First Landing State Park
State park · Virginia Beach · Virginia
Where English colonists first came ashore in 1607, now a stretch of Virginia Beach with 20 miles of trail through bald cypress swamp, tidal lagoons, and maritime forest that runs right up to the Chesapeake Bay. The Cape Henry Trail is the easiest way to watch the color change over the water.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
Peak: November 11–November 15
Color builds from November 3 · mostly bare by December 6
Sampled at First Landing State Park’s own coordinates and elevation (4 m) rather than a regional average.
16 weather points cover Virginia, and the model shifts their answer 4 days earlier, which is what it takes to match 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com. Against Virginia's own climatology, the 2026 weather puts the peak 6 days earlier. How the forecast works
When to go to First Landing State Park
You get about 19 days of color here, from the first turn through to roughly November 22.
It sits inside Virginia Beach, so you can fit it into an afternoon.
First Landing State Park on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Virginia, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
More things to do in Virginia
Leaves & views
Farms & harvest
Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When does First Landing State Park peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for November 11–November 15 (best estimate November 13). Color starts around November 3 and is mostly bare by December 6.
- How do I get to First Landing State Park?
- First Landing State Park is in Virginia Beach. The closest city is Virginia Beach, about 6 mi away (it's right in town). It's part of Virginia's fall lineup.
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