Virginia Beach Boardwalk
Virginia Beach Boardwalk is a attraction in Oceanfront, Virginia Beach, best for first-time visitors, sunrise walks, biking, people-watching, free evenings out.
The Boardwalk is Virginia Beach's spine: three miles of oceanfront promenade running from 2nd to 40th Street, poured in concrete rather than planked in wood, with a separate parallel bike path so cyclists, skaters, and surrey riders aren't weaving through walkers. Along it you pass the city's open-air landmarks in sequence — JT's Grommet Island Park at 2nd Street, the Virginia Legends Walk at 13th, the Norwegian Lady and Naval Aviation Monument at 25th, King Neptune presiding over 31st — plus the fishing pier, oceanfront restaurant patios, and four beachfront stages where the summer 'Live! On Atlantic' program puts on mostly free music and entertainment. It is the staging ground for the city's signature events, including the Neptune Festival's sand-sculpting championship each September. Sunrise is its best hour: joggers, dog walkers (leashed dogs are allowed on the Boardwalk 6am-7pm), and the Atlantic doing its thing before the crowds arrive. In winter it goes quiet and locals reclaim it. Completely free, always open, and the single most reliable thing to do at the Oceanfront.
- Free
- Family Friendly
- Date Night
Amenities
- Separate parallel bike path
- Four beachfront entertainment stages
- Oceanfront dining along the route
- Bike and surrey rentals nearby
Know Before You Go
- Best for: first-time visitors, sunrise walks, biking, people-watching, free evenings out
- Parking: Paid municipal lots, garages, and meters throughout the Resort Area; fills fast on summer weekends.
- Accessibility: Flat, paved promenade along its full length; JT's Grommet Island Park at 2nd Street is a fully accessible oceanfront playground with beach wheelchairs available.
- Dogs: allowed — Leashed dogs allowed on the Boardwalk 6am-7pm year-round; dogs are prohibited on the resort beach sand during summer (Memorial Day-Labor Day).
- Location: Oceanfront, 2nd Street to 40th Street, Virginia Beach, VA
Last verified 2026-07-10.
More Attractions Nearby
Virginia Legends Walk
Virginia's answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame sits in 13th Street Park, a block off the Boardwalk: a free, self-guided outdoor walk honoring Virginians — by…
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King Neptune Statue
Virginia Beach's most-photographed landmark is a 34-foot bronze King Neptune rising out of Neptune's Park at 31st Street and Atlantic Avenue, trident in hand,…
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Virginia Beach Fishing Pier
Pier fishing right in the middle of the resort area: this 15th Street pier extends straight out into the Atlantic from the Boardwalk, and no fishing license is…
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Navy SEAL Monument (The Naked Warrior)
Dedicated July 20, 2017, this Boardwalk monument at 38th Street filled a real gap: Virginia Beach — where the earliest Navy SEAL predecessors first came…
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While You're in the Area
Abbey Road Pub & Restaurant
Beatles-themed pub a block off the beach at 22nd Street — 42 taps, live music, a dog-friendly patio, and a Monday military discount.
- Dog Friendly
- Live Music
- Outdoor Seating
- Military Discount
Adventure Parasail & Rudee Inlet Jet Ski
Virginia Beach's original watersports operator since 1985 — parasailing, jet ski and kayak/SUP rentals, and banana boat rides at Rudee Inlet.
AquaMan Sportfishing Charters
Two-boat Rudee Inlet charter operation — The Flat Line and The Game On — running inshore, nearshore, and offshore deep-sea trips around the clock.
Barclay Cottage Inn
The oldest lodging in Virginia Beach still open to guests — an 1895 cottage with five rooms and wrap-around porches two blocks from the boardwalk.
- Hidden Gem
Barclay Towers Resort Hotel
All-suite Boardwalk tower at 9th Street — 138 two-room suites, every one with a full kitchen and ocean-view balcony, plus a heated indoor pool.
- Family Friendly
- Waterfront
Bay Venture Boat Rentals
Self-drive 24-foot pontoon boat rentals for exploring Linkhorn Bay, Broad Bay, and the Lynnhaven Inlet — no boater's license required.
- Hidden Gem
Upcoming Events Nearby
Neptune's Coastal Craft Beer Festival
August 15, 2026 · annual
The Neptune Festival's 11th annual beer afternoon takes over 31st Street Park with more than 60 beers from around 30 breweries, heavy on the coastal Virginia scene. Two bands play through the 3–8pm session and local food trucks handle the eating. It's a compact, single-day festival — an easy add-on to a mid-August beach day, a block off the boardwalk at Neptune's Park.
Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships
August 23, 2026 – August 30, 2026 · annual
The world's oldest continuously running surfing competition returns for its 64th year, turning the south end of the Oceanfront — from the 1st Street Jetty up to 10th Street — into a week-long surf carnival. More than 850 competitors surf pro and amateur divisions, including a WSL qualifying event, while the beach fills out with skate and BMX demos, live music, and tournament games. It's the anchor event of late summer at the beach and the best week of the year to watch serious surfing at the 1st Street break.
Virginia Beach Funk Fest Beach Party
August 28, 2026 – August 29, 2026 · annual
A free two-day beach party on the Oceanfront closing out August with funk, R&B, and soul acts on the sand. Part of the official Beach Events season, Funk Fest draws a big, dance-heavy crowd to the resort beach for one of the last major music weekends before Labor Day — no ticket needed, just claim a patch of sand.