Beaches are spots to hang out and relax, leaving all previous worries behind during the school/work year. In Virginia, and along the East Coast, there are many beaches for you to go to that are nearby and easy to travel to, and not just Virginia Beach. Here are some of the best.

West Beach is one of the first picks with a 4.4-star review. Not much information on the beach, but according to reviews and pictures, it seems like a nice, pretty beach in Montclair, VA. West Beach has a few reviews on TripAdvisor, a few of which mention a hiking trail that ends at the beach from a large parking lot, and refers to it as rather large. It’s been stated to have a nice lakefront view and a good view along the hike. According to one of the reviews, the family walked through the beach after the hike, and it was rather empty for a Friday afternoon during the summer time.

Next, we have Colonial Beach, VA. Colonial has four beach spots: North Beach, Downtown Boardwalk Beach, Irving Avenue Beach, and Castlewood Beach. North Beach is near the action of the boardwalk, but is more secluded and quiet, according to their website, It’s to mention that  Downtown Boardwalk Beach is a lively and more populated beach, with a bathhouse, watersports, swings, town pier, and so many more fun activities like shops and food. There are two more beaches: Irving Avenue Beach and Castlewood Beach. Irving seems more of a residential area where you can rent a vacation home, and Castlewood has a jungle gym and more kid-oriented themes for family fun!

Another nearby Beach is Haven Beach, located in Diggs, VA. The beach on Google has 4.4 stars, but as I did some digging on TripAdvisor, there were two bad reviews out of 25. One of the reviews was in a foreign language, but the other was a two-star review. Though many of the reviews were 4-5 stars, this one stood out with a lot of negative comments. The review talks about the beach being ‘unprotected’, which makes swimming prohibited in the water. Many neighboring beaches were privately owned, with people swimming in them, so they were unsure why swimming is not allowed if the water is safe. Other than that, the beach seems pretty spacious and the views are beautiful- maybe not for swimming or fun, but maybe a beach for relaxation under the sun.

Lookout Beach has the highest ratings that I could find, 4.8 stars, with not a single bad review! This beach can sometimes get crowded, and it is located in Hampton, VA (one hour shorter than a drive straight to Virginia Beach from Bealton). Reviews say the beach can sometimes get crowded or narrow at spots, but the sights are amazing even when strolling through. There is a lot of wildlife at certain times of the year, like hermit crabs, wild birds, and jellyfish. The beach is protected by waves from jetty rocks, making it safe for all ages. The Fort Monroe National Monument is also not too far and within walking distance of the beach’s parking lot, which adds to the experience!

Cape Charles is four hours away, but a ton of things in store to do to make up for the long drive! The beach has a 4.7-star rating, with 543 reviews. Cape Charles Beach is located in the heart of Cape Charles town, and is known as a small town but a fun experience. The town itself has a ton of things to do, like shopping and exploring, and the beach itself is a part of that quality. Cape Charles Beach is available for Handie-capped people, and has great parking. People, before visiting, have asked questions about the beach- many of the questions were basic concerns– for instance, people have asked about parking and if dogs are allowed. Local guides have answered a lot of these questions truthfully, dogs are allowed before 9 am and after 9 pm, and the parking has never been an issue for themselves or a few other reviews I saw again on Google Maps. Someone mentioned there are a lot of picnic tables, but I am unsure if they meant the beach or meant around the town. Either way, it’s definitely on my bucket list.

There are plenty of more beaches I didn’t cover due to reviews, but I find a lot of them to be more opinionated than factual. At the end of the day, it’s up to you! Maybe you’re looking for an even closer beach. No matter the rating, your beach vacation awaits!