Overview
Sandbridge Beach is a stretch of beach break south of Virginia Beach's resort strip, cut off from the circus by Camp Pendleton and a roughly 20-minute drive from the 1st Street Jetty. That isolation is a big part of the appeal: many surfers live along the multi-mile beach, giving them Virginia Beach residency without the crowds. There are four main breaks here, Little Island Pier, S-Turns, Rock Lane and the Market. Aside from an occasional shorebreak by the pier, they generally break over an outer sandbar that leads into a deeper spot, and the beach tends to hold a bit more size than Virginia Beach proper. There are no hotels, only weekly, monthly and seasonal rentals, and just one market, known simply as "the market."
When It Works
Sandbridge picks up swell from northeast to southeast (NE-SE) and works from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 3 m / 10 ft, breaking both left and right over sand. It's storm dependent, coming to life with tropical cyclones in late summer and fall, then frontal activity and nor'easters through late fall and winter, with autumn the standout season. It rates below average overall, but the payoff is that it usually sees a touch more size than the rest of Virginia Beach across most swell directions. Paddling out is normally straightforward, though hurricane swells and bigger southeast swells can turn it into a bit of work.
Wind and Tide
Look for west-southwest (WSW) offshore wind, with a workable wind window running from southwest to west (SW-W). It breaks on low to mid tide, and a rising tide is generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is a forgiving, versatile beach that suits everyone from beginners to experts, and it handles just about any craft, from shortboards, fish and funboards to longboards, SUPs, skimboards, bodyboards and even kiteboards. The lineup stays fairly quiet and can feel a little reserved. Summer draws more people, but there's enough room to spread out and paddle away from the pack.
Access
Getting in is easy in the offseason and a bit more of a hassle once summer crowds arrive.
