$20 / night

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Established Camping

False Cape State Park Campground

11 Reviews

About

State Park

Primitive camping year-round. No cabins. The park does not offer same-day reservations. For information on the availability of overnight accommodations and particular amenities or to make a reservation, call (800) 933-PARK.

All campers must receive their confirmation letter and information packet before camping at this park. Carefully and thoroughly read the information you receive. False Cape is unusual and can be unpleasant for those who are unprepared. The packet is generally sent via email, but if you need it sent by postal mail, be sure to allow enough time to receive it. No exceptions. All overnight guests must bring two copies of their confirmation letter. One must be placed on the dashboard of their vehicle; the other clipped to the site marker.

Because False Cape is very primitive and has unusually restrictive access, reservations are not available online. For safety's sake, please take the time to carefully read and follow the information below.

Parking is never available at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge for overnight guests. Campers must instead park at the Little Island City Park, leave a copy of their confirmation letter on the dashboard, and walk from five to nine miles through Back Bay Refuge to the park’s campsites. Pets are not allowed access to the park through the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. See below for more information. Beach camping is subject to tides. During significant high tide events, the park may close the campsites. All park guests are subject to Back Bay Refuge and Little Island City Park's rules and regulations. Campers must be out of the refuge before sunset when arriving and departing False Cape State Park. Be prepared for biting insects during summer. They are very common. Little Island City Park in Virginia Beach - the place from which most visitors depart to False Cape - is closed on New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, at noon the day prior to Thanksgiving Day, on Thanksgiving Day, at noon on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. On days when the lot is closed, False Cape staff will meet incoming and outgoing campers at 1 p.m. sharp to let current campers depart and incoming campers enter with enough time to hike, bike and set up camp before nightfall (about 5 p.m.)

Reservation Info

Camping is permitted year-round, but reservations are required. Same-day reservations aren't taken for False Cape. Campsites at the park are in four distinct areas - Barbour Hill Bay, Barbour Hill Ocean, False Cape Landing Bay and False Cape Landing Ocean - which are separated by significant distances. For camping information, contact the Customer Service Center at 1-800-933-7275.

The park accommodates tents-only primitive camping. Drinking water is available at three locations in the Barbour Hill area (one by the contact station and two in the camping areas). False Cape Landing campers must bring their own containers to transport water from the water source. Water that's adequate for washing dishes but not for drinking is available in the False Cape Landing area. There are several pit (i.e., non-flushing) toilets. Open fires are not permitted; camp stoves may be used for cooking. Carry everything in and everything out.

Campers should also be aware that groups of 10 or must get a special-use permit from the refuge at least two weeks in advance of their trip. There's no vehicular access to this park. Passage by foot or bicycle only, and only during daylight hours, is allowed through the refuge. Vehicular access through the refuge and False Cape State Park is prohibited, and violators will be prosecuted for trespassing.

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.

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Site Types

  • Tent Sites

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • ADA Access
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets

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Reviews

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11 Reviews

Bo0M360 G.
Reviewed Aug. 20, 2021

Great park to visit!

You can also make it to the park on a bike and it's a great place to go bikepacking as well.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of False Cape State Park Campground by Bo0M360 G., August 20, 2021
  • Review photo of False Cape State Park Campground by Bo0M360 G., August 20, 2021
  • Review photo of False Cape State Park Campground by Bo0M360 G., August 20, 2021
K
Reviewed Jul. 18, 2021

Great stay

We had a wonderful time. It was super windy at the beach but at our campsite under the trees it felt great. Spacious enough we weren’t right on top of each other.

Site23
Month of VisitJune
  • Play button icon
  • Review photo of False Cape State Park Campground by Kailyn  U., July 18, 2021
  • Review photo of False Cape State Park Campground by Kailyn  U., July 18, 2021
Jesse S.
Reviewed Jul. 30, 2020

Perfect Isolation

Nice isolation, wonderful clean beach, have to hike or bike minimally 4mi from Back Bay NWR to get to the park. Bring plenty of water for hike in during summer, hardly any shade hiking in. Campgrounds are clean, fair amount of bugs so bring spray, multiple drinking water locations around Barbour Hill Bay and Ocean Side.

  • Review photo of False Cape State Park Campground by Jesse S., July 30, 2020
  • Review photo of False Cape State Park Campground by Jesse S., July 30, 2020
  • Review photo of False Cape State Park Campground by Jesse S., July 30, 2020
  • (9) View All

Location

False Cape State Park Campground is located in Virginia

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Interstate 64, exit on to Indian River Road East. Go 13 miles, then turn left onto Newbridge Road, then right onto Sandbridge Road. Next, turn right onto Sandpiper Road to Little Island City Park. Parking fees required Memorial Day to Labor Day. Day use only parking also is available at Back Bay Wildlife Refuge

Address

4001 Sandpiper Rd
Virginia Beach, VA 23457

Coordinates

36.64146889 N
75.90371182 W

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