Portsmouth Beaches

Heading out to a beach in Portsmouth, VA can turn into a excellent adventure and has many perks for yourself and your those you take with you. Whether you plan to go swimming, building sandcastles, playing volleyball, flying a kite, fishing, or simply getting a tan, beaches are a home to many different fantastic activities.

It is simple to locate a swimming beach in Portsmouth that are near your location with the assistance of our table of beaches. Below is a list to help you find a beach close to Portsmouth. Enter the beach name, a city, or your zip code to filter beaches.

Portsmouth Beaches

Weather at Portsmouth beaches is often rather unpredictible, so it is necessary for you to plan your outing according to the weather.

Prior to going to a beach in Portsmouth, VA or the surrounding region, verify on their website to make sure that it is open to the public. You should not be surprised if a beach you wish to visit is closed due to the time you get there, being closed on certain days, or seasonality.

Rules of the Beach

Whenever you go to beaches in Portsmouth, there are always guidelines that you should follow. Just about every beach will list the following guidelines:

  • Always know that you are entering the water at your own risk, even if there is a lifeguard on duty.
  • Building a fire could be against the law on most public beaches in Portsmouth.
  • Drinking at the beach may not be allowed.
  • Any glass containers are prohibited on beaches.
  • Don’t leave garbage on the beach – Take with you what you bring with you.
  • Never disobey an order from the lifeguard on duty. If the lifeguard tell you to do something, then you must follow through.

Portsmouth Beach Checklist

  1. Avoid the crowds. Arriving at the beach when it opens is the best way of getting the perfect spot on the beach.
  2. Rip tides. Rip tides aren’t on your mind if you’re planning to visit a beach on a small lake, but rip tides deserve a great deal of thought if you want to visit an ocean beach or an area which has frequent rip tides. Pay attention to the indicators and know what to do if you are stuck in one.
  3. Kids could need life vests. Sadly, drowning will always be a danger whenever you go to a beach, especially for kids. This is the reason that it is important to make sure you bring a life jacket for anyone that needs one. This is especially important when there isn’t a lifeguard on duty. It’s also important to realize that water toys such as water wings, pool noodles, or beach balls shouldn’t be substitutes for a properly adjusted life jacket.
  4. Protect your eyes. Too much sunlight can result in irreversible damage to your vision. Even if it is a partly cloudy day, white sand and water can redirect UV rays back into your eyes. Wear high quality sunglasses that have polarized lenses and take a hat for more protection.
  5. Remember extra clothing. Even if you’re expecting a warm day in Portsmouth, you should understand that the temperature at the beach can change very quickly. This is particularly necessary if you are planning on going swimming, so pack enough warm clothes like sweaters, blankets, sweatpants, and a hat.
  6. Don’t forget the towels. Fresh towels are essential for a great beach experience. Make sure to pack at least 2 towels for each person – one for drying off and the second for everything else.
  7. Insects like the beach too. If you plan on going to the beach early in the day or the evening, you should expect that mosquitos, biting flies, fleas and other nuisance bugs may ruin your beach experience.