridge Beach is a favorite and it's been probably two years since the last time I visited. Parking is plentiful and free. The City of Virginia Beach operates the beach and its guards. The beach is clean and wide. It's not as busy as the VBOF either. For surfing it's better than others with currents. Also a plus is its proximity to Back Bay Park. A drawback is that they do not have an infrastructure built up, but many consider this a plus since it's so natural. You can find a food truck on the road in for tacos named Bandino's. Come out and enjoy with warmer weather in the Spring. It's a family friendly beach, so bring the family and dog too! There are so many reasons why Virginia Beach residents feel as though they live in paradise. Our beaches point blank rock and few would dispute that the city knows how to take excellent care of them for our tourist and locals alike. read more

Sandbridge Beach - Beaches Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

I almost don't want to review this beach so it stays under the radar. As a local, this is the best spot to enjoy the beach. Its a little more crowded than it was several years ago & has been built up a little, but it still holds onto its low key beach vibes and 'quieter' more chill environment compared to the ocean front. I greatly enjoy how easy it is to park & walk to the beach. Absolutely love doing shore clean ups here. read more

See all

Love Little Island park for the kids. Conveniently close to the restroom. They have a fishing pier that leads towards the beach and lifeguards which makes me feel comfortable with the kids in the water. Shelters available to reserve and parking all day is $4 at the machine instead of the apps. read more

Sandbridge Beach - Pier - Beaches Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

See all

Beautiful and peaceful. Parking was cheap and close to the water. There's also a market place that has everything you probably forgot at home read more

See all

I Love Sandbridge. The whole area is a lot slower paced than the ocean front. This is our beach we come to all the time. We do not park right there at the stop light we tend to go down a ways. I usually park on the street and walk. There are quite a few public access points to the beach. This is a residential area so please be respectful. The beach is beautiful and definitely not as crowded as VA Beach ocean front. This beach is Residential and People who rent a house for the week. We have always loved it. You have options. You can pay to park at the light or down at Little Island Parking. At Little Island Parking they have picnic tables and cooking areas. Such a great area to take the family all day. Take plenty of sunscreen and coolers. They have a couple of shops as soon as you get to the light at Sandbridge. Those are always fun to pop into for this and that. OOHH Yeah and don't forget to get some ice cream. The ice cream shops are a hit with my niece. There is also a convenient store. So if you forget something you can pop in there and pick it up. read more

See all

We were at Koa at decided to find a beach that wasn't as busy as the oceanfront. So we went to Sandbridge. It was after 5pm so we found parking easily. The beach was literally right across the street!! Yess!! When we got there the weather was beautiful. We found our spot and got comfortable. Thete was a wedding going on that we watched. It was enough space where it didn't feel over crowded. The only problem i had was the beach has tons of shells and rocks on the shoreline. So walking in the water was hurting my feet. But that's nature, so oh well. Lol. The kids and i splashed around and enjoyed the little waves coming in. We also met friendly people. I really love this beach. Its a hidden gem. I think i prefer this beach compared to other overcrowded beaches in the area. Its about a 15 minute ride from Red Mill on a country road. Its a very relaxing and peaceful area. There's also a few restaurants back there. I will definitely be back. Vacation 2022 was fun!!! read more

Sandbridge Beach - Beautiful beach - Beaches Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

ATMOSPHERE Sandbridge Beach is predominantly a residential beach for neighboring houses-- mainly rental/beach houses or condos. It's a relatively quiet neighborhood, so there's typically no loud music blasting at the houses or beachside. This beach is not considered touristy as well, given that there are no shops nearby and that it is by a residential neighborhood. Most tourists tend to stray towards the board walk a few miles north. ACTIVITIES Most people at this beach sunbathe, play volleyball/whiffle ball/etc., wade in the waters, or surf. PARKING I went to this beach using street parking at a nearby alley just steps away from the beach. TIP When a red flag is raised, it means that the waves are considered dangerous, so make sure to keep an extra eye on your kids and be wary of yourself as well. read more

Sandbridge Beach - Beach - Beaches Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

I was here at Sandbridge Beach in Virginia Beach and was thoroughly impressed with the amenities available. The beach itself is beautiful, with soft sand and clear water. I took several pictures of the water and it's beauty. My children were overjoyed with the waves. On a good day, we would spot out several dolphins swimming in the ocean. What really stood out to me was the availability of showers and nearby restrooms. After a long day in the sun, it was great to be able to rinse off in the outdoor showers before heading back to my car. And when nature called, there were plenty of clean and well-maintained restrooms nearby. Sandbridge Beach is good for anyone looking for a relaxing and enjoyable beach experience. The availability of showers and restrooms made my visit even more comfortable and convenient. This place isn't so much a tourist trap and a great spot away from all the hustle and bustle. read more

See all

Sandbridge Beach is less tourist looking and more for those who like a quieter beach. It's a long stretch of beach that is worth driving through the Pungo area with lots of trees. Lots of families carry their surfboards for Beach fun. read more

Sandbridge Beach - Warning sign - Beaches Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

See all

This is a wonderful beach area located right past Dam Neck area. It comes with ample parking and clean sandy beach. It's away from the boardwalk side of town, but it has nice facilities to clean up, use the bathroom, and get food if needed. Depending on the time of the year, parking is entirely free. The entrance sits right near the parking lot and it's hard to miss it. I personally enjoy visiting mid-March and all of April. The weather tends to be very temperate and not too many people out there. Some days, there's just nobody there and that too feels nice compared to the peak season. read more

Sandbridge Beach - We loved the clean beach - Beaches Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Sandbridge is my beach. My local spot. Where I go when someone wants to see the ocean. It's not very touristy, instead it's a long stretch of beach with beach houses backing up to it, minimal stores and just miles and miles of beach to walk or swim or surf. You can follow Sandpiper Rd all the way to the Back Bay National Wildlife Rufuge and the Sandbridge Little Island Fishing Pier at Little Island Park. They host some surf competitions here and there are some beach volleyball courts you can put nets on. There is parking in a city lot that is pay during the day but free after 5 or so. If you come at sunset like me, it's never a problem. They also have some restrooms open during the day and some outhouses on occasion. Beautiful beach area and nice for taking a break. It can get super crowded at peak times on nice days and holidays. And parking is an issue then. So be warned. People tend to overflow park in the residential areas lining the narrow streets during summer and it is not appreciated by the locals who live here year-round. There are about five little shops right at this spot - a market, a non-chain ice cream shop, a Ben and Jerry's, a gift shop or two. It's not the VAB oceanfront. It's all about the ocean here. There are condos on one side and tons of large beach houses for rent on the streets up and down. Down the street headed away from the water on Sandbridge Rd you'll find the rental property main office with kayaks out front for rent and a small taco truck called Bandito's. Further down Sandbridge rd you'll find a few small farmers markets and a few local gems like Lago Mar Pizza, Pungo Pizza, Back Bay Gourmet (lunch, brunch and dinner), The Bee and the Biscuit (brunch spot), Sawdust Road (coffee shop) and a Harris Teeter and Food Lion for essentials. If you're really feeling adventurous put in Blue Pete's - loved by locals with sometimes live music and great food. Owned by two local brothers - this is a gem on the water with great fresh seafood. Very family and kid-friendly. This is a beautiful area but if you are from out of town - please be careful on the windy, narrow Sandbridge road leading to and from the beach and the rentals - accidents happen on it all the time. read more

See all

This has officially become my families summer vacation destination. It's The beach without all of the tourists. It's about 30 mins from that area. If you enjoy a simple beach vacation that's clean, safe and relaxing this is it. And the Mexican restaurant there is probably my favorite Mexican restaurant by far. read more

Sadly, the beach is quite dirty. If you need a cigarette and you didn't bring your pack, you can find plenty of them lying on the sand at sandbridge Beach. The number of cigarette butts on the beach it's actually pretty shocking. read more

Sandbridge Beach - Sandbridge Beach cigarettes - Beaches Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Very fun beach! The sand and water are both clean and not congested. The area itself is beautiful and reminiscent of the outer banks. Ample sand space for lounging and a good amount of entrances. I will say, there could be more parking. I got licking with street parking but it is very congested when trying to park anywhere. read more

Sandbridge Beach - Beaches Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

See all

Best little beach. More family oriented with bo boardwalk. There is a public restroom and out door showers. Parking is $4 for the day. We love this spot when we are in town. read more

Oh what a BEAUTIFUL escape from this crazy world! A very beautiful clean beach. We personally love this one since it's almost all just homes and miles of quite beach areas. Once we hit the light we make a right and drive all the way down to past the colorful condos. During off season parking is free. Will more than 500 spots I believe. We did notice they have placed new parking meters along the fences. They were closed at the moment. I'm sure next summer they will be in serves. In this area you will find two buildings for changing and rest rooms. With outdoor rinse off area. Also a kids park, a fishing pier, and covered shelters with tables. Closer over to the left of the whole parking lot area is the pier which is wheelchair friendly. Including a path in the sand! On September 20th the water was nice with little bit of waves and it was warm! And not crowded at all. It's a great beach for a nice quite walk or beach day. Pet friendly during off seasons as well. read more

See all

Sandbridge Beach is a wonderful family- and pet-friendly option! Perhaps you are looking for a peaceful beach vacation near the diverse offerings of the City of VA Beach, the outdoor offerings of local wildlife refuges and state parks, and/or the resort area of the Oceanfront. Or maybe you are a local looking for a beach day without the crowds but with facilities. Sandbridge is a beautiful fit for all of this. -- What it Is -- Sandbridge Beach is a 4.5 mile stretch of public beach along beachfront residential properties and public park areas. It's south of the Oceanfront & Croatan Beaches. Sandbridge actually starts out the north-most stretch of Outer Banks. It has clean sand and clear water with moderate waves. It is more of a Sandbridge residents/vacationers and locals only beach, so it is mostly uncrowded. It's clean and well maintained. There are limited small shells. -- Pets -- Sandbridge is pet friendly: from Memorial Day (in May) through Labor Day (in September), leashed pets (or those under the control of their owner) are allowed on the beach before 10am and after 6pm. Outside of that season, there are no time limits. There is plenty of space on the sand and to the shoreline to walk them. -- Restrictions -- No surfing is allowed between 11am - 4pm Fri through Sun. All of the beach is public; you must remove any beach gear nightly. -- Amenities -- There are seasonal amenities open from Memorial Day weekend (May) through Labor Day (Sept) at the municipal lot bathhouse (outdoor showers, restrooms, changing areas). There are trashcans on the beach located near the access points. -- Lifeguards -- Lifeguard stations operate mid-May through mid-Sept with lifeguards on duty 7 days a week from 9:30am to 6pm near the municipal lot access points. They also use a cross between an ATV/golf cart to patrol beyond there. -- House Rentals -- Weekly rentals are Sat to Sat from the week of Memorial Day through the week of Labor Day. Shorter stays of 3 nights are available the rest of the year. Not all oceanfront properties ("row one") have private beach access. Most of the homes are larger; there are limited options for small rentals with 2-3 bedrooms or bungalow-style options. We had a good experience with Siebert Realty. -- Rental Restrictions -- Rentals are for family groups only. Rental on-site parking is limited to the lease-holder and his/her over-night occupants (not to exceed the advertised property occupancy). Virginia Beach Noise Ordinances: for short-term rentals, there is no amplified sound after 10pm and before 10am. Deck capacity shall at not exceed that of the stated maximum property occupancy. -- What it's Not -- Sandbridge is not a tourist destination. There are no hotels, and it is not directly near many restaurants/bars/stores. It's a 15 minute drive to the closest major restaurant/shopping area (Redmill) and a 25 minute drive to the VA Beach Oceanfront (resort area). It is by a quiet neighborhood primarily made up of vacation homes and short term rentals, as well as two condos. Note that while it's much more secluded than the Oceanfront area (particularly if you're at a beachfront rental!), the public access areas get a lot of visitors in the summer. -- Drawbacks -- It's not entirely peaceful as there can be moderate to significant noise pollution: nearby is a Naval Air Base well-known for its jet noise. (At my wedding at Sandbridge, guests couldn't hear part of my vows because of a jet.) However, it's not that frequent of an occurrence and when it does happen, it's short-lived! -- The Area -- To the west is the Currituck Sound and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. Sandfiddler Road runs along parallel to the Atlantic Ocean side of Sandbridge Beach. There are beach access paths on most blocks, with public beach access walks at the 2500 & 3700 blocks. Houses are primarily vacation homes and/or rentals; the neighborhood is not fully occupied year-round. -- Municipal Parking -- The Sandbridge Municipal Parking Lot (136 spaces) is located at 2524 Sandpiper Rd, VA Beach, VA 23456. Fees are seasonal from Memorial Day weekend (May) through Labor Day (Sept): $5/car/day ($3 VB residents) from 8am-8pm; free before/after those hours. After Labor Day until Memorial Day weekend: Free. Gate closes at 9pm. Reentries are permitted. -- On-Street Parking -- Parking along Sandfiddler and Sandpiper Road is not allowed except from the 3200 block to the 3600 block of Sandfiddler Road. Violations are enforced with tickets or towing. Limited on-street parking is permitted on some side streets, but it's nice to park in the municipal lot near the beach and have access to the seasonal facilities. -- Takeaway -- Sandbridge is ideal for a quiet beach setting. Sandbridge is my preferred local beach for an all-day trip from Memorial Day through Labor Day when I want that OBX beach-destination experience. read more

See all

Review #189 - 2020 We didn't actually plan on stopping at the beach because we were busy checking out a few nearby properties; but since we were already in the area & only a few steps away, we decided what the heck! My 4-year old daughter loves the beach so she instantly fell in love with the condo across the street, which I also thought was beautiful; but I don't even know how often we'd come out this way to make use of it. We showed up at around 4:30 PM on Wednesday, October 21st, and there was actually more than enough people on the beach considering it was the middle of the workweek. Not sure if they were locals or tourists. The beach itself, is absolutely beautiful, but I hate that there's so many broken shells on the sand that it made it really hard to walk on our bare feet. I could imagine my daughter wanting to come back everyday if we actually stayed nearby. Unfortunately, it's not very kid friendly since the waves are too high, but I didn't mind holding her hands & walking with her every time she wanted to get some water for her sandcastle. Now, the tough question is, "to buy or not to buy!" read more

See all

A somewhat hidden gem that doesn't disappoint if you like big, uncrowded, relaxing beach adventures! If you're looking for putt putt, carnival rides and a party atmosphere...this isn't it! This is a semi private (approx) 4 mile strip of beach that is surrounded by wildlife refuges! No hotels-just rental houses and condos. There are a handful of places to eat or grab a snack. Best beach in Virginia!!! read more

. Quiet, and family friendly. I don't believe there's a board walk or hotels. This area is very reminiscent of OBX, just quieter with less traffic. From what I can gather this Primarily a beach community. There's one main store, no big box stores or supermarket chains within walking distance. We've stayed at a variety of properties over the years. In my opinion the best times to visit are before Memorial Day, and after Labor Day. Rental info: https://www.sandbridge.com/sandbridge-vacation-rentals#q=*%3A* read more

This year was our first visit to Sandbridge Beach. It is a very quaint, mostly residential island. The beaches are definitely not crowded, very clean, very soft sand. Fresh local produce is available locally. Our rental was on the canal with a dock, large green yard, and very nice pool. We were very happy with the location. I would caution you this is definitely not a place to go if you are all about shopping and activities. Only 3 local restaurants ( not the best), a small market, couple of small souvenoir shops. You can drive up into Virginia Beach, about 6 miles away if you want more things to do. read more

Way too much stones. I hurt your feet to walk on. Suggested to bring sandals. Has places you can get food from and use restrooms nearby.

My family and I have been going to Sandbridge for the last 42 consecutive years and there is yet a vacation we didn't absolutely love!!! It is truly a decompression from the world and far enough from VA Beach not to deal with commercialization yet close enuff for a day trip! read more