71°
Sunny
0%
75
Virginia Beach County, VA · Atlantic Ocean
False Cape State Park
4001 Sandpiper Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
A 4,321-acre hike-in-only state park stretching 5.9 miles down the Atlantic shore to the North Carolina line, reached by foot, bike, boat, or seasonal tram through Back Bay NWR. No road access, no lifeguards, no designated swim area — one of the most remote beaches on the East Coast.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
68°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 71. East wind around 7 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Southeast wind 3 to 7 mph.
Weather
- 71°F air — cool but workable
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 68°F water — swimmable, refreshing
73 /100
great
74 Swim
71 Sunbathe
81 Walk
66 Fish
80 Photo
Best for walking today
Atmosphere
Air Temp
71°F
Clear
Wind
7 mph
E
Rain
0%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
8 Very High
High 11 AM–03 PM · burn in ~25m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
74°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
68°F
Refreshing
Next High Tide
10:52 PM
3.3 ft · in 1.5h
Wave Height
3.0 ft
8s · E swell
Water Quality
Clean
25 cfu/100mL · Fecal Coliform
USGS · sampled 2mo ago
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
5:46 AM
Sunset
8:17 PM
Moon · 88%
Waning Gibbous
Neap tides — smaller range
Today's Tides
7-day chart →| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:44 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 10:42 AM | High | 2.5 ft |
| 4:29 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 10:52 PM | High | 3.3 ft |
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
74°
Sunny
1%
82
84°
Sunny
0%
82
86°
Mostly Sunny
4%
82
89°
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
24%
35
72°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
39%
35
71°
Slight Chance Rain Showers
23%
54
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 8 — very high
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Minor
10:20 PM - 11:20 PM
Major
2:20 AM - 4:20 AM
Minor
7:40 AM - 8:40 AM
Major
2:50 PM - 4:50 PM
Beach Info
Parking
No direct parking. Access via the Back Bay NWR lot (Sandpiper Rd) then a ~5-mile hike or bike, or by boat to the bay-side landings. Tram tours require advance reservation via Reserve America.
Dogs
Pets allowed in False Cape, but cannot transit Back Bay NWR — practically, dogs can only reach the park by boat.
Entry Fee
No state-park parking fee (no road access). Back Bay NWR entry fee applies if hiking or biking through Apr 1 – Oct 31. Primitive camping via Reserve America.
Address
4001 Sandpiper Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Amenities
7-Day Tide Chart →
Full high/low predictions for the next week at False Cape State Park.
7-Day Weather →
Extended forecast for False Cape State Park from the National Weather Service.
Frequently Asked
Is False Cape State Park dog-friendly?
Pets allowed in False Cape, but cannot transit Back Bay NWR — practically, dogs can only reach the park by boat.
Is there an entry fee at False Cape State Park?
No state-park parking fee (no road access). Back Bay NWR entry fee applies if hiking or biking through Apr 1 – Oct 31. Primitive camping via Reserve America.
Are there lifeguards at False Cape State Park?
No lifeguards are stationed at False Cape State Park. Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.
What amenities are at False Cape State Park?
Amenities at False Cape State Park include restrooms, picnic area, camping.
When is the water warmest at False Cape State Park?
Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.
Where is False Cape State Park located?
False Cape State Park is in Virginia Beach County, VA, at 4001 Sandpiper Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS