First Street Jetty (Virginia Beach)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Crowded
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Expect an ocean-facing, sandy-bottom jetty break with notable hazards. Strong rip currents often form alongside the jetty and rocks, and crowding can add collision risk. During summer, surfing is restricted to designated zones and hours under blackball rules, so it’s important to follow the flags/checkered-flag enforcement and avoid swimming-designated areas. When conditions line up—particularly with appropriate swells and tide—peeling, jetty-groomed waves can produce structured rides, especially on the right-hand line off the jetty.
- Best around high tide; low tide can dump/close out on sand
- SE/E swells are a common best-case direction window
- Jetty maintains a channel even as swell gets larger
- Reliable exposed beach/jetty break with year-round surf
- Often works best at high tide (and can be good on incoming mid-tide)
- Jetty structure helps maintain more organized wave faces/channeling than the adjacent open beach
- Strong rip currents along the jetty and around the rock sections
- Rocks and heavy crowds increase the challenge and risk
- Summer blackball/checkered-flag surfing restrictions limit where and when surfing is allowed
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- W, NW, SW
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Reliability
- moderate
- Shadow Zones
- The jetty can provide slight protection from strong North/Northeast winds.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Small — Small waves are commonly referenced for summer; larger swells are associated with fall/winter.
- Launch
- Medium — Wide sandy beach launch located at the south end of the boardwalk.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Easy launch described for this jetty/beach approach.
Through the year
Often crowded year-round, especially in summer; much quieter in winter.
Hurricane season runs from June through November (peaking around September), with winter nor'easters also noted.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Occasionally practiced off-season when crowds are lower, though the surf zone can be tight for foils.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Foil-friendly conditions are described as limited.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Exposed beach/jetty break with reliable surf year-round, working best around high tide and particularly with SE/E swells. The jetty helps maintain a channel but conditions can still include strong rip currents and rocky sections.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- E, ENE, SE
- Swell Height
- 0.6–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- High, Mid — Best around high tide; mid-tide often described as the sweet spot.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Exposed to open conditions, but the jetty structure can provide some channeling and limited protection compared with the open beach.
- Wind Effect
- West winds groom the faces; East winds can create heavy chop.
- Bigger Swell
- Can hold shape on larger fall/winter swells; may close out on very large swells, though the jetty can help maintain a channel.
- Wave Quality
- Good
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Mixed — Peeling/mixed jetty-controlled waves; often described as peeling and jetty-groomed.
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — Rights off the jetty are typically longer and more structured than the lefts.
- Typical Ride Length
- 40–80 m
- Ride Length Details
- Typical rides are reported in the 40–80 meter range; rights off the jetty are often longer/structured.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for First Street Jetty (Virginia Beach) in the full forecast view.
First Street Jetty (Virginia Beach) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–15 ktsGusts 23 kts
- Direction
- NE42°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2515 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.5–1.7 m7s period
- Temperature
- 11–20 °C
Over the next 7 days, First Street Jetty (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 0.5–1.7 m with a period of about 7s. 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
- rocks
- strong rip currents along the jetty
- heavy crowds
- board collisions
- rip currents pulling outward alongside the jetty
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguards May to September.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability is described as limited at the spot level, with seasonal lifeguard coverage; regional coverage includes Coast Guard and local marine rescue support.
- Emergency Info
- Emergency number: 911. Lifeguards are on duty seasonally from May to September; U.S. Coast Guard and local marine rescue units support the area.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild
Rules of the spot
Surfers must wear a leash. Summer blackball/checkered-flag rules enforce surfing-only zones during designated summer periods. Check flags and current rules before paddling out.
- Surfing restrictions are enforced from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend; surf-only zones apply.
- No surfing in designated swimming areas during summer days.
- Surfing prohibited within 30 feet of shoreline.
- Designated surfing zones only during blackball season (Memorial Day to Labor Day).
- Take care of rocks and locals.
- Go around high tide; low tide can be very dumpy and close out on the sand.
- Check current rules and flags before paddling out.
- Incoming mid-tide is generally the sweet spot.
- Rights off the jetty are the main attraction but also the most crowded.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Virginia Beach
- Nearest Town
- Virginia Beach
- Nearest Airport
- Norfolk International Airport (ORF) ~20 miles (32 km) away
- Parking
- $4 parking fee at 1st Street; plenty of parking lots available where the Lighthouse Restaurant once was
- Public Transport
- Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) serves the area, including seasonal trolley services along the oceanfront; personal vehicles are preferred for gear transport.
- Access
- Follow signs to 1st Street in Virginia Beach; pay $4 for parking; beach is right in front.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Numerous hotels and resorts line the boardwalk within walking distance.
- Food & Drink
- Multiple restaurants and bars are on the boardwalk at the 1st Street entrance; additional nearby options along the oceanfront.
- Equipment Rental:
- Surfboard and wetsuit rentals are available at local shops within a short walk (described as within a 2-block radius).
- Gear Storage
- Some local surf shops offer limited storage for regulars; many visitors rely on vehicle or nearby hotel storage.
- Gear Repair
- Several local surf shops provide board repair services.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at First Street Jetty (Virginia Beach)?
The best overall months at First Street Jetty (Virginia Beach) are September, October.
Which wind directions work at First Street Jetty (Virginia Beach)?
First Street Jetty (Virginia Beach) works with W, NW, SW winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at First Street Jetty (Virginia Beach)?
Recommended equipment sizes at First Street Jetty (Virginia Beach): Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 10–20 kts.
What skill level is First Street Jetty (Virginia Beach) suitable for?
First Street Jetty (Virginia Beach) suits these riding levels: Wingfoiling: Advanced · Surfing: Beginner to Intermediate.