Virginia Beach Official Visitors Guide - 2024/2025
VISITOR INFORMATION
2024-11-20 13:10:21
Visitor Services
VIRGINIA BEACH VISITOR INFORMATION CENTERS
Stop in for information about attractions, special events, dining and accommodations to help enhance your visit. Virginia Beach operates two centers year-round, except for fall and winter holidays, and two seasonal information kiosks located at the Oceanfront.
VIRGINIA BEACH VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER (MAIN)
2100 Parks Ave.
at the end of I-264 East.
HOURS
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
CHESAPEAKE BAY CENTER
First Landing State Park
HOURS
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from mid-June until Labor Day
SEASONAL INFORMATION KIOSKS
17th Street and the boardwalk, 24th Street and Atlantic Avenue located in the Oceanfront Resort Area.
Call 757-385-SURF (7873) or 800-VA-BEACH (822-3224) for more information.
PETS
Pets are welcome to vacation in Virginia Beach all year long. Before Memorial Day and after Labor Day weekend, dogs are invited to enjoy the public beaches and boardwalk area any time. However, during the summer months (Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend), pets are limited to frolicking on the north end of Virginia Beach above 42nd Street and the south end of Virginia Beach (Rudee Loop) and in the Sandbridge area before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. During the summer, dogs are only allowed on the boardwalk from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on a leash.
Service animals are exempt under The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Call 757-385-4444 for more information.
SURFING, INLINE SKATING & SKATEBOARD REGULATIONS
These regulations vary throughout the community in both location and time. For specific skateboard, inline skating and surfing regulations, call 757-385-3111.
LIFEGUARDS
Lifeguards are on duty between 1st and 41st Streets in Resort Beach and at Croatan, Little Island Park and Sandbridge beaches.
HOURS
9:30 a.m. to dusk daily from mid-May to mid-September
INTERNATIONAL INFO
Electricity voltage is 110. Virginia Beach offers general information brochures printed in French, German and Portuguese. To request a brochure, call +1-757-385-SURF (7873) or +1-800-VA-BEACH, or visit the Virginia Beach Visitor Information Center at the end of I-264 East at 2100 Parks Avenue. It is recommended that you exchange your currency at your port of entry.
CITY REGULATIONS
Virginia Beach is a pleasant family destination, and we strive to maintain an atmosphere of good, clean fun. You can assist us in this effort by obeying our state and local ordinances, just as you would at home. Check the "Know Before You Go" page at VisitVirginiaBeach.com for more information.
BEACH ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
PARKING
Parking is free for up to 4 hours at all metered spots for vehicles with a handicapped license plate or windshield placard. Designated off-street parking for people with disabilities is available at all municipal lots and garages with fee.
BEACH ACCESS
Access via ramps for the disabled are located at every beach access from 2nd to 80th Streets. Wooden ramps that take you onto the beach are located at 8th, 17th, 24th and 30th Streets, along with Grommet Island Beach Park & Playground, the first fully accessible beach playground. Water-edge access cannot be guaranteed at all wooden walkways due to weather and the condition of the beach.
Ramps are extended as far as possible given the condition of the beach and time of year.
Beach wheelchairs are available in the Oceanfront Resort Beach on a first-come, first-served basis from mid-May to mid-September.
Call 757-385-SURF (7873) or 800-VA-BEACH (822-3224) for more information.
MUNICIPAL PARKING
The Oceanfront Resort Area has three municipal parking lots, three garages and several on-street parking options available for public use. Paid parking is seasonal for meters (3-hour time limit) and surface lots, from April 1 to Oct. 31.
Municipal parking lots are located at Rudee Loop and at Croatan Lot (920 Vanderbilt Avenue). Municipal parking garages are located between Atlantic and Pacific Avenues on 9th and 30th Streets and between Pacific and Arctic Avenues on 25th Street. Special hourly, weekly and monthly rates are available at various locations in the resort area. Overnight parking is available at the 9th, 25th and 30th Street garages. For oversized vehicles, overnight parking is available (for a fee) at the 4th Street Lot. Sandbridge Municipal Lot, Sandbridge Market and Little Island Park at Sandbridge offer more than 900 parking spaces and offer meter parking and contactless payment options. Paid parking is seasonal from May 1 to Sept. 30. There is no charge for parking Oct. 1 to April 30.
Town Center has five garages totaling over 4,380 spaces and 86 on-street spaces available for public use. Parking is FREE at Town Center; however, there are many areas inside the garages and on-street with a 2-hour time restriction (this is strictly enforced). Entrances to Town Center parking garages are located on Market Street, Central Park Avenue, Town Center Drive and Constitution Drive.
Call 757-385-2900 or visit virginiabeach.gov/parking for more information.
THE VB WAVE TROLLEY
Operated by Hampton Roads Transit, the VB Wave Trolley makes it easy to experience the Oceanfront Resort Beach Area. The VB Wave Shuttle makes stops along Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, and Campgrounds along General Booth Boulevard and Shore Drive corridor up to Pleasure House Road in Virginia Beach.
PUBLIC RESTROOMS
Permanent public restrooms are adjacent to the boardwalk at 2nd, 17th, 20th, 24th, 30th and 31st Streets. The restrooms at 2nd, 24th and 31st Streets are open year-round. There are restrooms with changing facilities at 2nd Street, Croatan Beach, First Landing State Park and Little Island Park.
Know Before You Go
Scan the QR code to access our “Know Before You Go” page for the latest information on public restrooms, parking, beach pet policies and more.
REGIONAL VISITOR CENTERS
Chesapeake
888-889-5551
Eastern Shore
757-331-1660
Hampton
800-800-2202
Jamestown
757-856-1250
Newport News
888-493-7386
Norfolk
800-368-3097
Portsmouth
757-393-5111
Smithfield
757-357-5182
Suffolk
757-514-4130
Virginia Beach
800-VA-BEACH
(822-3224)
Virginia Tourism
800-847-4882
Williamsburg
757-229-6511
Colonial Williamsburg
888-965-7254
All Roads Lead to Virginia Beach
From the west: I-64, U.S. 460 or U.S. 58. From north and south: I-85, I-95, U.S. 17 or U.S. 13. These intersect with I-64, which connects with I-264 East, leading directly to the Oceanfront. For stress-free scenic routes, such as U.S. 13 over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, visit VisitVirginiaBeach.com.
Norfolk International Airport is about 30 minutes from the Oceanfront and is serviced by most major U.S. carriers, norfolkairport.com, 757-857-3351.
Newport News/ Williamsburg International Airport, newportnewsairport.com, 757-877-0221, also services the area. Amtrak service is available to the region, amtrak.com, 800 872-7245.
Bus service provided by Greyhound, greyhound.com, 800-231-2222.
Recreational boaters can travel as far south as Miami and north to Boston via the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. For more information on local marinas, call 800-VA-BEACH (822-3224).
Accommodations
In Virginia Beach, finding a place to stay is more than finding a room or booking a rate; it’s about finding that perfect vantage point for your vacation. However you choose to spend your stay, you are sure to find a place in Virginia Beach.
With hotels, resorts, bed & breakfasts, vacation-home rentals, campgrounds, cabins and more, your vacation promises boundless possibilities. Whether you choose gorgeous views, luxurious amenities, a spot under the stars or a place right on the sand, we welcome you to a perfect stay, designed with you in mind, for your getaway.
Use the QR code for more information about places to stay in Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach offers an array of experiences for every traveler. Venture along the iconic 3-mile boardwalk, bustling with energy and lined with vibrant shops and restaurants. Delve into the city's maritime history at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center.
For a touch of adventure, embark on a dolphin-watching cruise or try your hand at water sports like surfing and paddleboarding. Whether you're strolling along the sandy beaches or immersing yourself in cultural hotspots, Virginia Beach promises unforgettable moments at every turn.
Use the QR code for more information about attractions in Virginia Beach
HOP ON A SHUTTLE
From the North End of the boardwalk to South Rudee Inlet and everywhere in between, “The VB Wave” Shuttle is the convenient way to get around.
The Wave's Atlantic Avenue route, aquarium and campground shuttle and bayfront shuttle routes operate seasonally.
For more information about HRT services, call 757-222-6100 or visit gohrt.com.
ROUTES TO ATLANTIC AVENUE (OCEANFRONT RESORT AREA)
There's more than one way to get to Atlantic Avenue and the Oceanfront. To avoid traffic congestion, we suggest the Birdneck Road, Exit 22, off I-264 East. Convenient street signs are displayed at the bottom of the exit ramp and will direct you to your desired Atlantic Avenue destination.
GETTING TO CHESAPEAKE BAY
From the Oceanfront Resort Area, head north on Pacific Avenue, which merges with Atlantic Avenue (Route 60). Bear left on Shore Drive (Route 60). Continue west, through First Landing State Park to the Bay Area.
GETTING TO SANDBRIDGE
From the Oceanfront Resort Area, head south on Pacific Avenue to General Booth Boulevard, then left onto Princess Anne Road. Continue straight onto Sandbridge Road.
International Flights to Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is accessible via nearby airports with several international flight options.
From Quebec and Ontario, travelers can reach Norfolk International Airport (ORF) and Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF) with connecting flights, typically taking around 4–6 hours.
Direct flights from England and Germany are available to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) or Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), with flight times ranging from 8–10 hours. From these airports, it’s a short connecting flight or a scenic drive to Virginia Beach.
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