Sandbridge, Virginia Beach, Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sandbridge
Neighborhood
Entrance to Sandbridge Beach
Seal
Nickname(s):  "Virginia's Outer Banks"
Sandbridge, Virginia Beach, Virginia Location in Virginia Show map of Virginia Sandbridge, Virginia Beach, Virginia Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
Elevation	10 ft (3 m)
Population
• Estimate  (2010)	405
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	23456
Area code(s)	757, 948
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Sandbridge is a beautiful coastal community in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It's located on a narrow strip of land called the Currituck Banks Peninsula. To the east, you'll find the huge Atlantic Ocean. To the west, there's the calm Back Bay of the Currituck Sound.

South of Sandbridge are the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park. These are special places for nature and wildlife. To the north, Sandbridge is next to a U.S. Navy base called Dam Neck. A fun spot called Little Island Park is also located near the southern end of Sandbridge. It's managed by the City of Virginia Beach.

The beach itself, Sandbridge Beach, stretches for about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) along the ocean.

Getting to Sandbridge

The only public road that leads into Sandbridge is Sandbridge Road. This road connects the community to other areas of Virginia Beach, like the Princess Anne neighborhood.

Years ago, people living in Sandbridge could drive through the nearby Dam Neck Naval base. This made their trips shorter. However, after the events of September 11, 2001, the base entrance was closed for security reasons.

The city of Virginia Beach has plans to make travel easier. An extension of Nimmo Parkway was completed, which cut the drive from Sandbridge to nearby neighborhoods like Lago Mar by half. This new road also makes it much easier to reach shopping and dining areas. A path for walking and biking, called Nimmo Trail, was also extended next to the new road. This means you can now reach Sandbridge by foot or bicycle!

Visiting Sandbridge

Sandbridge is known for being a bit more quiet and remote than the main Virginia Beach resort area. It doesn't get as many visitors, which makes it a peaceful place.

The Virginia Beach EMS Lifeguard Division keeps the waters safe in Sandbridge. They have four lifeguard stands at Market Place Beach and ten stands at Little Island Beach. Four supervising lifeguards also patrol other areas. Lifeguards are on duty every day from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day.

Most of the buildings in Sandbridge are single-family homes. There are also four condominium complexes. The largest ones are Sanctuary at False Cape, located near the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and Sandbridge Dunes, at the north end. Many homes can be rented for vacations.

In the past, some homes were lost to the ocean. But efforts to add more sand to the beach have been successful in protecting the coastline. Sometimes, wild horses called Banker Horses used to wander north from North Carolina. They would sometimes eat plants from yards or get hit by cars. More fences were built south of the Virginia/North Carolina border to help keep the horses in their natural habitat.

Some famous people have connections to Sandbridge. Major League Baseball player Ryan Zimmerman grew up here and owns a vacation home. Former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell also owned properties in Sandbridge.

Sandbridge Weather

Sandbridge has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has long, hot summers and short, cool winters. It rains more in the summer because of thunderstorms. Snowfall is rare here.

The Outer Banks area, where Sandbridge is located, has unique weather. Because the Currituck Banks Peninsula sticks out into the Atlantic Ocean, Sandbridge can be affected by hurricanes and other ocean storms. These storms often bring a lot of rain.

Winters are usually milder than inland areas. In January, temperatures average between 34-36°F (1-2°C) for lows and 50-53°F (10-12°C) for highs. It's often cloudy in winter. Even though it's milder, strong winds can make it feel much colder. Snow is possible, but it only averages about 3 inches (7.6 cm) per year. Sometimes, years can pass without any snow.

Summer months are warm, with lows averaging 70-76°F (21-24°C) and highs of 87-89°F (31-32°C). The ocean water gets warmer too, rising from 70°F (21°C) to about 80°F (27°C) by August. Spring and fall are usually mild and pleasant. The ocean helps keep the fall and winter warmer than inland areas, and the spring and summer slightly cooler.

Sandbridge Beach Fun

Sandbridge Beach (36°44′46″N 75°56′39″W / 36.74611°N 75.94417°W / 36.74611; -75.94417) is in the southern part of Virginia Beach. This beach is about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) long. Its location is very similar to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. It has the Back Bay of the Currituck Sound to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Because of this, people often call it "The Outer Banks of Virginia." Just like the Outer Banks, Sandbridge Beach can sometimes be affected by tropical storms. When this happens, people might be asked to leave for safety.

You won't find any big hotels at Sandbridge Beach. Instead, you can rent houses and condos, which makes it a popular spot for tourists. One of the best things about Sandbridge is how quiet it is compared to the busy Virginia Beach oceanfront. The only way to get there by car is on the two-lane Sandbridge Road, which has a low speed limit. At the south end of the beach, you'll find Little Island city park, which has the Sandbridge Pier.