“I followed my heart, and it led me to the beach near me.”
I resonate with this quote on a spiritual level.
Just the thought of soft sand between my toes and the cool sea breeze is enough to calm my senses. If you feel the same way about beaches, then today is your lucky day.
It’s time to plan a family day trip or a weekend getaway to one of DMV’s most beautiful beaches.
From Westmoreland State Park in Montross, Virginia to the beautiful Terrapin Nature Park in Stevensville, Maryland, we will share the ultimate guide to the top 12 beaches in the DMV. This guide feature Maryland and Virginia best beaches to visits in 2023!
1. Caledon State Park
Caledon State Park is located in King George, VA. You have to make a 4-mile roundtrip through Boyd’s Hole Trail to reach this secret beach. And let me tell you, it is going to be worth the long drive.
This beach is what I can describe as a little piece of heaven on Earth – it was absolutely serene. Caledon State Park beach is lined with picnic tables where you can enjoy a little brunch date with your family. There are trash cans all around, so please make sure not to litter the place.
Depending on the weather, there might be a ‘no swimming’ sign near the shore to keep visitors safe.
Parking Area: Yes
Bathroom facility: Yes, there is one by the Visitor Center.
Cost: $5 Entrance Fee
Rating: 5/5
Water Safety Guidelines:
- If you visit the beach with your kids, please make sure that they are not left unattended.
- Do not risk your life by going deep in the water if you don’t know how to swim.
- Beware of sand holes – some of these are up to 6 inches deep. Please ensure that you and your kids stay close to the edge – just to be on the safe side.
Pro tip: Wear comfortable water shoes and buckle yourself up for some moderate walking. The bright side? The view on the way to the beach is amazing. You will not be disappointed!
Related Post: A Perfect Day Out at Caledon State Park
2. Westmoreland State Park – Fossil Beach
What the fossil?
My jaw dropped to the sandy floor when I found fossils and shark teeth lying around the shore. This part of the beach was a 1.2-mile trail away. My kids were fascinated beyond belief, as you can see in the picture below.
Westmoreland State Park offers multiple campgrounds, picnic tables, and grill spots, plus a little goods shop nearby. The beach near me in virginia was not too crowded when we went there so it was quite peaceful. The Fossil Beach is undoubtedly the most rewarding part of visiting Westmoreland. You have to see it to believe it!
Social Distancing: There was just one other family in the beach area
Parking Area: Yes
Bathroom facility: Yes, it’s located at the park’s entrance
Cost: $7 per vehicle Entrance Fee
Rating: 4/5
Related Post: A Hidden Gem at Westmoreland State Park
3. Calvert Cliffs State Park
Calvert Cliffs State Park is in Lusby, MD. It’s a 90-minute drive away from Woodbridge, Virginia.
Calvert Clift State Park is the place to be if you wish to experience a one-of-a-kind hiking location where you can:
1. Explore nature
2. Enjoy the beautiful landscape
3. Relax, swim, or hunt shark teeth at the beach
Here are a few important things you need to keep in mind when planning your family’s beach adventure:
- This park is a thing of beauty, lined with multiple hiking trails, picnic areas, and a huge playground.
- Follow the ‘Red’ trail sign to locate the beach, which is a 1.8-mile hike away. This means you will have to cover 3.6 miles roundtrip through beautiful forest and marshland, so come prepared. Pack light and wear comfortable shoes.
- Note that they will allow you to take a stroller/wagon along ONLY if you have help.
Social Distancing: We enjoyed the solo life until 10:00 a.m. The beach got crowded later, so we put our mask on and realized it was time to head home.
Parking Area: Yes, but it’s limited. Try to reach as early as possible or you won’t be allowed in the park. (We arrived at 7:25 a.m.)
Bathroom facility: Yes, it was located 0.2 miles from the beach
Cost: *Cash only* | $5 for MD Residents & $7 for Out-of-State Residents
Rating: 4/5
Related Post: Exploring and Relaxing at Calvert Cliffs State Park
4. Aquia Landing Beach Park
Aquia Landing Beach Park is located in Stafford, which is a 40-minute drive away from Woodbridge, Virginia.
Take a trip down memory lane to a sandy beach where you can swim, fish, have a picnic, and find seashells on the seashore!
It really brought back our beachy memories.
The water is ideal for a quick swim to revive your senses. However, be prepared to catch a few seaweeds while in the water. My little one got a little freaked out after seeing one. I would highly suggest you bring water shoes so you could enjoy the experience to the fullest.
The beach has three big picnic spaces that are ideal for a beach party or birthday celebration. Moreover, Aquia Landing Park is a great beach for dog near me in Virginia, which deserves some brownie points!
Social Distancing: We only saw two other families on our visit.
Parking Area: Yes, but it’s limited. Please try to plan a trip during the week or early in the morning.
Bathroom facility: Yes
Cost: Free
Rating: 3/5
5. Terrapin Nature Park
Terrapin Nature Park is located in Stevensville, Maryland.
It is an award-winning nature park featuring the incredible 3.25-mile oyster chaff walking trail that leads to the beach. The trail offers spectacular views of wildflowers, orchids, and woodlands. It’s like a dream come true for all nature lovers!
You can linger your eyes on migratory birds or collect sea glass from the shore. It is a great place for kids to enjoy and connect with nature. This beach at Maryland is calm and peaceful; perfect for leisurely family time.
Social Distancing: The place is not too crowded.
Parking Area: Yes, but it’s limited. Please try to plan a trip during the week or early in the morning.
Bathroom facility: Yes
Cost: Free
Rating: 4/5
Related Post: Enjoy a Day at Terrapin Nature Park
6. Colonial Beach
Colonial Beach in Virginia is an approximately 75-minute drive away from Woodbridge, Virginia.
This beach is perfect for a lazy weekend afternoon outing. Just sit back and relax by the shore and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. The water is calm enough to use a floatie; your kids will thoroughly enjoy it.
Activities you can enjoy at Colonial Beach include kayaking, swimming, and surfing. The boardwalk features a variety of decent restaurants where you can enjoy fresh seafood with your family.
Some tips to follow for a safe and fun-filled beach adventure:
- Plan your visit during the week to avoid the extra crowd.
- If you are traveling from Northern VA/D.C./ MD, try to leave as early as possible.
- Bring floaties from home to double the fun!
- Pack your food and drinks if you wish to avoid eating out.
- Bring wipes, hand sanitizer, and hand soap. Hygiene is everything!
- Stay away from other people and most importantly, don’t forget to wear your mask.
Social Distancing: Social distancing is easy as there were only a few other people on the beach.
Parking Area: Yes, you may park on the street for free or pay for parking at the boardwalk
Bathroom facility: Yes, the town provides bathrooms and outdoor showers along Wilder Street.
Cost: Free
Ranking: 3.5/5
7. Mason Neck State Park
Mason Neck State Park is located in Lorton, Virginia.
Mason Neck State Park is home to the beautiful Bay View Trail, which is a 1.3 mile hike leading to a fantastic view of the beach. The trail is a flat walk in the woods, ideal for the whole family. We got to learn so much about various types of animals and birds on our walk.
The restrooms are clean and not too crowded, and the place is stroller-friendly. I will recommend you pack some food and drinks to enjoy a long, relaxing day at their mini beach area.
Social Distancing: Social distancing is easy as there were only a few other people on the beach.
Parking Area: Yes
Bathroom facility: Yes
Cost: Weekdays: $7 | Weekends: $10 | FREE for active military personal and Lorton residents.
Ranking: 3.5/5
8. Cunningham Falls State Park
Cunningham Falls State Park is located in the Catoctin Mountains in Thurmont, Maryland.
You can hike to the waterfall, fish for trouts, and swim in the permitted area at the lake. They also offer paddle boat rentals, vending machines, picnic tables, and clean bathrooms. The beach area is small and limited however, we absolutely enjoyed our time on the beach with the view.
If you have time during your visit take the Cunningham Falls Lower Trail and Cliff Trail 1.1 mile Loop to the waterfall. There is no better therapy than a nature walk and stunning views!
Social Distancing: Social distancing is easier on weekdays as the beach area is relative small
Parking Area: Yes
Bathroom facility: Yes
Cost: $3 per person for residents of Maryland and $5 per person for out of state residents. This fee increases on the weekend and holidays to $5 for residents of Maryland and $7 for out of state residents.
Ranking: 3/5
9. Leesylvania State Park
Leesylvania State Park is located in Woodbridge, Virginia.
It is a gorgeous park that links with the Potomac Heritage Trail and Julie Metz Wetland Preserve Trail, offering stunning views along the way. The park is lined with hiking trails, gazebos, picnic tables, and playground areas. There’s something for everyone to enjoy!
For a memorable experience, try visiting the park early morning to watch the sunrise. Bonus tip, the state park is dog-friendly! The view is out of this world!
Social Distancing: A few other families were there. I recommend going on weekdays before 2:00 p.m. to avoid large crowds.
Parking Area: Yes
Bathroom facility: Yes
Cost: Weekdays: $7 for the day
Ranking: 4/5
10. Chesapeake Beach
Chesapeake Beach is a town in Calvert County, Maryland.
If you prefer a more tranquil beach experience, Chesapeake Bay is the place for you. The town offers various attractions and activities for its visitors. You can:
- Hop on a beach-rail trail ride
- Visit the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum
- Enjoy fishing with Daydreamer Sportfishing
- Take a Chesapeake Windsail cruise tour
- Camp at the First Landing State Park
From classic beach routines like swimming and building sandcastles to taking an evening stroll around the shore, you can spend some quality time here with your family.
Social Distancing: On off-seasons only
Parking Area: Yes
Bathroom facility: Yes
Cost: Free
Ranking: 4/5
11. Lake Anna State Park
Lake Anna State Park is located in Spotsylvania County in Virginia.
Lake Anna State Park features a clean and beautiful beach where you can swim, play in the sand or just sit by the shore and enjoy the view. Our favorite part about this beach was that they have electrical outlets at the buildings where you can fill your floaties and other inflatables. A great activity for the kids.
There are multiple trails, campgrounds, cabins and lodges that you can rent out and enjoy an overnight stay by the lake. A must-visit place in the summer.
Social Distancing: I recommend going on weekdays to avoid large crowds.
Parking Area: Yes, parking fee is charged.
Bathroom facility: Yes
Cost: Weekdays: $7 | Weekends: $10
Rating: 4/5
12. Dolphin Beach at Montclair
Dolphin Beach is one of the three private beaches located in Montclair, Virginia.
It is accessible to Montclair residents only. Nonresidents can visit prior or after Memorial Day weekend and labor day. Passes are required during the summer season to visit.
The private beach features exclusive basketball and volleyball courts, which is perfect for all sports lovers. They have multiple picnic tables and barbecue grills where you can have a barbecueparty with your family and friends.
We had a splendid time at the beach as it was a rainy day when we visited. Rain and ocean, the best of nature’s two bounties at the same time! It was truly mesmerizing. We feasted on a delicious lunch and some sweet wine in the rain. The walk along the trail was another memorable experience from that day.
My kids were thrilled to find an empty playground while the adults enjoyed an exclusive Spanish lesson. We also carried out a little science experiment with the kids where they learned about different shapes, colors, and sizes. Click here to find out more about it.
Social Distancing: No one else was at the park on a rainy day
Parking Area: Yes
Bathroom facility: Yes
Cost: Free for residents
Rating: 4/5
We hope you enjoyed reading our DMV Beach guide as much as we enjoyed sharing the experiences. What are your favorite beaches around the DMV area that you and your family love to visit? Please comment below and share your thoughts with us.
For more travel tales, follow us on Instagram at @KidsQuarantineAndMe.
Wishing you a beach-full day! 🙂
