Explore Virginia Beach: A Vanlifers’ Guide to the Best Spots
We didn’t plan to explore Virginia Beach. We just needed new tires and the nearest Discount Tire happened to be here. (Shoutout to the vanlife MVPs who always have our Winnebago tires in stock!)
But we ended up staying for weeks and falling in love with this East Coast gem. From dog-friendly beaches to hot yoga studios, great RV campgrounds, and perfect May weather… Virginia Beach surprised us in the best way.
🏕️ Where to Camp in Virginia Beach (No Boondocking, But Good Options!)
🏖️ First Landing State Park
This was by far our favorite spot. It’s dog-friendly, walkable to the beach, and surrounded by beautiful trails and trees. We didn’t get to stay long since a weekend arrived and it was booked far in advance. We would have stayed longer!
- 💻 T-Mobile signal is strong, Starlink works at some campsites depending on tree coverage.
- ⛺ Sites fill up fast on weekends so book ahead!
- 🐾 Trails and beach access for morning Bernie zooms
- 💸 $49 per night for water/electric hook-ups
🚐 Travel L Park
This place is huge and a little chaotic, but in a good way. The campstore is a reflection of the chaos. It’s like searching for treasure in there. Whatever you want, they probably have it, though it may be hard to find.
- 💸 Site types vary a lot (check their pricing chart, it changes weekly!)
- 🏊 Three pools
- 🐶 Giant dog park, though ours was too muddy for Bernie’s liking
- 🧼 “Dog wash” = kiddie pool with hose, we skipped it
- 🐾 Lot’s of fun walking – huge park!
- 🅿️ Free lot near Virginia Beach boardwalk with beach shuttle included (we didn’t use the shuttle, but it ran often)
- 👕 Laundry is full-scale laundromat style with tons of machines
- 💻 No T-mobile and laggy Starlink
🌲 KOA Holiday Virginia Beach
You know what to expect here: a solid, clean KOA experience.
- 🚿 Private single-room showers (yay!)
- 🐾 Lots of space to walk and play with Bernie
- 🛒 On-site store and laundry
- 🏊 Nice pool for cooling off after beach time
- 💻 T-mobile was super fast and Starlink would have worked too
- 💸 Like most KOA’s price varies by site
🏖️ Beach Days: Where to Go and When Dogs Are Allowed
🚫 Virginia Beach (Main Boardwalk Area)
- Beautiful, but very crowded
- Parking is expensive
- Dogs allowed from Labor Day to Memorial Day
- Dogs allowed before 10am and after 6pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day
- If you’re staying at Travel L Park, you can park in their free beach lot
It’s lively and fun, just not our vibe. We’re into quiet, undeveloped beaches.
✅ Sandbridge Beach – Our Top Pick
This beach was a vanlife dream.
- 🐾 Same rules as Virginia Beach, but more open, less crowded, perfect for Bernie’s morning zoomies
- 🅿️ Only $4/day parking
- 🏖️ Less crowded, super clean, and undeveloped
- 🌊 Great for swimming and soaking in peaceful beach energy
Pro tip: Get there early during busy seasons (we went in May and it was quiet).
B🌿 First Landing State Park Beach: Hidden Gem Vibes
Tucked inside the park, this beach feels like a cozy coastal secret.
• 🐶 Dogs allowed on leash
• 🏖️ Quieter than the main beach
• 🌅 Beautiful sunsets over the bay
• 🌾 Natural dunes and calm water. We enjoyed wading or a laid-back swimming
It’s not the spot for surfing or people-watching, but if your idea of beach time includes a towel, a good book, and your dog snuggled up next to you, First Landing is the one.
💪 Working Out: Fitness, Yoga & Doggy Daycare (Seriously)
Our ideal setup:
- 🧘♀️ I go to Hot Yoga House
- 💪 Ali lifts at Planet Fitness
- 🐕 Bernie gets his zoom on at the Doggy Daycare
Yep, all in the same parking lot, and only 10–15 minutes from any of the RV parks we stayed at. Perfect.
🔥 Hot Yoga House
I went almost every day for a month and loved it.
- Two main classes: Stability and Flow (with candlelit evening options!)
- Super clean studio with 4 showers
- Never had to wait to rinse off after class
- Friendly community and affordable drop-in rates
🏋️ Planet Fitness – Laskin Road
Reliable, clean, and has everything Ali needed.
🐶 Doggy Daycare
For just $5/hour, Bernie played while we worked out. Bernie immediaeely decided he loved the owner, Tabatha, and he made friends quickly (surprise, surprise).
🛒 Groceries: Everything You Need
You won’t go hungry or short on oat milk here:
- 🥬 Whole Foods & Trader Joe’s – Less than 1 mile from yoga/fitness hub
- 🧀 Wegmans – 10 minutes away
- 🍎 Harris Teeter and Food Lion – Everywhere
- 🛒 Walmart – Also everywhere
🛞 Vanlife Pro Tip: Discount Tires in Virginia Beach
There are multiple Discount Tire locations in the area, and they have our Winnebago Travato tires in stock, at nearly half the price of other stores!
If you’re a full-time vanlifer needing new tires (or just looking for a great excuse to visit the beach), Virginia Beach might just be your new favorite place.
Final Thoughts: Is Virginia Beach Vanlife-Friendly?
Absolutely. Whether you’re passing through for tires or planning a longer stay, Virginia Beach is a great vanlife destination. It’s:
- Dog-friendly
- Yoga and fitness accessible
- Packed with full-service RV parks
- And surprisingly peaceful if you know where to look (Sandbridge!)
Vanlife in Virginia Beach has all the makings of a great stop, especially if you’re into fitness, sun, sand, and a little bougie comfort.
🗺️ Map
Here is a map with all the above mentioned spots in Virginia Beach.
