45th Street (Virginia Beach)
- Freeride, Wave
- Best for
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Skill Level
- Chop, Ocean
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Kiteboarding at 45th Street is typically set up around ocean chop and rolling beach-break waves, with side/side-onshore wind directions favored. Wind is commonly reported in the N to S range and is strongest in spring through fall; one source emphasizes an afternoon sea-breeze/thermal pattern, while another describes frontal/thermal influence. Typical wind reporting ranges from about 10–30 mph (or roughly 12–25 knots in one provider dataset).
- Designated kiteboarding access at 45th and 88th Streets
- Works best in N, NE, SE, and S winds
- April to October is the primary kitesurfing season
- Seasonal lifeguards and clear summer-zone rules
- City-designated kiteboarding launch/landing area at 45th Street
- Clean, sandy beach with ocean chop and beach-break wave potential
- Seasonal lifeguard coverage and limited rescue availability
- Amenities such as showers, toilets, and food nearby
- Currents can be strong with rip/longshore drift reported
- Summer enforcement and riding-zone restrictions can be strict
- Parking and beach access can be difficult on peak weekends
- Surfing conditions can close out on bigger swell
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NE, SE, S
- Wind Range
- 10–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — Provider data describes thermals as a key wind driver; regional context also notes thermal/sea-breeze and frontal influence.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Steady — Steady conditions are reported by one provider; another provider indicates light gusts.
- Best Months
- April, May, September, October
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Chop, Ocean
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Small — Surf/waves are commonly described as small to medium for the spot area.
- Chop Level
- Moderate chop — Chop is explicitly reported; one provider also references ocean chop and rolling conditions.
- Launch
- Medium — Designated launch/landing site at 45th Street; described as wide sandy beach with ample space except at high tide.
Through the year
Heavy summer beach crowds; low-to-moderate for water sports in the off-season.
Hurricane season risk peaks in August and September; thunderstorms most frequent in July and August.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Designated kiteboarding launch/landing area featuring ocean chop and rolling beach-break conditions; side to side-onshore winds are favored onshore.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Usable for ocean freeride and wave sailing, though less common than kiteboarding at this street.
- Sail Sizes
- 5–7 m²
Increasingly popular due to the sandy bottom and generally consistent ocean swell.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil-friendly conditions reported; minimum depth provided.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Typical Mid-Atlantic beach break that can produce fun, peaky waves during swell events; currents and swimmers present.
- Optimal Swell
- NE, E, SE
- Swell Height
- 0.5–1.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid
- Shelter
- Exposed
- Wind Effect
- Sideshore or offshore winds groom the waves.
- Bigger Swell
- Tends to close out when swell exceeds 2 meters.
- Wave Quality
- Average
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Mushy
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Provider describes peel speed as medium.
- Ride Length
- Short
- Typical Ride Length
- 30–60 m
- Ride Length Details
- Typical ride length is reported as 30–60 meters.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for 45th Street (Virginia Beach) in the full forecast view.
45th Street (Virginia Beach) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–15 ktsGusts 23 kts
- Direction
- NE43°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2515 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.2–0.7 m6s period
- Temperature
- 12–19 °C
Over the next 7 days, 45th Street (Virginia Beach) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–15 kts, peaking around 15 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 23 kts. The prevailing direction is NE. Waves run 0.2–0.7 m with a period of about 6s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- strong currents
- piers
- rock jetties
- rip currents
- summer swimmers
- shore break
- longshore drift
- surfers
- swimmers
- kayaks
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguard coverage along the oceanfront.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability is reported as limited, with seasonal lifeguard support.
- Emergency Info
- Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service is active during summer months; dial 911 for emergencies.
- Localism / Vibe
- None — One provider indicates no localism; another describes mild localism—overall this is best treated as low.
Rules of the spot
Use designated launch/landing sites at 45th and 88th Streets during summer months. No riding from 1st to 40th St. along the oceanfront from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Surfing prohibited within 30 feet of the shoreline.
- NO riding from 1st to 40th St. at the ocean front (Memorial Day to Labor Day).
- Surfing prohibited within 30 feet of shoreline.
- No kiting between 10:00 and 18:00 on non-designated beaches from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
- Downwinders are common, so riders may not all congregate in one spot for long.
- Check seasonal city beach restrictions before you go (parking and access can be harder on summer weekends).
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Virginia Beach
- Nearest Town
- Virginia Beach
- Nearest Airport
- Norfolk International Airport (ORF), about 15–18 miles (24–29 km) from the oceanfront.
- Parking
- Parking can be limited; limited street parking and public metered spots nearby are reported.
- Public Transport
- Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) bus services, including a seasonal Atlantic Avenue Trolley along the oceanfront.
- Access
- From Norfolk take Hwy 44 east to Virginia Beach; turn north. Designated launch/landing sites are 45th and 88th Street.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Direct — Numerous hotels and vacation rentals line the oceanfront.
- Food & Drink
- Food is available on the spot; multiple restaurants and bars are within walking distance south of the spot.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is available along Atlantic Avenue (surf and SUP), and local shops provide rentals for related water sports.
- Gear Repair
- Basic repairs for kite/board gear and surf/equipment repairs are available via local shops.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Virginia Beach offers a large boardwalk tourism core plus nearby parks and marine attractions.
A 3-mile concrete boardwalk featuring shops, restaurants, and ocean views.
A large park with hiking/biking trails and access to the Chesapeake Bay.
A major aquarium featuring local marine life and interactive exhibits.
An outdoor social garden popular with locals for drinks and games.
A Caribbean-themed water park with slides and a wave pool.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at 45th Street (Virginia Beach)?
The best overall months at 45th Street (Virginia Beach) are April, May, June, July, August, September, October. The best wind months are April, May, September, October.
Which wind directions work at 45th Street (Virginia Beach)?
45th Street (Virginia Beach) works with N, NE, SE, S winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at 45th Street (Virginia Beach)?
Recommended equipment sizes at 45th Street (Virginia Beach): Kitesurfing: 9–14 m² · Windsurfing: 5–7 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 10–25 kts.
What skill level is 45th Street (Virginia Beach) suitable for?
45th Street (Virginia Beach) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner.