Vacationing to Colonial Beach Virginia Hotels? This riverside resort town has the second-longest public beach in Virginia and is rich in heritage and unspoiled beauty. The area is great for bird watching, and you might spot a bald eagle or two. You can visit the birth places of George Washington and James Monroe. You can watch drag racing at the Colonial Beach Dragway, or you can just lounge on the beach. You can also enjoy fishing on the pier, paddle boarding, kayaking, or searching for ancient fossilized sharks teeth on the beach.
Surrounded by water on three sides and having a variety of marinas, this place is a boater’s paradise. There’s a public boat ramp in town. No boat? You can also try charter fishing or a dinner cruise. Rent bicycles, golf carts or take the town trolley service to get around. Take your family and friends, there’s something for everyone on Colonial Beach! visit all the Best Virginia beaches here.
Colonial Beach Weather – When to Visit
The best time to visit Colonial Beach is from late May to early September, when you’ll experience oceanfront culture in full swing. This is the peak season and Colonial Beach can get crowded during these months, plus room rates at beachfront hotels are generally higher between Memorial Day and Labor Day. For lower prices and relatively comfortable temps, arrive in spring (from March to mid-May) or fall (between mid-September and November). You can also enjoy a savings by visiting in December, January or February, but you’ll need to bundle up and may encounter reduced hours at select attractions.
Best Colonial Beach Area Beaches
Colonial Beach
Colonial Beach is located between the Potomac River and Monroe Bay. There are several marina’s nearby, so you can plan a full beach itinerary with different activities during your stay, from swimming and water sports to boating and fishing. Colonial Beach is pet-friendly from October 1 through March 31, as long as pets are on a leash.
Cape Charles Beach
This beach is free to the public and features a gorgeous strip of sand. It’s a great spot for little ones, with shallow pools of water and soft waves ideal for wading into. Cape Charles Beach makes for a great day-trip with all the local shops and restaurants nearby.
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Kiptopeke State Park
With a swimming beach and a bathhouse, the waterfront at Kiptopeke State Park is a beautiful place to explore. The soft sands that lead into the Chesapeake Bay make the perfect spot for a picnic. Visitors can also camp here or opt to stay in one of the park’s cabins.
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Chesapeake Beach
This beach is less crowded than the nearby Virginia Beach, especially if you visit during the week. Locals head here to admire a breathtaking sunset, a quick dip, and enjoy the atmosphere of what’s considered to be the best sandy beach in Virginia.
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Outlook Beach
Outlook Beach is a hidden gem in the Hampton Area. With lifeguards on duty during the summer, this spot is an especially family-friendly beach. While there’s plenty of shoreline near Fort Monroe, Outlook Beach is the only public beach.
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Best Colonial Area (Virginia Beach) Tours & Activities
Sun Dolphin Kayak Tour
Watch the sun set over Chesapeake Bay on a 2-hour, small-group dolphin tour by kayak from Virginia Beach. Paddle along the coast as you spot Atlantic bottle nose dolphins, and see the Cape Henry Lighthouses and Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel from the water. Learn more about the Sun Dolphin Kayak Tour.
Wetland Zip Tour
Soar through the trees on this 90 minute zip tour through a gorgeous wetland forest. Climb up 70′ towers and fly though the air while seeing nature at its best. Learn more about the Wetland Zip Tour.
Sunset Stand Up Paddleboard Tour of Linkhorn Bay
Steer a stand-up paddleboard across Linkhorn Bay on a 1.5-hour sunset tour in Virginia Beach. Watch for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, blue herons, and kingfishers, and enjoy an easy going place to practice stand-up paddleboarding with help from experienced guides. Learn more about the Sunset Stand Up Paddleboard Tour of Linkhorn Bay.
Virginia Beach Surf Lessons
Experience the thrill of surfing in the Atlantic Ocean during surfing lessons on Virginia Beach. Choose from either private or group lessons to suit your schedule and budget; all levels are welcome and accommodated accordingly. All equipment and instruction included. Learn more about Virginia Beach Surf Lessons.
Small Group Dolphin Kayak Eco-Tour
Paddle alongside the wild dolphins of Virginia Beach on a small-group kayak tour from North End Beach. Watch for sea birds and other wildlife as you steer an easy to use, sit-on-top kayak along the coast to the Cape Henry Lighthouses. Learn about the Atlantic bottle nose dolphins that swim past the Virginia coast each summer, and explore the shore with an experienced guide. Learn more about the Small Group Dolphin Kayak Eco-Tour.
Best Colonial Beach Restaurants
Denson’s Grocery and R&B Oyster Bar $11 – 30
Denson’s is a 3rd generation family-owned local gourmet grocery and Chesapeake Bay ‘Farm to Table’ Curbside Takeout Restaurant. Telephone: 804-224-4121 Web: Denson’s Grocery & R&B Oyster Bar
Dockside Restaurant & Tiki Bar $11 – 30
Fun and enjoyable for all, whether you dine in by candlelight, the pub by the fireplace, on the screened-in porch, in the sand at our picnic tables or at our tiki bar. Live Entertainment & Weekly Specials Year Round! Telephone: 804-224-8726 Web: Dockside Restaurant & Tiki Bar
Light House Restaurant $11 – 30
A family owned and operated restaurant, for decades our family has been serving the freshest, flavorful and healthy All-American food and offer many daily specials. Telephone: 804-224-7580 Web: Light House Restaurant
Bobby K’s Roadside Cafe $11 – 30
Always a must stop, the food is great, fresh, delicious and well worth it. The prices are very reasonable. Friendly staff too. Telephone: 804-224-7578 Web: Bobby K’s Roadside Cafe
Ola’s Country Kitchen Under $10
Good service, home cooking – pleasant small restaurant in Colonial Beach. Do not stop here if you are in a big hurry! Telephone: Web: Ola’s Country Kitchen
Best Colonial Beach Bars
Dockside Restaurant & Tiki Bar
1787 Castlewood Dr, Colonial Beach Telephone: 804-224-8726 Web: Dockside Restaurant & Tiki Bar
High Tides on the Potomac
205 Taylor St, Colonial Beach Telephone: 804-224-8433 Web: High Tides on the Potomac
Hunan Diner
422 Washington Ave, Colonial Beach Telephone: 804-224-8754 Web: Hunan Diner
Light House Restaurant
11 Monroe Bay Ave, Colonial Beach Telephone: 804-224-7580 Web: Light House Restaurant
Wilkerson’s Seafood Restaurant
3900 McKinney Blvd, Colonial Beach Telephone: 804-224-7117
I love how informative this site is. Everything is very clear and well spaced out so that I can read right down the page. It is also very helpful to have images of all of the beaches and hotels. I have been looking into traveling now a little bit more because of the lack of traveling I have been able to do. This is very helpful content as I am not too far from Virginia and I will definitely consider these locations.
Great Nicholas, I am glad you enjoyed your visit to my Colonial Beach Virginia Hotels guide. Thanks for stopping by.
Wow, thanks for sharing looks fantastic. I have never been to this beach or location, but I am massive beach lover!! Today is actually the start of the summer holiday for my kids and have been wondering what we can do and where to head to. This location does look nice, I also really like the sound of the RnB restaurant bar too. the Chesapeake Beach could be a good option for us as you mention it’s less crowded. Thanks at least now I have a place to look into for over the summer break.
Great Kae, sounds like you have a great beach vacation planned with your family 🙂 Please let me know if you need any additional information.
Hi, thank you for this informational and very useful article regarding Colonian Beaches. To be honest, I have never been there but we do intent in the near future and if this pandemic will ever finish, to go visit these brilliant beaches. We have always looked, when it comes to booking for a small or longer vacation, for the best deals in the accommodation with breakfast, the tourist attractions and most of all, of course, the restaurants where we can fill our gaps. I like how you have incorporated everything in this article, thank you for this knowledge. Such an amazing place to have in my mind for my next trip, thank you so much. The question I believe is where do you think it will be the most convenient? Thank you, Blessings&love; to you.
Great Angel, glad you enjoyed! Thanks for stopping by!
Hi. I find your website totally inspiring and provoking of intense longing for some lazy beach time. I was curious to read that this area is also well-known for finding fossilized shark teeth. I have the fossilized tooth of a megalodon that I picked up a few years ago at the annual shark tooth festival near Venice Beach in Florida. I find these things so impressive I built a frame for it. The Colonial beach pictures you show here look huge and I particularly like some of the wilder-looking places. Well, at least we will be heading for the beach in about 4 days now! Best regards, Andy
Great Andy! So glad you enjoyed your visits to beach travel destinations.
I have to say, these articles really do tend to give me itchy feet. Makes me want to pack a bag and head for the airport if you know what i mean. But unfortunately due to one thing or another ten, then i cant do that today. But hpefully at some point soon i will be able to.
Yes, one day you will be able to. And you can come back to beach travel destinations and start planning. Thanks for stopping by!
Very intresting article on colonial beach virginia hotels , this sure looks like very interesting place for vacation ,wld love to visit sometime . Article cover every aspect of this location right from weather to when is the best time to visit .. also gives details about other virginia beaches with interesting pictures and drone shoot . very informative article thanks for sharing .
You’re welcome Navnit. Thanks for visiting beach travel destinations.
Hi,
We love travelling and have been denied this very thing due to the pandemic. Anyways, things are gradually opening up now, and I am sure that we shall be on our way vacationing soon.
Virginia, I have heard, is a wonderful place to visit. Sadly we haven’t been there and reading your article convinces me that a trip is certainly due.
Thanks for all the great information.
Regards,
Aps
You are very welcome Aps, thanks for visiting beach travel destinations!
Every time I come across your website I get the feeling I’m wasting my time being at home, Leahrae!
Virginia must be a great place to spend some of our free time near the seaside… and the way you always put things in your posts, such as interesting and clear writing I can imagine myself already there… I guess Chesapeake Beach would be my favourite!
Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work. Stay safe!
You are very welcome Antonio! I am glad you are enjoying your visits 😀
I love visiting your site and finding new beach destinations. I love walking on the beach, so with the second longest public beach in Virginia, Colonial Beach sounds like a definite for me. Staying in a cabin at Kiptopeke State Park sounds like a good option for me. Do you know if the cabins are close to the water?
Watching the sunset at Chesapeake Bay sounds like the perfect way to end the day.
They are close to the water 🙂 You’ll can go on their site and you will see a map. Some are closer to the water then others, just depends on availability.
Hi. Thanks for this article. It was a pleasure reading it!
I read another article of yours before about Bethany Beach. I kept that destination in mind since there’s been a long time since I travelled, but now here comes Colonial Beach. I don’t know which I should choose, or should I go to both places, who knows??
The description is so thorough, I get all the information I need without searching elsewhere!
Best regards,
Dominique
You could visit both! They are not too far apart really 🙂 I am glad you enjoyed your visit to beach travel destinations.
Hey there, I absolutely love coming back to your site and seeing new articles about beach destinations. As someone who loves relaxing, water, and the tropics, I find these articles enjoyable to read. When I was ten years old, I went to virginia but I don’t remember much of what it was like. It’s amazing to see how much there is to do in virginia and I wasn’t aware of the beautiful beaches you discuss in your article. I would want to try the wetland zip tour you mentioned. And the sun dolphin kayak tour sounds fun as well. What kind of cocktails does a tiki bar have?
A tiki bar has all the cocktail you would get an any bar, except you will find a lot of frozen concoctions like rum runners, daiquiri’s, margaritas, and that sort of drink. Perfect drink to sip while taking in all the beauty 🙂
Wow! What a great article you’ve shared. I personally think that Colonial beach Virginia Hotel is the place to be. I’ve never been here before but, from the look of these pictures, the place is really amazing and fun. I like the fact that it also offers rental bicycles and golf carts, this can be fun and refreshing. Thanks for sharing such interesting information with us, I will further share it with others.
You are welcome! Thank you for stopping by my Colonial Beach Virginia Hotels guide and taking the time to leave me comments.
Your site is going to cost me a lot of money because every time I read one of your posts the destination gets added to my list, your posts are very well written and really make me want to visit each area you review, I especially like the restaurant section, finding quality places to eat is part of a holiday (vacation) for me and my family.
I’ve now bookmarked your site and will need to win the lottery this weekend just so I can start to visit some of the destinations you’re reviewing once we get travel restrictions lifted!!
Thank you.
I need the lottery too David! I would love to do nothing but travel from beach destination to beach destination 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.