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First Landing State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 7,336 Google reviews · Running trail in Virginia Beach, Virginia · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- 20 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from First Landing State Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Cape Henry beachfront park & historic site with marshes, maritime forest, hiking & canoe trails.
What runners say about First Landing State Park
“The bathhouse was a short walk from our campsite and it was always clean.”
“The scenery was beautiful, peaceful, and full of wildlife, making it easy to forget you were just minutes from the Virginia Beach oceanfront.”
“It was a place for quiet reflection, exercise, adventure, and moments when I simply needed to get away from the noise of everyday life.”
This is the best park in Hampton Roads. Miles of well maintained hiking trails that cover the entire park. There is also beach access on the opposite side of the park. There is a $10 fee on weekends on busy tourist months, but only $7 any other time.
We recently spent a few days camping at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, and it reminded me why this is still one of my favorite campgrounds anywhere in Virginia. As much as I love camping deep in the mountains or out in the middle of nowhere, there’s something special about First Landing.
Took a chance & booked site 137 for Spring Break weekend and First Landing State Park did not disappoint! Our site had electricity/water hookup and our popup camper fit on the site well. The bathhouse was a short walk from our campsite and it was always clean.
Great place and area to observe nature. Hiked the Bald Cypress, Fox Run and Long Creek trails. Impressed to see so much Spanish Moss as far north as Virginia. Long Creek trail was the most scenic and where most of the Spanish Moss is. Also able to see swamps, loblolly pine, lizards and small bodies of water.
Trail conditions & character
“The scenery was beautiful, peaceful, and full of wildlife, making it easy to forget you were just minutes from the Virginia Beach oceanfront.”
“The scenery was beautiful, peaceful, and full of wildlife, making it easy to forget you were just minutes from the Virginia Beach oceanfront.”
“The entrance fee is worth the experience; the restroom was in excellent condition, and the park is maintained very well.”
“We did have to drive there and one day, parking was a challenge.”
“The sites did have poison ivy, so that was something we had to stay aware of especially traveling with our dog.”
“With over 20 miles of multi-use trails ranging from flat boardwalks to rolling sand dunes, it is a paradise for hikers, runners, cyclists, and birdwatchers alike.”
Plan your run at First Landing State Park
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- Distance20 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitedcr.virginia.gov
- Phone(757) 412-2300
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–7 PM |
Running trails near Virginia Beach
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Bald Cypress Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 186 reviews
Serene trail featuring boardwalks through lagoons with bald cypress, Spanish moss & dragonflies.
