Just west of the Lesner Bridge on Shore Drive, tucked off East Stratford Road on Piedmont Circle, sits one of the most well positioned public boat launch facilities in all of Hampton Roads. The Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach Facility at 3576 Piedmont Circle in Virginia Beach provides direct access to the Lynnhaven Inlet and the Chesapeake Bay from the heart of the Shore Drive corridor. It is a facility that Chic's Beach, Ocean Park, Baylake Pines, and the broader Shore Drive community uses year round, and it is one of the most popular boat ramps in all of Tidewater.

Here is everything you need to know before you go.

The Facility

The Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach Facility is managed by the City of Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Department. It was completed in December 2001 and received $620,521 in Virginia Saltwater Recreational Fishing Development Fund grant funding. The facility sits on Crab Creek near the Lynnhaven Inlet, providing direct access to the Lynnhaven River and from there to the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean.

The facility is available for use 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is completely ADA compliant and handicapped accessible.

What the Facility Includes

The Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach Facility is a fully equipped launch site. Here is exactly what is on site per the City of Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Department:

Four concrete boat launch lanes with associated temporary mooring areas. This is one of the largest multi-lane launch configurations at any public ramp in Hampton Roads and is a primary reason the Lynnhaven ramp consistently ranks among the most popular in Tidewater.

A dedicated canoe and kayak launch area. Paddlers launching non-motorized craft use this separate area. Note that transporting your canoe or kayak from the parking area to the launch is approximately 10 yards and kayak trailer parking in the trailer lot requires payment of launch fees.

88 boat and trailer parking spaces and 102 car parking spaces. Parking meters are enforced seven days a week from April 1 through October 31. The lot can reach capacity on busy summer weekends. Text BOATRAMP to 67283 to sign up for text alerts that notify you when the lot has reached capacity and when parking becomes available again.

Restrooms with outside shower and rinse areas, foot rinses, and changing areas.

Lighting throughout the facility.

An information kiosk.

A public use AED.

Ice sales on site.

A walkway running under the Lesner Bridge to the Ocean Park Beach area on the Chesapeake Bay. This walkway provides beach access from the facility directly to the bay shoreline without requiring a separate parking trip.

Fees

Launch fees and parking fees apply at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach Facility. Per the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, the ramp usage fee is $15 per launch and an annual season pass is $200. The boat launch fee and annual launch pass include parking for one truck and trailer. All fees are subject to change. Always verify current fees directly with the City of Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Department at parks.virginiabeach.gov or by calling 757-460-7590 before visiting.

Non-motorized craft are welcome at the facility. Fees for non-motorized launches are separate from the motorized launch fee. Confirm current non-motorized rates directly with the facility.

How to Get There

The Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach Facility is located at 3576 Piedmont Circle, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23455.

From the Virginia Beach Oceanfront: Take Atlantic Avenue north. It becomes Shore Drive. Stay on Shore Drive until you cross the Lesner Bridge over the Lynnhaven Inlet. At the west end of the bridge there is a stoplight. Turn left on East Stratford Road and follow the signs to the ramp on the left.

From Norfolk: From US 64, take Northampton/US 13 north to Shore Drive. Take the east Shore Drive exit and travel approximately one mile. Before you cross the Lesner Bridge there is a stoplight. Turn right on East Stratford Road and follow the signs to the ramp on the left.

From the Eastern Shore: After crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel on US 13 south, take the east Shore Drive exit and travel approximately one mile. Before you cross the Lesner Bridge, there is a stoplight. Turn right on East Stratford Road and follow the signs to the ramp on the left.

GPS coordinates: 36.9070, -76.0950.

The Water Access

The Lynnhaven Boat Ramp sits on Crab Creek near the Lynnhaven Inlet, which connects the Lynnhaven River system to the Chesapeake Bay. From the ramp, boaters have access to the full Lynnhaven River waterway system, the Lynnhaven Inlet, the Chesapeake Bay, and from there to the Atlantic Ocean and open water.

The facility is conveniently located approximately three miles from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. That proximity makes it one of the most strategically positioned launch sites for boaters targeting Chesapeake Bay fishing grounds near the Bridge-Tunnel, where world class fishing for cobia, striped bass, flounder, red drum, black drum, spadefish, amberjack, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, sheepshead, tautog, sea bass, speckled trout, gray trout, and a variety of sharks is accessible by water.

The Lynnhaven River system itself offers exceptional inshore fishing and paddling. The 118 acre Pleasure House Point Natural Area, just south of the Shore Drive corridor, is accessible by kayak and paddleboard from the Lynnhaven launch area and provides one of the most ecologically rich paddling environments in all of Hampton Roads.

The Fishing

The Lynnhaven Inlet location offers access to some of the most productive inshore and nearshore fishing in Virginia. Just about every common saltwater species can be caught in this area according to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Inshore targets include cobia, striped bass, spadefish, red drum, black drum, flounder, amberjack, jack crevalle, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, sheepshead, tautog, sea bass, spot, croaker, speckled trout, and gray trout. Barracuda and a variety of sharks are also caught in the nearshore waters accessible from this launch.

The proximity to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, one of the most productive fishing structures on the East Coast, makes the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp one of the most sought after launch points for serious bay anglers in Hampton Roads.

American Brew: The Before and After Stop

One of the things that makes the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp genuinely part of the Shore Drive lifestyle rather than just a utilitarian launch facility is its proximity to American Brew at 3584 East Stratford Road, steps from the ramp entrance.

American Brew is a full service independent coffee bar and whiskey lounge with a 4.4 star rating across 715 reviews. It sits steps from the bay and the boat ramp, making it the natural gathering point before an early morning launch and after a day on the water. The menu covers expertly crafted coffee and tea, hearty breakfast options, brunch favorites, and a thoughtfully curated whiskey selection. Live music runs Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. The atmosphere is welcoming, the staff is friendly, and the location on East Stratford Road near the water makes it one of the most Shore Drive authentic spots on the entire corridor.

For Shore Drive residents who launch regularly from Lynnhaven, American Brew has become as much a part of the boating routine as the ramp itself.

Capacity and Peak Times

The Lynnhaven Boat Ramp is one of the most popular ramps in Tidewater and it shows on busy summer weekends. Peak visiting times are weekends in spring and summer when the lot can reach capacity. Weekdays generally see fewer crowds. The text alert system at 67283 is the most reliable way to avoid arriving at a full lot.

The facility is open 24 hours a day 365 days a year, which makes it viable for early morning fishing launches before dawn and evening returns after sunset. Lighting on site supports those early and late sessions.

Why This Ramp Matters to the Shore Drive Community

For residents of Chic's Beach, Ocean Park, Baylake Pines, Lynnhaven Shores, and the broader Shore Drive corridor, the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp is the facility that makes the boating lifestyle of this community practically accessible. Marina Shores Marina on Long Creek and Long Bay Pointe Marina on the Lynnhaven Inlet provide slip storage for those who want it. Lake Joyce provides private powerboat access within Baylake Pines. And the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp provides the public launch infrastructure that serves everyone on the corridor who wants to get on the Chesapeake Bay without a private slip.

That combination of private marina access, private lake access, and a world class public launch facility within the same corridor is one of the genuine lifestyle advantages of living on Shore Drive that buyers consistently underestimate until they experience it firsthand.

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About the Author
John King is a Navy veteran and licensed real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway RW Towne Realty, serving Hampton Roads including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake. Known for his straightforward approach and market expertise.

📞 757-270-3994 📧 [email protected] 🌐 www.757King.com

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Sources and References:
City of Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation — Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach Facility: parks.virginiabeach.gov/outdoors/beach-boat-facilities/lynnhaven-boat-ramp-beach-facility
Virginia Marine Resources Commission — Lynnhaven Inlet Facility: mrc.virginia.gov/vsrfdf/lynn.shtm
Visit Virginia Beach — Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach Facility: visitvirginiabeach.com
American Brew — Joe Coffee: joe.coffee/locations/va/virginia-beach/american-brew-virginia-beach

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Written by John King, Navy veteran & REALTOR®, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices RW Towne Realty · (757) 270-3994 · About John