Things to Do in Virginia Beach in September
September weather, activities, events & insider tips
September Weather in Virginia Beach
Is September Right for You?
Advantages
- Post-Labor Day pricing drops dramatically - accommodations typically cost 30-40% less than July-August rates, with oceanfront hotels averaging $120-180 per night instead of $250-350. Book by mid-August for the best selection before fall wedding season fills properties.
- Water temperature stays beautifully warm at 23-24°C (73-75°F) through the entire month, actually warmer than the air some mornings. The ocean feels like bathwater compared to the chilly 16°C (61°F) you'll get in May, making September ideal for extended swimming sessions without that initial cold shock.
- Shoulder season means the 5 km (3.1 mile) boardwalk becomes walkable again - you're not dodging strollers and beach cruisers every three steps like you would in July. Early morning walks around 7am offer that rare Virginia Beach experience where you might actually have stretches of beach to yourself.
- Hurricane season creates inconsistent swell patterns that bring surprisingly good waves for the Mid-Atlantic - local surfers consider September through October the best surf window of the year, with swells occasionally reaching 1.2-1.8 m (4-6 ft) when tropical systems pass offshore.
Considerations
- Hurricane season peaks in September, and while direct hits are relatively rare for Virginia Beach, you're looking at about a 15-20% chance of your trip getting disrupted by tropical weather. Even near-misses mean 2-3 days of heavy rain, rough surf, and beach closures. Travel insurance with weather cancellation becomes worth considering for September bookings.
- Lifeguard coverage ends Labor Day weekend at most beaches, dropping from full daily coverage to weekends-only or none at all depending on the specific beach access point. If you're traveling with kids or aren't a confident swimmer, this matters more than you'd think - rip currents don't care what month it is.
- The transition between summer and fall means genuinely unpredictable weather - you might get five straight days of 29°C (84°F) sunshine, then three days where it doesn't break 18°C (64°F) and feels more like November. Packing becomes an exercise in covering all scenarios, which is annoying if you're trying to travel light.
Best Activities in September
Virginia Beach Boardwalk and Oceanfront District
September transforms the boardwalk from a crowded summer parade into something actually enjoyable. The 5 km (3.1 mile) concrete path stays open year-round, but post-Labor Day you can rent bikes or surreys without the July wait times and actually maintain a decent pace. Early mornings around sunrise (roughly 6:45-7:15am in September) offer that rare combination of warm air, empty beaches, and good light for photos. The oceanfront restaurants shift from summer tourist mode to locals-focused menus with better pricing - you'll notice happy hours that actually matter and outdoor seating you can claim without a 45-minute wait.
First Landing State Park Trail Systems
September weather sits in that perfect window for hiking before the humidity breaks but after the peak summer heat makes trails miserable. The park's 32 km (20 miles) of trails wind through cypress swamps and maritime forest, with the Bald Cypress Trail (2.4 km / 1.5 miles) offering the most dramatic scenery without requiring serious fitness. Water levels in the swamp areas tend to be lower in September after the drier late summer, which means better boardwalk access and fewer mosquitoes than you'd face in June or July. The park sits where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic, giving you options to combine hiking with kayaking if the weather cooperates.
Offshore Fishing Charters
September marks the beginning of prime fishing season as water temperatures start dropping and baitfish migrations bring in larger predators. The transition period means you're targeting everything from Spanish mackerel and bluefish inshore to tuna and mahi-mahi on offshore trips. Charter boats that were booked solid in July suddenly have weekday availability, and captains are more relaxed without the pressure of back-to-back tourist trips. Half-day inshore trips run 4-5 hours and stay within 16 km (10 miles) of shore, while full-day offshore charters head 40-65 km (25-40 miles) out for the bigger species. Weather variability means you need flexibility in your schedule - captains will reschedule for rough seas.
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Kayaking
The 3,600-hectare (9,000-acre) refuge becomes significantly more accessible in September as summer crowds thin out and migratory birds start arriving for fall staging. The shallow bay waters stay warm enough for comfortable paddling at 22-24°C (72-75°F), but the air temperature drops just enough that you're not overheating after 20 minutes in direct sun. Early September catches the tail end of nesting season for loggerhead sea turtles, while late September brings the first waves of migratory waterfowl heading south. The 8 km (5 mile) water trail through the refuge takes 2.5-3 hours at a relaxed pace, with multiple spots to beach your kayak and walk the interior trails.
Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center
September gives you the perfect backup plan for those inevitable rainy days or when hurricane weather rolls through. The aquarium houses over 800,000 liters (200,000 gallons) of aquatic exhibits, including a walk-through tunnel where sand tiger sharks cruise overhead. The outdoor Adventure Park with zip lines and rope courses stays open weather permitting, but the main indoor exhibits work regardless of conditions. September weekdays see noticeably smaller crowds than summer - you can actually spend time at the touch tanks without elbowing through school groups. The attached nature trail system connects to nearby Owl Creek salt marsh, adding an outdoor component when weather allows.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Scenic Drive
The 28 km (17.5 mile) bridge-tunnel complex connecting Virginia Beach to the Eastern Shore ranks as one of those engineering projects that's actually worth experiencing, not just using as transportation. September offers clearer visibility than hazy summer days, and the toll plaza backups that plague July weekends disappear almost entirely post-Labor Day. Two man-made islands midway across include parking areas and fishing piers where you can stop and watch container ships pass through the shipping channel just meters away. The Eastern Shore side opens up options for seafood shacks and farm stands selling whatever's in season - September means the last of the tomatoes and first of the oyster harvest.
September Events & Festivals
Neptune Festival
The city's largest annual festival typically runs the last full weekend of September, centered on the oceanfront boardwalk. What started as a small beach celebration in 1974 has grown into a three-day event with an international sand sculpting championship, regional arts and crafts vendors, multiple live music stages, and a boardwalk parade. The sand sculptures alone are worth seeing - professional artists from around the world spend days creating elaborate works that stretch along several blocks of beach. Food vendors lean heavily into local seafood, though you'll find the usual festival fare too. Crowds peak Saturday afternoon, but Friday evening and Sunday morning offer easier movement through the festival grounds.
American Music Festival
Running Labor Day weekend (first weekend of September), this free multi-day concert series brings regional and national acts to multiple outdoor stages along the oceanfront. The festival spans roughly 32 blocks of the resort area, with five stages featuring everything from rock and country to R&B and alternative. Hotels book up months in advance for Labor Day weekend anyway, but the music festival adds another layer of demand. If you're coming specifically for the festival, book accommodations by June at the latest. If you're trying to avoid crowds and prefer quiet beach time, this is exactly the weekend to skip Virginia Beach entirely.