Huntington Park Beach
Newport News, VA
Huntington Park Beach sits on the James River at the base of the James River Bridge in Newport News, a moderately sized beach inside a 60 acre park that also holds the Virginia War Museum and two fishing piers. Lifeguards work the swimming area from 10am to 6pm, Memorial Day through Labor Day.
A useful, free beach close to downtown Newport News with real lifeguard coverage, though the river water clarity doesn't match the clearer bay beaches nearby.
How we score beachesCombine the beach with the war museum next door on a hot afternoon. It's an easy way to split a beach day when the kids need an indoor break.
Free parking is available throughout the park, close to both the beach and the museum.
Flat, direct paths lead from the parking areas to the sand, with no stairs or boardwalk involved.
The James River here runs a little murkier than the bay beaches downstream, typical for a river mouth, with water reaching the mid to upper 70s by August.
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