This park is near the end of the Delmarva Peninsula. It has a beach, albeit not a huge one as cliffs with private homes are visible in either direction. The site is notable for some abandoned ships offshore that look like interesting ruins to tour by boat. I experienced no great difficulty getting in and this is one of a finite number of parks on the bay side of the Eastern shore, so it is a good place to check out. read more

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Beautiful park with many trails to pick from. Benches available throughout the park. Trails well kept and flat. Great for birding! read more

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Our favorite places to camp in VA are state parks and this is one of our very favorites. We've been here several times and even have a favorite spot :). This is one of only 2 state parks in the state with full hookups (I wish so many others would get on board with that). That being said, make reservations early! Most sites are fairly level and all have fire rings and picnic tables. Most sites also accommodate larger RVs, especially the C loop (the one with the sewer hookups). We drag a 32' fifth wheel and have no problems, and we've seen several larger rigs (including big class As) get in and out with no trouble at all. The beautiful thing about this park is all of the many activities it offers. There is lots of history here (research the concrete ships - they are amazing). Several well marked trails cross cross the park (and most all are level and rated easy to navigate) - our dogs love them. During the season, there is a nice swimming beach and you can kayak out to the ships. Fishing is big here as well and the boat ramp is well kept with ample boat trailer parking. Again, one of the nicest VA state parks and a good home base for adventurers on the ES. Do yourself a favor and skip the KOA down the road (they are packed in like sardines) and book here. Just do it early! read more

I know there are closer beaches and parks where you don't have to pay the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (steep) tunnel fee ( $20 total if you return back the same day; $14 one way off peak, $18 peak one way) plus the park $7 fee. But I really do enjoy this beach and park. On the eastern shore in Cape Charles, it's a slice of heaven. You can camp there - RV camping, tent camping and I believe they have a few yurts. Dogs are allowed at the park, but must be on leashes. If you haven't seen it, they have old WWII concrete ships that were placed in 1948 to protect where the Chesapeake Bay Ferry terminal used to be. A lot of birds can be seen resting and nesting on these old ships. If you have a kayak or a paddle board you can paddle closer to it and check it out. A fishing pier, which looks more like a wide piece of a grassy island, juts into the water. lt's an additional price to fish from the pier. If you walk to the left there's a more isolated part of the beach that isn't advisable for swimming due to the current. But it's nice to take a stroll on that side of the beach. The swimming beach is to the right and the beach is a lot cleaner than the beaches at the oceanfront. The sand is softer and powdery and cleaner. The water feels and looks a lot cleaner too. There is plenty of parking and both times I've been, it hasn't been crowded. There are several walking trails. Places to picnic. I stumbled upon an old rusty vintage (1960's) abandoned Tourinn's motel sign that looked straight out of a horror movie. It was pretty cool looking. Closer to the swimming beach there is a boat launch and a kayak launch. The restrooms are fairly clean and have showers inside and on the outside. When I was there the soap dispensers were filled and toilet paper was stocked. There's a little camp store at the entrance of the parking lot, but we didn't check it out. Along one of the boardwalk trails we came across a persimmon tree. While there were people on the beach, it wasn't overcrowded or crowded at all and people were generally quiet. I even saw several people riding bicycles on the beach itself and in the park. If you look up some of the history since there was once a ferry, that area used to be pretty busy. Pretty interesting. read more

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Tony and I had never visited this area before so of course had to stop at the first state park new to us in the area. This park normally has a day fee but not while out of season Located in Cape Charles, Virginia across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel from Virginia Beach, well worth the $14 one way toll There is definitely park police presence there There is a great beach area, playground, picnic areas, shelters and grills. There were some old ships of the beaches making some sort of barrier fence, very neat to see... Highly recommend you to visit read more

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We came here windy cold spring time. But we loved the view and walked over the beach. It was very windy but It kept us walking because we were looking for shells. It was so much fun. The view were breathtaking. We got to see Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel. There are many shipwrecks. It gives historical feel. I don't fish so I can't talk about it but I am guessing this is a nice place to do fishing. This is definitely Instagram worthy place. read more

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How you can award this park less than 5 stars is beyond me. This is one of my favorite VA State Parks now. I've been to 16 Va State Parks as of today. My #1 favorite is Sky Meadows of course. 15 min from my house, however Kiptopeke was also a show stopper!! Great Camping area! Great restroom/Shower area!! Ramps, parking, shower chairs and access to the entire park for guests with disabilities. Every single Ranger I came in contact with was genuinely kind and friendly. * The beach is actually part of the Chesapeake Bay, not the Atlantic Ocean. Nice waves coming in. Good clean beach. Today I was the only person on the beach from 0700 to 1100. They also have showers and dressing rooms beach side! Very convenient. I went tent camping. The tent areas are clean and roomy. You can ask for electric and water if needed. Then i went on a 3 mile hike and saw many cool critters and that was just one trail. They had many! One thing I wish for is to have some activities and rentals extend year round. Im sure its due to staffing. Everybody going back to school. I went September 10th-12th..which was the weekend after Labor Day and no kayaking allowed. Also it'd be great if you could rent beach chairs, umbrellas and pull carts for the beach. You'd prob make some good money from it. People like me can't fit that stuff in their cars. I want to rent it. :) I managed to love this park even w/o those amenities and am already thinking about reservations for 2024!! Enjoy my pics please. There's a lot, I know. read more

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This is a smaller park, but still boasts a few neat things! There are newer lodges / cabins for rent, and the area is a little less busy than First Landing, but you do have to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to get here, EZ Pass recommended fir discounted fares. Definitely pet friendly, fisherman friendly, and all around friendly! The parking attendant let us right in with my tag from First Landing, said fees were covered with my cabin stay there, so bonus!! The concrete WW2 ships that were half sunk to make a breakwater for the ferry system are super neat! The bridge tunnel replaced the ferries in 1964, but I'd love to go back here and paddle around the concrete ships. You can't go in between or on them, but you can paddle around. Tons of seabirds and fish around the 9 ships, which were used in both Pacific and Atlantic theater for training back in WW2. Otherwise, the beach was beautiful and there were some neat hiking trails, birdwatchers on hawk watch, and an old sign from a Motor Inn, as well as playgrounds for kids. read more

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Elbow to elbow in summer of 2022! I have mixed feelings regarding tip to peak State Park. Overall it is a great location with great amenities and facilities. My biggest criticism is reduced capacity for tent camping. Read on. It was high season in the summer of 2022 and all spots were sold out. Everything. But when a last minute cancellation opened up an RV spot I reserved it for a tent camping trip. How bad could it be? Bad. Spots were typical width, comfortable enough for a truck, powerboat and/or RV. And that's exactly what people did. Listening to your neighbors truck, marine engine, and picnic might not be a big deal if you have the comfort and isolation of an RV. RVs might even enjoy it. But not tent campers. We drove through the tent camping sites install vacancies. Tent sites and dirts were seemingly available. But the front desk explained they are at reduced capacity because of a sewage problem. My suggestion would be to tent camp only in the tent areas. RVs will enjoy the RV spots if they do not mind full capacity. A worthy mention is the convenience of a kayak launch. There is a designated kayak area to avoid powered watercraft and their tow vehicles. read more

Kiptopeke State Park - Kayak launch is immediately adjacent to the boat launch. Nice, flat water with no interference from powered watercraft. - Beaches Near Me - Cape Charles, Virginia

What a beautiful spot! We stayed in the campgrounds in November and had a wonderful weekend on the Eastern Shore. The only negative about our camping experience was that there was rarely any toilet paper in the bathrooms and the women cleaning them weren't very nice and weren't wearing masks (COVID times). That being said- just having indoor facilities is a luxury, so I can't be too harsh about that. We started our day walking from the campgrounds down to the part of the water where you can see the concrete fleet. Our first morning it was super foggy which made it look really eerie- we loved it! Our second morning the fog wasn't thick which allowed us to see more of the detail and get a better view- also excellent. The park has several miles of trails, it's the eastern shore so most are relatively flat and not challenging. Maps are easy to find and there are several overlooks to allow you to view this beautiful park from a new angle. I was able to bring my dog and he had a great time too. There were a few areas he wasn't able to go, but they were well marked and there was plenty of other things to explore. I look forward to checking out some other areas in the park during our next visit! read more

Kiptopeke State Park is located just a few miles down from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and offers cabins/lodges/yurts/bunkhouse that you can stay in, RV and ten camping sites, hiking and biking trails, a playground, a beach bathhouse, a swimming beach, events and programs throughout the year, and even seasonal educational programs that ofucses on natural history, birding, and bay ecology! The hubs and I stopped by while we were in the area, and 'checking in' was easy - there are payment envelopes where you place cash in and submit it into their payment box; then, there are little paper parking passes that you hang up on your rear view mirror. There are kayak rentals, or one can fish - we decided to just soak in the beautiful view and have a little picnic! A great spot if you're in the Eastern Shore area! +lodging options available +kayak rentals on-site +offers seasonal various educational programs read more

We went on a mini vacation here. Rented out the lodge and shared it with our close friends, 5 other families. We had 15 people in the lodge and after everyone claimed their beds we ended up with 4 empty beds still available. The lodge was very clean and spacious. Never felt crowded. Dishes, pots and pans, trash bags, shampoo and soap, books. Basic things we needed was supplied. The fridge even has an ice maker. They have a park store, but right outside the gate a little to your left is a huge gas station with a chicken restaurant inside. The beach was nice to take the kayaks and paddleboard out. They do have biting flies on the beach, and pesky magflies at the lodge. This was in September. But it's nature, and camping so we were in their home. But they still bug!! Lol. The World War II ships out in the bay were AMAZING to see! They have 2 beaches. We went to the one on the right. Next time we need to do the left side, they allow dogs on that side. Only reason why I couldn't give it a 5 star, is the beds and pillows were pretty uncomfortable. But after all.... we were still glamping! So it is what it is! We made great memories that weekend!!! One of our friends wrote in the sign in journal. It's awesome to read the stories in there. read more

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Nice quiet state park. Awesome quaint camping spot. Not much to do besides hiking on leveled surfaces, but if you love fishing there's multiple spots for you to go fish. read more

Went for a fishing day trip and loved it(: the fishing pier is perfect and quite large! Plenty of space. Husband caught a few fish. The beach on the right side is gorgeous the sand is sooooo soft and clean! We did not camp here but definitely plan to next time. There's a cute little market, restrooms/showers, vending machines, boat ramp, picnic areas, campsites and walking trails! If you love fishing, this is your place to go! read more

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Never disappointed, low staffed yet still keeping the place clean and safe. If you like the loud, drinking, golf cart type of crowd just skip this place. But those of us who enjoy tranquility, safety, a clean and free beach to enjoy the sun and view, or 24 hour fishing off the very long pier (($5.00 fishing fee)or maybe sitting by a fire with friends then this is the place for you. Restrooms are clean and roomy, laundry machines available, kayak rentals available. And for the boaters a 2 lane concrete boat ramp. Come photograph nature at it's best and breathtaking sunsets. Just a ride through the 4.5 mile Bridge/Tunnel overlooking the Chesapeake Bay Bottom line beautiful campground great job Army corp of engineers an VA State. read more

Great state park. Quiet and relatively spacious RV sites. Will visit again. I loved the boardwalk trails. Decent beach too.

We love coming here. The nature is absolutely wonderful any time of year. Ocean air heals everything in your body, mind, and soul. We camp with an RV, and enjoy the full hook up. The fishing is great, but make sure to pay thr pier fee on the honor system when arriving and the parking fee or you will receive a ticket. You can see the CBBT and how the owners care enough about the land surrounding it to keep it a wildlife preserve Also look into visiting Pocomoke Md. 70 miles away, but worth the trip. There is a store that is named The Vault and its really worth seeing! read more

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Lots of short trails and plenty of bird/flower areas to check out. Some paths are on the boardwalk that go down to beach and coastal area.

Loved this park! We decided to take the kids and the dog away for the weekend, and man... What a gem this was. Nice little fishing community, and nice people. $7 parking fee was NOTHING to be able to park up close, and have our dogs and us use the beach. Super clean, and not crowded at all. Trash cans and cigarette stops almost everywhere, which is nice. You can leave and come back all day, as long as you have the parking pass. Such an adorable weekend trip. We will be back! read more

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This is a great safe and clean place to visit. Enjoy the beach and go to cape Charles to dinner

Virginia state parks = land preservation that they want you to pay to visit. That's about all this one is too. There's not much to do here other than walk around, look at the beaches ships being used as a wave break, and watch people launching boats. By the way, the beach is small and not very impressive otherwise. Save yourself the money and go up the road and walk around the town of Cape Charles. There's a way better public beach, you'll see more, do more, and be more satisfied, all while saving yourself a few bucks. Sorry to disappoint all the Virginia homers, but it is what it is. read more

This park offers a lovely view over the Chesapeake Bay and is very quiet and peaceful. If you're into looking at the wildlife, there are so many birds to watch, as well as countless little sand crabs which are very cute as well. The beach is within walking distance from the condos nearby (about a 15 minute walk if you take your time doing so). They also have a fishing pier and cleaning station for any fishermen in your life! My only criticism for this park was that there was a bit of litter left on the beach, which is a little sad to see. Other than that, this is a lovely beach to walk on and I'd absolutely visit again! read more

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We stayed for a couple nights in the lodge and it was roomy and comfortable. Good beach area, fishing pier and crabbing. Not crowded during the week. read more

Kiptopeke State Park - Beaches Near Me - Cape Charles, Virginia

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I've fished here a several times and camped here for 4 days last years, soooo, I guess it is time to pass some righteous info along to you travelers. Let me put this out these as a marker, I love to fish. In fact, I can spend 10 hours plus fishing and only give up because it is too dark to see and I forgot my light sticks/bells for the rod tips. A few people have turned their noses up at camping here, but I found it to be just fine. No one bothered us late at night, the bathrooms were clean, water pressure good, and we can walk to the beaches and pier. Pro tip: On the pier go to the end, take the far left corner and cast out straight. A small piece of squid on a double hook rig with a 2oz weight will have you on croaker all night long. Pro tip 1A: Take the warbler trail from the parking lot (near the camp store) and head to the beach. Hang a left and walk to this side of the pole nets. Fish their with minnows and jigs. You'll do well. Also, if Kathy checks you in at the guard shack, take your time and say hello to her. She is a rock star! read more

Kiptopeke State Park - Sunset while fishing at the pier - Beaches Near Me - Cape Charles, Virginia

We were here with kids and dogs on a weekend that rained the entire time. Nevertheless we had a wonderful time, took walks to the beach, the boys rode their bikes and we met some nice neighbors. The COVID precautions were good and the facilities were clean. In spite of the rain we could tell it was a wonderful place to camp and we will definitely be back! It is beautiful read more

What a wonderful place! My family and I stayed here for a weekend in August 2021 in our travel trailer. Minus the intense heat, gnats and flies it was great! Trails to walk/hike, large playground and a beach where our young kids could play in the water. Will definitely be back! read more

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This is one of those state parks that we like to visit when we over on the eastern shore. I can't comment on the camping conditions as others have, but I can tell you that if you're looking to spend the day on a pleasant beach, like to find some seashells, and avoid the fray, give this place a shot. Tip: If you want to avoid the masses, take the peregrine Boardwalk. If you're facing the loading ramp, it's to the left of the little "store" near the start of the parking lot. There's a nice little wooden walkway that will lead you to a somewhat secluded stretch of beach. That's where we go to enjoy the beach. Maybe throw out a few crab lines and soak up the sun. read more

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Was a great place to go on our family vacation. Definitely will visit again. Very relaxing. Not Crowded. read more

Kiptopeke State Park - Beautiful Walk on Beach - Beaches Near Me - Cape Charles, Virginia

One of my favorite VA State Parks. They have a number of trails most are kept up pretty good-a few are tick havens because of tall grass). The cabins look neat from the outside though I have never stayed in them so I do not know what they are like. Big campground. Great off season. Avoid high season if you like peace and quiet. It gets loud and crowded. Nice fishing pier - although I wish people disposed of their fishing line. Hate to see it on the pier. Two small beaches. You can kayak here or do other programs via the park interpretative staff. read more

Used to come here often for fishing and crabbing. Although it's been a couple of years, we had high expectations. We go for the night fishing and a lot of the lights were either completely out or so dim, they were not much help. They only had ONE spot light on underneath the pier. All the others were off. It was smelly and all the picnic tables were disgusting, with dried on, caked on bait! We are not going back. There must be someplace else where we can night fish and crab. The search is on. read more

This is a nice park but I will say the park staff is inconsistent with the rules. I came out 3 weeks in a row at the swim beach with my kayak, there were about 10 other kayaks out there too. Naturally I would think kayaking is ok at the swim beach. Then this week a ranger tells me I cannot have my kayak here. Staff needs to be consistent with the rules. Also, I can't kayak at the swim beach but paddleboards are ok? What is the difference in a paddleboard and kayak? Nothing. They will let you kayak on the south beach but it much more rough and dangerous to kayak or swim in. This is a classic government run facility that has rules and does not even understand why they have them. Recommend the beaches near Hatteras NC instead of this place. read more

After our horrible stay on the Outer Banks we were ready for some peace and quiet. The park is so beautiful, with extremely huge campsites. The Park Rangers in the office, front gate and ground workers were so friendly and kind to us. There's not a lot to do on this end of the Tunnel, however it makes up with it's laid back Southern Charm. Cape Charles reminded me of the old TV show I grew up watching, Andy Griffin Show. That's a positive statement. If you are a fisher then you will think you have died and went to fishing heaven! read more

Spent the weekend here. We rented a lodge, has beds for 16 people and 3 full bathrooms. Large grill and fire ring in the back yard. Right next to a path to walk to the playground. Lots of walking paths we all enjoyed. There is WW2 bunker we got to see and a wildlife visitor center. Hurricane Matthew didn't do any real damage the weekend before. This is also has a high number of birds on their migratory path. Lots of places to watch them! 5th wheels and campers on a 1st come 1st serve. The beach is beautiful and low amount of traffic. There was a family crabing and was able to get 3 bushels on Saturday. read more

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Enjoyed this park. Camped in a site with hookups for tent. Nice trails. Bugs and ticks, so bring spray for bugs. We only had some problems with campers drinking too much next to us. And making noise to 1 am. But, they were upset about being reported and didn't want "to get kicked out again". I wonder if they block people from reserving, if they frequently break the rules. I really don't care what people do, as long as they let people sleep. It is also nicer if it isn't loud cursing the entire trip. So, next time I am not going on a holiday weekend. Quiet rule: 10pm - 8pm. No public drinking. I believe there are other sites available without the drinking restrictions. I think these rules are an implication that they want this to be more a family site and not a partying site. So, since they apparently do kick people out occasionally - the fee to reserve is $5 and the per note fee is $35. So, you might check another location to camp for partying. Dogs are allowed. And at times, fees do apply. read more

I love this place! It has a great beach where the sand isn't rough and the water is perfect. I could walk a few meters long and I'll still be waist deep. There are a lot of activities to do here like, camp, kayak to the abandoned ships, fish, etc. The times that I've gone during the summer, it wasn't crowded on the beach either, my group mostly had it to ourselves. It's quiet and nice. I'd highly recommend making a trip here. read more

This place rocks. Beautiful beaches, lots of native vegetation, great crabbing & fishing... And best of all, only $29 per night to tent camp. I will definitely be back. Take a break from campfire cooking and go to Stingrays restaurant. It's only a few miles down the road and very tasty. read more

Kiptopeke State Park - Beach and "LOVE" sun chairs - Beaches Near Me - Cape Charles, Virginia

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We just wanted to see the concrete ships but after paying $14 to get across the bridge, (and $14 back) then another $7 just to park was a bit irritating. read more

First time in this area and there's so much to do. They have a beautiful beach and soft sand. We were excited they provided free parking for Veteran Plates so it's a nice perk. It's quiet and so relaxing, plenty to do for a family fun day. read more

Our review is based on a one day visit to park and hike the trails. We were staying at a local Bed & Breakfast. The last time I was here was in 1963 when our family took it's last ferry trip. Until we booked the Bed & Breakfast we did not even know this was now a State Park. Although our visit was the day after Memorial Day there was no line at the gate. The guard lady was courteous and gave us a package with maps and information. Parking was 1/4 mile up and the lot was deserted. The nearby bathrooms were clean and stocked. We walked almost every trail and found them to be in pretty good shape. I'm not sure why but the trails were deserted. It was nice being able to hear nature. If you go make sure to be prepared for a change from wooded to open trails. The last part of our walk was in the open so we were wishing we had used more sunscreen. This was on the Eastern edge of the park (Closest to the Highway). We saw the old breakwater ships again, walked out on the pier, along the beach where allowed (Deserted also). We also walked every boardwalk as well as the other trails. The bad was that other than near the pier and the Parking/Picnic/Play areas there is a serious lack of bathroom facilities. At the far Eastern side there is a house that was left over from pre-park days. Since there is an access road this would have been a great spot for a Porta-Potty. The last leg was along the entry road so we stopped at the gate and asked about the closest bathroom. Although there is an office nearby, the same guard lady told us that the closest bathroom was at the parking area. (1/4 mile ahead on the left) Luckily my wife was able to make it. Later, when we were leaving, we stopped at the office and discovered public bathrooms. As expected my wife was pretty steamed. We talked to the two older Park Ranger ladies and found them to be pretty pleasant. The answered all our questions and offered quite allot of information about the transformation from Ferry dock to State Park. I was a bit surprised when I saw the prior reviews. All I can figure out is that my wife and I are older as well so we did not get hassled. If you go to tour it's fine as long as you bring a hat, sunscreen, and make sure you know how far to the closest potty. read more

Just drove in to check out campground for a future visit. Only visited the campground but we were very disappointed. The RV sites were very close and the better ones by the woods were on a slope. All grass and mud. Sorry but won't be camping here. The tent only area in the woods looked nicer. read more