Sandbridge Little Island Park

Awesome beach that is a bit off the beaten path. On a tip, I checked out this beach and could not have been happier. I will say that Little Island will be my go to beach because it is 10 (no, 100) times better than the Oceanfront front.Because of my preferences, I prefer the low key "personality" of Sandbridge over the hustle and bustle of the Oceanfront.

Sandbridge Little Island Park is great for families with young children. There's a playground and a couple of covered picnic areas. Parking is only $4.00. Just pay at the kiosk and remember your license plate as you'll need to enter it to get a parking receipt

I love this beach!! Ample parking available. They also have a fishing pier. The beach is a little more private. It has a playground for the kids. Also had a clean restroom area. They have outdoor showers available as well as a foot shower to get the sand off the toes before heading back to the car. This beach is a lot smaller with less of a crowd. During off-season time there is no fee. I usually like to travel to the beach during off season time. We come to Norfolk twice a year. Plan on coming back in the fall and guess where you can find me. Right here with the calming waves and clean water!! Thanks to my hubby for finding this gem.

Always a great place to take for some family time!! Once you drive all the way down you will reach the parking lot for the park. They have been busy adding new machines to pay to park. Which I am sure is coming soon. We came in March and did not have to pay. They also added the machine to the pier which was free today along with parking. The bathrooms were also open and clean. None of the water showers were turned on. Once summer arrives they will and you will be able to clean the sand off! The park is such a hit! In the summer the equipment can get very hot. But the rubber mat on the park is great to protect the kids from getting hurt. On the play ground they have Swings Rock wall Little animal bouncers Slides. Benches Shelters with picnic tables.Definitely a great place to eat lunch and then play and cost the beach. Also closer to the pier a giant blue chair great for pictures!!

Sandbridge Beach is a wonderful family- and pet-friendly option for so many people! Perhaps you are looking for a beach vacation at a peaceful beach near the diverse offerings of the City of VA Beach, the outdoor offerings of local wildlife refuges and state parks, and/or the resort area of the VA Beach Oceanfront. Or maybe you are a local looking for a beach day without the Oceanfront crowds but with facilities. Sandbridge is a beautiful fit for all of this. -- What it Is --Sandbridge Beach is a 4.5 mile stretch of public beach along beachfront residential properties and public park areas. It's south of the Oceanfront & Croatan Beaches. Sandbridge actually starts out the north-most stretch of Outer Banks. It has clean sand and clear water with moderate waves. It is more of a Sandbridge residents/vacationers and locals only beach, so it is mostly uncrowded. It's clean and well maintained. There are limited small shells. -- Pets --Sandbridge is pet friendly: from Memorial Day (in May) through Labor Day (in September), leashed pets (or those under the control of their owner) are allowed on the beach before 10am and after 6pm. Outside of that season, there are no time limits. There is plenty of space on the sand and to the shoreline to walk them. -- Restrictions --No surfing is allowed between 11am - 4pm Fri through Sun. All of the beach is public; even if you are renting a beachfront property, you have to remove any beach gear nightly. It's unlawful to swim within 200 feet of any fishing pier.-- Amenities --There are seasonal amenities open from Memorial Day weekend (May) through Labor Day (Sept) at the municipal lot bathhouses (outdoor showers, restrooms, changing areas). There are trashcans on the beach located near the access points. There is also a pier. -- Lifeguards --Lifeguard stations operate mid-May through mid-Sept with lifeguards on duty 7 days a week from 9:30am to 6pm. They also use a cross between an ATV and a golf cart to patrol the whole length of the beach, up and down the back of the beach.-- What it's Not --Sandbridge is not a tourist destination. There are no hotels, and it is not directly near many restaurants/bars/stores. It's a 15 minute drive to the closest major restaurant/shopping area (Redmill) and a 25 minute drive to the VA Beach Oceanfront (resort area). It is by a quiet neighborhood primarily made up of vacation homes and short term rentals, as well as two condos. Note that while it's much more secluded than the Oceanfront area (particularly if you're at a beachfront rental!), the public access areas get a lot of visitors in the summer. -- Drawbacks --It's not entirely peaceful as there can be moderate to significant noise pollution: nearby is a Naval Air Base well-known for its jet noise. (At my wedding at Sandbridge, guests couldn't hear part of my vows because of a jet.) However, it's not that frequent of an occurrence and when it does happen, it's short-lived!-- The Area --To the west is the Currituck Sound and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. Sandfiddler Road runs along parallel to the Atlantic Ocean side of Sandbridge Beach. There are beach access paths on most blocks, with public beach access walks at the 2500 & 3700 blocks. Houses are primarily vacation homes and/or rentals; the neighborhood is not fully occupied year-round. -- The Park --Little Island Park is the most popular beach access point located at the south end of the beach. This park features two bathhouses, a fishing pier, 4 very large picnic pavilions (10 picnic tables each), a playground (with a rock climbing wall & a solid rubber surface; best for elementary school aged children), tennis courts, and basketball hoops. -- Municipal Parking --The Little Island Park Parking Lot (725 spaces) is located at 3820 Sandpiper Rd, VA Beach, VA 23456. Fees are seasonal from Memorial Day weekend (May) through Labor Day (Sept): $5/car/day ($3 VB residents); free after 5pm. After Labor Day until Memorial Day weekend: Free. Gate closes at 9pm; towing after lot closes. Reentries are permitted. -- On-Street Parking --Parking along Sandfiddler and Sandpiper Road is not allowed except from the 3200 block to the 3600 block of Sandfiddler Road. Violations are enforced with tickets or towing. Limited on-street parking is permitted on some side streets, but it's nice to park in the municipal lot near the beach and have access to the seasonal facilities. -- Takeaway --Little Island Park is great for families & a quiet beach setting with the largest public beach in Sandbridge. When the tide is low, there is a section of the beach that has very shallow water with almost no slope, so when conditions are right, it's excellent for young children wading in. Beyond that, there is a pretty moderate slope into the ocean that gets deeper fairly quickly. This is my preferred local beach for an all-day trip from Memorial Day through Labor Day when I want that OBX beach-destination experience.

My family went to this beach this afternoon. The parking was only $4 for the day! The beach was clean with nice sand. The water was perfect temp for cooling off on a hot day. The waves were great for paddle boards for the younger kids with adult supervision. There was a lifeguard there too. There is a pier.

If you are new to Virginia Beach this is a gem of a park that is a must to come and check out with the family. If your already a resident and never been you've missed out on one of the cities best! Sandbridge a bit like a tiny city of it's own, but it is Virginia Beach. If you've been to the Outer Banks of NC it has a similar feel. It has rental homes, second homes and condos. The beach and city come alive in the Summer. Parking has never been an issue at Sandbridge's public beach. Little Island Park has massive amount of space. The park is kept clean has playground equipment and three large shelters which can be reserved through Parks & Recreation. There are two area to change and utilize restrooms. I have found the spacious and clean on my dozens of visits. Nearby is Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge which is at the dead end South of the park. There is a cost per car to enter. Allow at least a half day exploration and worth not missing out of in the area. There are so many reasons why Virginia Beach residents feel as though they live in paradise. Our parks and beaches point blank rock and few would dispute that the city knows how to take excellent care of them for our tourist and locals alike. Before the weather becomes cooler take advantage get out and enjoy all there is to offer.

Less crowded than the main VA Beach strip and none of the trappings of boardwalk and touristy attractions. If you are not a VA Beach resident, then you pay a reasonable $5 for all day parking, credit card only. The beach is not too far from the parking lot and the parking lot has decent bathroom facilities and canopied shelters with picnic tables.The beach is well maintained and has lifeguard on duty.We made it a daytrip but there are lots of units of beach houses and condos available for renting. Definitely worth a visit.

The locals' beach! This is the perfect Sunday afternoon beach! $5 per car (for non-VA Beach residents) is a low price to pay for soft sand and rolling waves. I went during Labor Day weekend and was surprised to see only a few families sprawled about the seashore. It was just secluded enough to feel like I was in a special hidden spot but just busy enough to not feel like I would get swept into the waves with nobody ever finding my body ifyouknowwhatimean.My family has rented the picnic shelter for a family reunion before and were really pleased with the beautiful backdrop, multiple grills, large tables, and clean bathroom amenities. I highly recommend this spot if you are looking to get away from the usual crowds at the ocean front!

Great uncrowded (in the Spring) family friendly park , lots of beach erosion covering steps