Kiptopeke State Park

General Information

On Virginia's beautiful Eastern Shore, explored by Capt. John Smith in 1608, Kiptopeke offers recreational access to the Chesapeake Bay. It's also a great place to explore unique migratory bird habitat along the Atlantic flyway. The park has two and three-bedroom cabins, six-bedroom lodges, RV and tent camping, yurts and a bunkhouse. Guests also enjoy the park's boat ramp, lighted fishing pier, picnic areas, 5.1 miles of hiking and biking trails, playground, beach bathhouse and swimming beach. Seasonal interpretive and educational programs focus on natural history, birding and bay ecology.

Please don't bring any firewood into the park. Firewood can harbor destructive, invasive species.

Hours

Day use and overnight guest visitation, 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. Pier open 24 hours a day April 1 - Dec. 31.

Location

Located on Virginia's Eastern Shore, this park offers recreational access to the Chesapeake Bay and the chance to explore a unique coastal habitat featuring a major flyway for migratory birds. Kiptopeke is three miles from the northern terminus of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, which has a substantial each-way toll charge, on Route 13. Turn west on Route 704; the park entrance is within a half-mile. The park has an area for swimming from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Drive Time: (Coastal Virginia traffic may extend time) Northern Virginia, four hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, 45 minutes; Richmond, two hours; Roanoke, five hours.

Park Size

562 acres.

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Cabins, camping

OVERNIGHT FACILITIES

The park has camping, 6-bedroom family lodges, two and three-bedroom cabins, a yurt and a camping lodge (bunkhouse). For information on the availability of overnight accommodations, particular park amenities, or to make a reservation, reserve online or call 1-800-933-PARK. Rental rates for cabins and camping vary by season, dwelling and park. First, determine the appropriate season, which can vary by park, then the applicable rate.

Visit a Flickr photoset of overnight accommodations at the park. Facilities vary and may not match those in photos.

Here are the cancellation and transfer policies. A fee is charged per pet per night for cabin stays.

Cabins | Lodges | Yurts | Bunkhouse | Camping

Cabins

The park has two two-bedroom cabins and two three-bedroom cabins. A week-long stay is required between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day. This requirement is reduced to a four-night stay three months out and dropped to two nights in the last month before arrival. A two-night minimum stay is required the rest of the year. Cabin A rentals start on Fridays, cabins B and C start on Sunday, and cabin D starts on Saturday. Check-in is 4 p.m., check-out is 10 a.m. They are open year-round and may be reserved 11 months in advance. There’s parking for two cars for two-bedroom cabins and three cars for three-bedroom cabins.

Cabins include

• Kitchen: Refrigerator, stove, coffeemaker, dishes,  silverware, cooking utensils, pots, pans, microwave oven, toaster, can opener, clock radio
• No linens are provided. Guests must bring their own linens and towels. You may wish to bring your own pillow as well as a comforter for chilly nights.
• No TVs or phones. Cell service for most providers is available.
• No smoking inside
• Heated and air-conditioned with heat pump
• Gas logs
• Pet fee, $10 per pet per night

Total sites of each type: Two-bedroom frame, 2; 3 three-bedroom frame, 2.

Site types:

• Two-bedroom frame – Cabins B and C. Each sleeps up to six. One bath, one queen bed, two sets of bunk beds. Cabin C is ADA-accessible with a roll-in shower.
• Three-bedroom frame – Cabin A and D. Each sleeps up to eight. Two baths, one queen bed, two single beds in second bedroom, two sets of bunk beds in third bedroom. Cabin D is ADA-accessible with two tubs; one of the tubs has an adjustable shower head wand and a seat that may be installed on request.

Lodges

(sites Lod 01, 03, 04, 05 and 07)

Between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, lodges are rented by the week. This requirement is reduced to a four-night stay three months out and dropped to two nights in the last month before arrival. A two-night minimum stay is required the rest of the year. Rental starts on Friday for lodges 1 and 3, Saturday for lodges 4 and 5, and Sunday for lodge 7. Check-in is 4 p.m. and check-out is 10 a.m. They are open year-round and may be reserved 11 months in advance.

Each lodge has a front and back covered porch. Lodge 1 is ADA-accessible. Lodges 3, 4, 5 and 7 are partially accessible; they have no outside ramps. The kitchen, dining area, living room, one bedroom and one bath are accessible. The other bedrooms and bathrooms are not. Maximum six cars and two boat trailers (eight total spaces each lodge); all others must pay the daily park rate and park in the area designated by the park.

Lodges include

• Kitchen: Refrigerator, stove, coffeemaker, dishes, silverware, cooking utensils, pots, pans, microwave oven, toaster, can opener, clock radio
• No linens are provided. Guests must bring their own linens and towels. You may wish to bring your own pillow as well as a comforter for chilly nights.
• No TVs or phones. Cell service for most providers is available.
• No smoking inside
• Heated and air-conditioned with heat pump
• Gas logs
• Pet fee, $10 per pet per night

Total sites of each type: Six-bedroom lodge, 5.

Site types:

• Six-bedroom lodge – Lodges 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7. Each sleeps up to 16. Three baths, two bedrooms with a queen size bed in each, two bedrooms with two single beds in each, and two bedrooms with two sets of bunk beds in each.

Yurts

Recreational yurts are a modern adaptation of an ancient nomadic shelter. Functionally speaking, it's a cross between a tent and a cabin. Kiptopeke has four yurts tucked neatly into wooded areas for privacy and extra shade. Each yurt has a large wooden deck, a picnic table, a charcoal grill and a fire ring with a cooking grate. No smoking, cooking or pets are allowed.

Yurt 1 (deluxe) has heat and air conditioning and is available from the first Friday in March to Labor Day. Yurts 2, 3 and 4 (standard) have no heat, AC or electricity and are available from the first Friday in March through the first Sunday in December. Reservations are required. Parking for two vehicles is available. Those with additional vehicles must pay a daily parking fee and park in an overflow lot.

Check-in is 4 p.m. and checkout is 10 a.m.

Yurt 1 (deluxe)

• Sleeps 6. One queen-sized with a trundle pull-out, one twin over double bed in a bunk configuration. Guests must bring sleeping bags or linens. Wheelchair accessible, but there is a 1-inch threshold from the inside.
• Water spigot, picnic table, grill and fire-ring at the site
• Dining table seats 6
• Refrigerator
• Deck with four rocking chairs
• Heat and AC
• Guests use campground bathhouse 1 or 2; each is about 500 feet away.

Weekly rentals are required from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Weekly rentals start on Sunday. This requirement is reduced to a four-night stay three months out and dropped to two nights in the last month before arrival. A two-night minimum stay is required the rest of the year. The cabin cancellation policy applies to yurts. 
    
Yurts 2, 3 and 4 (standard)

• Sleeps 3. One queen-sized and a twin-sized trundle pull-out. Guests must bring sleeping bags or linens.
• No electricity, heat or air-conditioning.
• Water spigot, picnic table, grill and fire-ring at the site
• Deck with four rocking chairs
• Dining table seats four
• Guests use campground bathhouse 1 or 2; each is about 500 feet away.
• Yurt 3 is ADA-accessible.
• A two-night minimum stay is required.

Yurts must be rented for Friday and Saturday on weekends, but one-night stays are allowed otherwise. The cancellation fee is $30 up until 30 days prior to arrival. Afterward, guests are charged $30 per night dropped from the reservation period.

Bunkhouse

Camping Lodge (bunkhouse) Two-night minimum stay during peak season; no full-week requirement. The three-room trailer has seven bunk beds, a large front deck, picnic tables, a water spigot and a fire-ring with a cooking grate. Cooking and smoking are not permitted inside the camping lodge (bunkhouse). Parking for five vehicles is covered; all other vehicles must pay the park's daily parking fee and park in the overflow area. This lodge is available only from the last Friday in March to the first Monday in December. This facility is not sold 11 months in advance. It goes online in January each year. Check-in is at 4 p.m., check-out is at 10 a.m.

The transfer deadline policy and cancellation and pet fees are the same as those for cabins.

• Linens are not provided. Guests must bring their own linens and pillows.
• Maximum 14 people allowed in the bunkhouse. Guests are responsible for any damage.
• No bathroom, kitchen or fireplace.
• It has a refrigerator.
• There is one electrical outlet in each room.
• Guests may swim at an unguarded natural beach on the Chesapeake Bay.
• No cable hookup.
• Heating and air conditioning
• No extra bed rentals.
• Camping lodge guests use the tent campground bathhouse, which is about 75 yards away.
• Pet-friendly - $10 per pet per night

Camping

Camping is available from the first Friday in March until the first Monday in December.

All campsites are now site-specific. Sewer is only available on sites B- 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and all campsites in C Loop.  A campsites and even-numbered B campsites no longer offer sewer.  

Site-specifics chart
See pictures of the sites.
Campground map

• See the Fishing/Boat Launching section for fishing pier and boat launch fees.
• Because parking is limited, campers who wish to park their trailer at the boat launch area must pay an extra fee. There's no charge for boat launching for campers who park trailers at their campsite.
• Firewood is for sale at the camp store, contact station and camp host site. Firewood may not be brought to the park because of the potential for infestation.
• Two vehicles per site; others park in the overflow area and pay the parking fee.
• People visiting campers are allowed 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. and pay the parking fee.
• The full-service campground offers sites with water and electric (some sites have sewer hookups), hot showers and restrooms. There's also a tents-only camp area with no hookups.
• RV campsites allow one wheeled camping unit and one tent or two tents. Tent only campsites allow two tents only. 
• 6 guests per site maximum.
• Each site has its own picnic table and fire ring.
• Pets are welcome. Pets are not allowed at the north beach swimming area and must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet at all times.

• No boats, kayaks, paddleboards, fishing or crabbing are allowed from the north beach swimming area.

Total sites of each site type: Tent Std, 52; EW, 66; EWS (E/W/Sewer), 27; Deluxe Yurt, 1; Std Yurt, 3

Site type:

• Tent Std - Tents only. No hook-ups. All sites are shaded, near a bathhouse and hot water.
• EW - Electric/water sites; various equipment. Accepts outlets 20, 30 and 50-amp current.
• EWS - Electric/water and sewer sites; various equipment. RVs up to 40 ft.; accepts outlets 20, 30 and 50-amp current. Some sites are shaded.

Total campsites: 138

Recreation

TRAILS

The park has more than 5 miles of hiking and bicycle trails. Explore upland hardwood forest along Baywoods Trail and look for tracks of foxes, deer and many birds. The southern beach also is perfect for a hike. The upland Baywoods Trail and southern beach are connected by extensive boardwalks so that visitors may explore Kiptopeke’s dune formation. Bicycle trails are available along the park’s entrance road and the Raptor, Songbird, Chickadee and Mockingbird trails. Bikes may be rented at the camp store.

SWIMMING

There are two unguarded beaches on the Chesapeake Bay. Swimmers using the areas do so at their own risk. Kiptopeke’s northern swim beach is nearly half a mile long and open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Pets, fishing, jet skis, canoes, kayaks and other boats are not allowed there. There is no additional charge for using the beaches, but swimming cannot be guaranteed should circumstances beyond the park's control require prohibiting it. The south beach is open to swimming, fishing, crabbing, boating and pets kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet.

FISHING, BOATING

Fishing: The concrete ships located off the park’s waterfront offer some of Virginia’s finest fishing. For the land-lover, a large fishing pier with picnic tables and lights to attract fish is available. No fishing license is required from the pier, but a valid Virginia saltwater fishing license is required for fishing from the shore. Those pier fishing who are over 16 and do not have a Virginia saltwater fishing license must, however, register for the free Virginia Fisherman Identification Program. Pier fees apply (13 and older,  $5/day; children 6-12, $3/day; under 5, free). The south beach is great for beachcombing and surf fishing, but a Virginia saltwater fishing license or Maryland license with a valid Virginia FIP number is required. Launch: Motorboats are allowed. The ramp has 4.5-foot mean low water. Parking limited to 70 boat trailers. Because parking is limited, campers who wish to park their trailer at the boat launch area must pay $3. There's no charge for boat launching for camping guests who park trailers at their campsite. Kayaks must be launched from only the south beach or the park's designated kayak launch, not from the boat ramp or north swim beach. Solo kayaks, tandem kayaks and paddleboards may be rented at the camp store. Click here for park fees. Purchase an annual boat launch passport by calling 1-800-933-PARK.

The south beach is open to swimming, pets, fishing, crabbing and boating. A valid Virginia or Maryland saltwater license is required and anglers must register with Virginia Department of Marine Resources' Fisherman Identification Program.

For information on fishing and boating regulation and licenses, visit the Virginia Marine Resource Commission's website. Click here for information about tides - pick "Chesapeake Bay, Eastern Shore," then "Kiptopeke Beach."

HORSES

None at this park.

Park Trail Guide

Click here for the park's trail guide.

Click here for its general facilities guide.

Download (external link for use with Avenza App) the geo-referenced map

Download the geo-referenced map for this park

Nearby Attractions

Virginia Beach and Norfolk attractions are 45 minutes away. Williamsburg, Yorktown and Chincoteague are all within 1.5 hours of the park. Visit the Eastern Shore of Virginia Tourism website. Points of interest include the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, one of the United States' top five visitor centers, has free access and is three miles south; quaint waterfront towns and fishing villages; Cape Charles has a historical museum, art gallery, restaurants, antique shops and harbor; unique boating experiences such as passenger ferry to Tangier Island; charter fishing rentals; Cape Charles-Northampton County Chamber of Commerce and the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce have brochures available. Check out the nearby Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge and  Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge, one of North America's most important bird migration corridors. Also nearby are the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and the Assateague Island National Seashore.

Picnic Shelters

Kiptopeke has two shelters available for rent. Each can be rented from 8 a.m. to dusk (all day). They're available March through November. Click here for park fees. The picnic area restroom is closed Nov. 1 through April 1. Parking fees are in addition to shelter rental.

Shelter 1 - This shelter offers a grill, picnic tables and nearby restrooms. It accommodates up to 80 and has three wheelchair openings. Nine tables are 7 feet long and three others, which are universally accessible, are 16 feet long. There's also seating available outside the shelter for up to 40 additional people, but these tables cannot be rented. The shelter has electricity. A playground, drink machine, and water hydrants and several grills are nearby.

Shelter 2 - This shelter offers a grill, picnic tables and nearby restrooms. It accommodates up to 80 and has three wheelchair openings. Nine tables are 7 feet long and three others, which are universally accessible, are 16 feet long. There's also seating available outside the shelter for up to 40 additional people, but these tables cannot be rented. The shelter has electricity. A playground, drink machines and water hydrants are nearby, as are several grills.

Cancellation policy: No refund within 14 days before reserved date. Before then, there's a cancellation fee.

Meeting Space and Facilities

MEETING FACILITIES

None, but the park rents family lodges that may be used for small retreats and get-togethers.

VISITOR CENTER, GIFT SHOP

The Big Water Visitor Center is located before the park entrance. Check with the park office for Visitor Center Hours.

RESTAURANT

Local restaurants: Stingray's, 3 miles north on Hwy. 13; McDonald's, 6 miles north on Hwy 13; Hardees, 7 miles north on Hwy 13; Food Lion, 6 miles north on Hwy 13. In Cape Charles, which is 9 miles away, there are several restaurants, including the Oyster Farm Seafood Eatery, Brown Dog Ice Cream, Kelly’s Gingernut Pub, Rayfields, Deadrise Pies, Hook U Up Gourmet and the Shanty.

LAUNDRY

Each bathhouse in the campground has coin-operated washers and dryers. A vending machine there has laundry soap.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

Kiptopeke is a perfect place to bring students to learn about the Chesapeake Bay. Kiptopeke offers educational programs for students K-12. For more information, call the park office at (757)-331-2267 or email stephanie.venarchick@dcr.virginia.gov.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Just west of the beach are nine 1944 concrete ships that rest in 20 feet of water. The park's south end has some of the East Coast's most pristine upland maritime forests. Kiptopeke's Taylor Pond is a freshwater pond with two wildlife viewing blinds and a native species garden. In the fall, experience the songbirds and raptors that make Kiptopeke the largest migratory stop-over on the Atlantic Flyway.

Other Info

ACCESSIBILITY:

• Lodge 1 and cabins C and D are ADA-accessible.
• Electric and water site 44 is adjacent to bathhouse 1. Tent sites 110, 121 and 141 are beside bathhouse 2. Sites have a raised fire-ring and an extended top picnic table.  
• The two campground bathhouses are ADA accessible. Bald Eagle Bluff walkway is ADA-compliant up to the beach overlook but does not allow universally accessible beach access.
• A free beach wheelchair is available on request. Those interested should inquire at the park office or camp store or speak with the  waterfront attendant.
• There are two universally accessible parking spaces at the Bald Eagle Bluff Walkway's entrance.
• The Hawk Observatory is ADA-accessible.  
• Both picnic shelters are ADA-accessible as is a concrete walkway connecting the shelters to the picnic bathhouse, which is ADA-accessible.
• The playground is surrounded by a sand surface.
• There are two handicapped-only parking spaces at shelter 1 and one at shelter 2.
• Park office has a 1½” threshold at the front door.
• The fishing pier is ADA-accessible up to the fishing-cleaning station. The pier has a firm surface of dirt, gravel and grass.
• There are two handicapped-only parking spaces at the boat ramp, one such space at the fishing pier and one by the Wood Warbler Boardwalk.
• The beach bathhouse is ADA-accessible.
• Although motorized vehicles are not permitted on park trails, electric wheelchairs and electric scooters that meet the federal definition for wheelchairs are allowed to enable people with disabilities to use the trails.

NATURE, HISTORY PROGRAMS

The park offers many opportunities to learn and explore. Programs are offered daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Programs include beach safaris and owl prowls and sessions on fishing, kayaking, crabbing, seine netting, lure-making and campfires. Special events include First Day Hike, Recycling Day, Kids to Parks Day, Clean the Bay Day, and Outdoor Exploration Day which is held in association with the Eastern Shore of Virginia Birding and Wildlife Festival. View all parks' events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.

Download a Scavenger Hunt brochure to take along on your visit.

CONCESSIONS

A camp store is operated during camping season. It's open from late May to mid-October. Firewood, candy, ice, ice cream, drinks, coffee, hats, shirts, postcards, frozen bait, tackle, microwavable sandwiches, beach accessories and camping supplies are available. The store also rents bikes, solo and tandem kayaks, and paddleboards.

HISTORY

The site was purchased by the Virginia Ferry Corporation for the northern terminus of the Norfolk to Eastern Shore Ferry. In 1949, when the terminus was moved from Cape Charles, the site was named Kiptopeke Beach in honor of the younger brother of a king of the Accawmack Indians who had befriended early settlers to the area. Kiptopeke means Big Water. In 1950 the terminus opened after the completion of a $2.75 million pier, promoted as the world's largest and most modern ferry pier. Ferry service ended in 1964 when the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel was opened. In May 1992 the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation bought 375 acres from John Maddox, who had operated the property as Kiptopeke Beach Family Resort. The park opened on Memorial Day weekend in 1992. In 1999, an adjacent 160 acres was purchased on the south end of the park. Then one acre next to the park’s contact station was bought in 2000. In 2009 another 26 acres were bought, bringing the park’s total acreage to 562 acres. A total of 126 acres has been reforested in the park.

FRIENDS GROUP

The Friends of Kiptopeke State Park is dedicated to supporting the park by fundraising, advocacy and volunteering at programs and events. Visit the group's Facebook page for details.

MASTER PLAN

Master plans must be written for parks before they're built. The plans are updated at least once every 10 years thereafter. The plans cover the size, types, infrastructure and locations of facilities as well as the site's special features and resources. Three public meetings are held during the initial development of each plan. Click here for this park's master plan.