The park is situated at the gateway to the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, providing a transition point between urban parkland and protected coastal wilderness.
The fishing pier at Little Island is one of the few designated public ocean-fishing structures in the Virginia Beach municipal park system.
The park is located on a barrier spit, making it a strategic site for observing migratory bird patterns along the Atlantic Flyway.
The site includes a designated launch area for kayaks and canoes that provides access to the calmer waters of Back Bay.
Little Island Park is a 122-acre beachfront facility located at the southern terminus of the Sandbridge Peninsula in Virginia Beach. The park features a 770-foot-long fishing pier that extends into the Atlantic Ocean, designed specifically for recreational anglers. It offers expansive swimming beach access monitored by seasonal lifeguards. Recreational amenities include tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts, alongside a playground for children. The park provides sheltered picnic areas equipped with charcoal grills for public use. Visitors can access the adjacent Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge via a protected pedestrian path. The terrain primarily consists of dunes, maritime forest, and shoreline landscape. It serves as a primary access point for both ocean swimming and surf fishing in the Sandbridge area.
The end of the fishing pier looking back toward the coastal dunes during sunrise.
Bring a cooler with supplies, as on-site food concessions may not be consistently available depending on the season.
Check the daily surf report before arrival, as strong currents can frequently result in restricted swimming areas.
Use the dedicated crosswalks when moving between the parking lot and the beach area to avoid traffic on Sandpiper Road.
Attempting to swim near the fishing pier, as it is restricted for safety reasons.
Lifeguard services and certain amenities are seasonal, typically operating from late spring through early autumn.
Leashed pets are generally prohibited on the beach during the peak summer season; follow posted signage regarding recreational equipment storage.
