Surfing Virginia Beach First Street: The Complete Guide

Virginia Beach First Street is a sandy-bottom beach break located in Virginia Beach, USA, offering both lefts and rights along USA's coastline. Virginia Beach First Street has hosted the East Coast Surfing Championships since 1963, making it the longest-running surf contest in the country and a landmark in American surfing history. Rated as intermediate difficulty with crowded conditions, this beach break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is E (80°), with workable conditions from NE to SE (50°–130°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Virginia Beach First Street needs a minimum of 0.6m / 2ft to start working and handles swells up to 2.5m / 8ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 8 seconds, with 12 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the W (270°). The full offshore range spans WSW to NW (240°–310°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at low to mid tide. Optimal tide range is 0.3m–1.2m.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Virginia Beach First Street runs September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April (Sep–Apr). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Secondary Season: A secondary window opens August (August). While not as consistent, patient surfers can still score quality sessions during this period.

Season Notes: Hurricane swells and nor'easters best.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 18°C / 64°F. Bring a 3/2mm wetsuit — 4/3mm in winter months.

Getting There

The nearest airport is ORF, roughly 25 minutes by car.

Access: Resort area. Paid parking.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

👥 Crowded — Gets very crowded
🌀 Strong rips — Dangerous currents

Crowded resort beach.

Safety Tips:

Study the currents before paddling out. Know your exit strategy
Surf early mornings or off-peak days to avoid the worst of the crowds

Skill Level: This spot is rated intermediate (4/10). Crowd Level: Typically crowded (8/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Virginia Beach First Street? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Virginia Beach First Street is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*