★★
Budget
Red Roof Plus+ & Suites Virginia Beach - Seaside
From $79 / night
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Things to Do in Virginia Beach in April
April weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
April Weather in Virginia Beach
Long-run averages for April
67°F (20°C)
High Temp
53°F (11°C)
Low Temp
3.2 inches (81 mm)
Rainfall
69%
Humidity
7
Sunny-Day UV
⚠ Nor'easters can slam 24-48 hours of strong winds, cold temps, coastal flooding. Check forecasts before beachfront plans.
Making the most of April in Virginia Beach? Browse tours and activities in Virginia Beach on GetYourGuide.
Is April Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + The boardwalk is yours again. By mid-April, the spring break increase has ebbed, leaving the three-mile (4.8 km) concrete ribbon feeling almost spacious. Good for morning runs with the Atlantic breeze in your face and the sound of gulls over the surf. You own the view.
- + The water is still too cold for swimming. But that means dolphin-watching tours are at their peak. The bottlenose pods follow the baitfish inshore, making sightings near the Rudee Inlet jetty almost guaranteed. The salty spray and the creak of the kayak hulls add to the experience. Bring a camera.
- + Virginia Beach in April trades the summer's sticky, oppressive heat for a crisp, damp coolness that locals call 'sweater weather.' The air smells of salt and damp sand. You can sit outside at the Oceanfront cafes without immediately sweating through your shirt. Bliss.
- + Hotel rates are in a sweet spot between the winter lull and the Memorial Day price spike, for properties with indoor pools and hot tubs. These are good for warming up after a blustery walk on the beach. Book now.
Considerations
- − You are gambling with the wind. A nor'easter can barrel through for a day or two, turning the beach into a sandblasting session with a stinging, cold mist that drives everyone indoors. The boardwalk becomes a test of willpower, not a stroll. Retreat.
- − The ocean temperature hovers around a bone-chilling 15°C (59°F). Only the hardiest surfers in full 5mm wetsuits venture in. For everyone else, it's strictly a toes-in-the-water, then-retreat-quickly affair. The famous Virginia Beach swimming experience is still a month away.
- − Many of the seasonal, tourist-focused restaurants and bars at the Oceanfront are still shuttered or running limited hours, waiting for the guaranteed crowds of May. Your dining options skew heavily toward the year-round, local-focused spots. This isn't a bad thing. But it limits the 'scene.' Plan ahead.
Settled on April? Compare hotel prices in Virginia Beach for your dates on Trip.com.
Best Activities in April
Top things to do during your visit
Back Bay Wildlife Refuge Kayak Tours
April is the window for this. The summer mosquitoes haven't yet hatched into their biblical-plague numbers, and the migratory birds are staging in the marshes. You'll glide through tea-colored water, the only sounds being the dip of your paddle and the sudden splash of a turtle sliding off a log. The air carries the earthy, fecund smell of the wetlands. It's the quiet, wild side of Virginia Beach that most summer visitors miss entirely.
Booking Tip: These eco-tours are popular with locals who know this is the best weather window. Booking a few days ahead is wise, for weekend slots. Look for operators who provide dry bags and mention a focus on birding or ecology. See current tour options in the booking section below.
First Landing State Park Hiking
The park's 20 miles (32 km) of trails under a canopy of bald cypress and loblolly pine are good for April's cool, dry days. The humidity that makes these woods feel like a steam bath in July is absent. You'll hear woodpeckers hammering, feel the soft crunch of pine needles underfoot, and smell the faint, sweet decay of last year's leaves. It's a genuine escape five minutes from the high-rises.
Booking Tip: No booking needed for the trails themselves. But parking fills up on sunny weekend mornings. Arrive before 10 AM to guarantee a spot at the 64th Street entrance. The park often hosts guided history walks about the Cape Henry Landing. Check their events calendar.
Neptune District Ghost Tours
The off-season atmosphere amplifies these stories. Walking the dimly-lit, mostly empty blocks near 17th Street on a chilly April night, with the fog rolling in off the ocean, the tales of shipwrecks and old hotel hauntings just land differently. You can hear the crash of the waves between the guide's words, and the historic photos feel more immediate when you're not battling summer crowds.
Booking Tip: These walking tours run year-round but feel more authentic now. Book a day or two in advance for weekend timeslots. Wear layers. That ocean wind cuts right through you after sunset. The guides are often local historians, so ask questions. See current tour options in the booking widget.
Virginia Aquarium Animal Encounters
This is the ideal bad-weather or overly-windy day plan. The aquarium is a world away from the beach's moodiness - warm, calm, and filled with the low hum of filtration systems and the squeals of delighted kids. The outdoor aviary and marsh walk are still pleasant in April's cool air, and you can watch the river otters play without a shoulder-to-shoulder summer crowd blocking the view.
Booking Tip: Weekends can still draw families, so aim for a weekday visit if possible. The behind-the-scenes or animal encounter programs (like meeting the harbor seals) book up well in advance, sometimes weeks ahead for popular times. Check the aquarium's website for seasonal program schedules.
Where to Stay in Virginia Beach in April
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for April travellers.
★★★
Mid-Range
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Virginia Beach (Oceanfront), VA
From $94 / night
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Public Holidays in April
Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds
Good Friday
A public holiday in these regions only: US-CT, US-DE, US-HI, US-IN, US-KY, US-LA, US-NC, US-ND, US-NJ, US-TN.
Packing Checklist
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Need the full list with shopping links?
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Virginia Beach Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Locals hit the North End beaches north of 40th Street in April. The sand is wider, the houses quieter. Fly a kite, walk the dog leashed before 10 AM, skip the boardwalk circus. Park legal on the street, climb the dune, breathe.
Skip the Oceanfront in April. Drive inland near Lynnhaven Inlet. Vinyl booths, no frills, crab cakes from meat picked that morning. Hushpuppies scorch fingers. Old Bay and frying oil fog the air.
Nor'easter inbound? Don't cower inside. Pay the small toll at Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Sea Gull Pier. Park, walk out. Waves smash concrete islands, the structure shudders, spray rockets 15 meters (50 feet). You share the show with gulls.
Check the tide chart. Low tide walks reveal the USS Enterprise concrete shipwreck near First Landing. Rusted ribs, barnacles, fiddler crabs. High tide erases the scene. Go when the water retreats.
Avoid These Mistakes
Packing only summer clothes backfires. After 6 PM the sun drops behind the dunes and the wind bites. Cold happens fast. Humid warmth needs direct sun and zero breeze, neither guaranteed.
Expecting a busy nightlife on a Tuesday in April disappoints. Dueling-piano bars and dance clubs at the Oceanfront sit dark or empty. Shift to ViBe Creative District or Hilltop breweries and taverns.
Booking an Oceanfront room with partial or city view wastes April's gift. Fewer tourists mean empty sand and silence. Pay for the full front ocean view and balcony. Waves through a cracked slider equal off-season bliss.
Short on time? See day trips around Virginia Beach on GetYourGuide.
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Top-rated things to do in Virginia Beach this April
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