Little Island Park is a great park and playground right along the beach located in Sandbridge, the Southeastern-most part of Virginia Beach.

The park is run by the city of Virginia Beach and offers a ton of amenities, especially during the summer season.

The park is open from 8 am to 9 pm. Parking is available in a city lot for $5 per day between Memorial Day and Labor Day (free after 5 pm), but during the off-season, the parking lot is open and free. During the summer season, you’ll want to get there early as parking lines often start around 11 am. We love going during the off-season when there is rarely a crowd!

The playground at Little Island Park is great for all ages. The rubber mat flooring keeps little barefooted beachgoers splinter-free. There are four baby swings, five big kid swings, and one accessible swing available at the playground. There are also multiple slides and a great set of curved monkey bars. Our favorite feature at this park is a larger rock climbing wall with plenty of room for multiple children.

Right next to the playground there are several picnic shelters, which can be rented out through the city for a party or barbecue, or used by anyone when not in use. There is also an uncovered picnic area if you prefer to soak up the sun. Both the shelters and picnic area are equipped with charcoal grills and a great place to have a picnic or cook up some hotdogs.

There are also two bathhouses on either side of the playground with restrooms inside (open year-round) and outdoor showers and foot rinse stations (open during the summer).

Just over the dunes next to the playground, you will find a nice stretch of Sandbridge Beach! The perfect place to dig in the sand, hunt for treasures (we love to collect shells, rocks, and driftwood), or take a dip in the ocean. There is also a fishing pier in the park. For a small fee, you can fish off the pier or walk down to the end to take in the views and sea air.

If you have older kids, there are also tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts available at Little Island Park. You are also able to check out equipment such as balls, cornhole boards, and frisbees from the park office.

Since Sandbridge is pretty far out from central Virginia Beach, we like to make a day of it when heading down there. When we visit Little Island Park we’ll tack it on to a beach day at Sandbridge Beach or a nature walk in Back Bay Wildlife Refuge, which is just north of the park. On the way home, be sure to stop at Ben & Jerry’s for an ice cream cone, which you’ll pass on your drive out of Sandbridge (open seasonally).