81°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
71%
17
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
Skip the beach today.
71% rain · Thunderstorms · NWS alert active
Full NWS forecast for Today
Showers and thunderstorms likely before 5pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. East wind 7 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. East wind 15 to 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Weather
- 81°F air — ideal beach weather
- 71% rain — wet day — beach day is off
Water
- 80°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- Thunderstorms — stay off the water when storms approach
- NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued july 12 at 6:58am edt until july 13 at 7:00pm edt by nws wakefield va
6 /100
skip
0 Swim
28 Sunbathe
0 Walk
0 Fish
22 Photo
Best for sunbathing today
Small Craft Small Craft Advisory
Small Craft Advisory issued July 12 at 6:58AM EDT until July 13 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...East winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt expected. * WHERE...Currituck Sound. * WHEN...From 7 PM this evening to 7 PM EDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
81°F
Cloudy
Wind
7 to 15 mph
E
Rain
71%
Today
UV Peak
1 Low
Peaks 11 AM · burn in ~200m
Burn-free before 10 AM & after 12 PM
Tomorrow
80°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Water
Water Temp
80°F
Swimming weather
Next High Tide
6:58 PM
4.1 ft · in 3.8h
Wave Height
1.6 ft
11s · ESE swell
Water Quality
Clean
10 cfu/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 6w ago
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
5:54 AM
Sunset
8:23 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:42 AM | Low | -0.0 ft |
| 6:24 AM | High | 2.7 ft |
| 12:26 PM | Low | -0.2 ft |
| 6:58 PM | High | 4.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:43 AM | Low | -0.2 ft |
| 7:28 AM | High | 2.9 ft |
| 1:29 PM | Low | -0.3 ft |
| 7:57 PM | High | 4.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:36 AM | Low | -0.3 ft |
| 8:26 AM | High | 3.1 ft |
| 2:27 PM | Low | -0.4 ft |
| 8:51 PM | High | 4.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:26 AM | Low | -0.4 ft |
| 9:21 AM | High | 3.3 ft |
| 3:22 PM | Low | -0.3 ft |
| 9:43 PM | High | 4.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:14 AM | Low | -0.4 ft |
| 10:15 AM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 4:17 PM | Low | -0.2 ft |
| 10:33 PM | High | 3.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:04 AM | Low | -0.3 ft |
| 11:10 AM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 5:16 PM | Low | -0.0 ft |
| 11:23 PM | High | 3.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:52 AM | Low | -0.2 ft |
| 12:02 PM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 6:16 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8638999, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
80°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
51%
19
82°
Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
33%
70
88°
Sunny
6%
82
91°
Sunny
5%
79
91°
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
19%
40
90°
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
29%
36
What to Bring Today
- recommended Sturdy umbrella + sand anchor 7 to 15 mph wind
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 80°F
- recommended Rain cover + dry bag 71% chance of rain
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.
Major
9:50 PM - 11:50 PM
Minor
3:10 AM - 4:10 AM
Major
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Minor
6:50 PM - 7:50 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
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at False Cape State Park today?
False Cape State Park shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. No lifeguards are on duty, so check the day's conditions and swim with caution. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
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