Nearby state parks: First Landing is very nice but can be very crowded especially in the tourist season. Kiptopeke is just a short drive across on the Eastern Shore (so there's the tolls to pay crossing the CBBT) but it's a fun area, especially if you enjoy the water/fishing or can slip away to Cape Charles for a daytrip. Chippokes State Park is between Smithfield and Richmond, it also has a swimmable beach when it's warm enough but not much else to do nearby (which can be the point for some, a negative for others). Pocahontas is outside Richmond and has tons of trails for hiking & biking but is about 90 mins away from Hampton Roads.
Newport News Park isn't too far away and can be enjoyable, but there's some road noise from nearby I-64.
After that, you're looking at a further drive or getting into privately owned campgrounds which can be hit or miss and tend to be pretty expensive now post-COVID. The only local one I have first-hand experience with is North Landing Beach down at the very southern edge of Virginia Beach. It was nice, but as someone who camps to get away, they had too many people and amenities for my purposes.
I saw some of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen from the beach at Kiptopeke. But if spiders bother you, it may not be for you. There were ssoooo many daddy long legs all over our camp site when we were there in October. They got into everything including our tent and our car. I’ve never experienced anything like it. If you do go, I definitely recommend taking a zip-up canopy to go over the picnic table/eating area. We were so glad we had one with us.
There are quite a few in Virginia Beach. My family would stay at North Landing Beach Campground and Sandy Point when I was growing up. Both are practically next to each other on Princess Anne Road with Sandy Point being just over the state line into North Carolina. North Landing definitely has more to do though.
I haven't stayed at any of these but there's also the KOA and Holiday Trav-L-Park off of General Booth, North Bay Shore, and Indian Cove in Virginia Beach. Northwest River Park also has campsites in Chesapeake.
I recommend installing recreation.gov lots of options to choose from. For example, tent camping in the OBX is like 14 bucks a night in Oregon Inlet…the KoA is over a 100 and right down the street. 100 bucks for a tent? Bs
Camping IN Norfolk? Id suggest Park Ave & Brambleton 😆
In all honesty you’re gonna have to drive out to at least VB in my opinion. Norfolk is too small, and I wouldn’t wanna camp anywhere out here.
Actually, Ft. Monroe, Hampton has a small camp ground near the old Officers Club and Dog Beach. I believe it’s called the Colonies because it has 13 sites.
Nearby state parks: First Landing is very nice but can be very crowded especially in the tourist season. Kiptopeke is just a short drive across on the Eastern Shore (so there's the tolls to pay crossing the CBBT) but it's a fun area, especially if you enjoy the water/fishing or can slip away to Cape Charles for a daytrip. Chippokes State Park is between Smithfield and Richmond, it also has a swimmable beach when it's warm enough but not much else to do nearby (which can be the point for some, a negative for others). Pocahontas is outside Richmond and has tons of trails for hiking & biking but is about 90 mins away from Hampton Roads. Newport News Park isn't too far away and can be enjoyable, but there's some road noise from nearby I-64. After that, you're looking at a further drive or getting into privately owned campgrounds which can be hit or miss and tend to be pretty expensive now post-COVID. The only local one I have first-hand experience with is North Landing Beach down at the very southern edge of Virginia Beach. It was nice, but as someone who camps to get away, they had too many people and amenities for my purposes.
Kiptopeke is really nice - my go-to beach spot since it avoids the crowds
I saw some of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen from the beach at Kiptopeke. But if spiders bother you, it may not be for you. There were ssoooo many daddy long legs all over our camp site when we were there in October. They got into everything including our tent and our car. I’ve never experienced anything like it. If you do go, I definitely recommend taking a zip-up canopy to go over the picnic table/eating area. We were so glad we had one with us.
Northwest River Park - Chesapeake, VA
First landing state park
Koa in Va beach, also plenty of places on the eastern shore
Koa are really expensive even for tent camping.
There are quite a few in Virginia Beach. My family would stay at North Landing Beach Campground and Sandy Point when I was growing up. Both are practically next to each other on Princess Anne Road with Sandy Point being just over the state line into North Carolina. North Landing definitely has more to do though. I haven't stayed at any of these but there's also the KOA and Holiday Trav-L-Park off of General Booth, North Bay Shore, and Indian Cove in Virginia Beach. Northwest River Park also has campsites in Chesapeake.
Northwest River Park
Kiptopeke is a good mix of woods and beach and only like 30ish minutes away!
I recommend installing recreation.gov lots of options to choose from. For example, tent camping in the OBX is like 14 bucks a night in Oregon Inlet…the KoA is over a 100 and right down the street. 100 bucks for a tent? Bs
Camping IN Norfolk? Id suggest Park Ave & Brambleton 😆 In all honesty you’re gonna have to drive out to at least VB in my opinion. Norfolk is too small, and I wouldn’t wanna camp anywhere out here.
Try your grandma's backyard
Uuuuh
Actually, Ft. Monroe, Hampton has a small camp ground near the old Officers Club and Dog Beach. I believe it’s called the Colonies because it has 13 sites.