7 places to rent a paddleboard in Virginia Beach & spend the day on the water
Explore the waters of Virginia Beach by renting a paddleboard or booking a tour from one of these seven places.
Did you know that Virginia Beach is home to one of the last great salt marsh habitats on the East Coast? It’s true! The miles of waterways take the form of rivers, bays, lakes, marshes, and fingers of water that flow into the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay, according to the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau. Luckily for outdoor enthusiasts, this means that Virginia Beach is perfect for stand-up paddleboarding (or SUP).
If you’re looking to explore the area’s many waterways, check out these seven places to rent a paddleboard or book a tour.
Rudee Inlet Stand UP Paddle
Location: 300 Winston Salem Ave. Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Rudee Inlet Stand UP Paddle is owned by Randy Harris, an experienced waterman whose love of Rudee Inlet is abundantly clear to anyone who paddles with him. Given that he knows every nook and cranny of the inlet and oceanfront, he loves to share his knowledge during lessons and tours. He offers SUP coaching, tours that highlight dolphins and waterfowl, and SUP yoga lessons.
VB Surf Sessions
Location: 2100 Mediterranean Ave. Virginia Beach, VA 23451
VB Surf Sessions offers more than simple paddleboard rentals: it also offers tours that share in-depth knowledge of the proper mechanics and techniques needed to make you an efficient paddler. Its tours also highlight wildlife, like dolphins, American bald eagles, seals, river otters, and deer.
The tours of Rudee Inlet meet at the Virginia Aquarium. Tour options include a two-hour lesson and tour that ranges from $45-$60 depending on the number of participants and a one-hour lesson and tour that ranges from $35-50. Those with paddle experience should ask about the intermediate and advanced lessons, which include dolphin watching, SUP yoga, and SUP surfing. If you want to explore on your own, a simple paddleboard and paddle will cost you $35 per day.
Ocean Rentals, LTD
Location: 577 Sandbridge Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Ocean Rentals, LTD offers Back Bay flat-water standup paddleboard tours for beginners, as well as ocean tours for the experienced for $55. If you’re just starting out, the guides will provide you with a brief overview of paddleboarding. Lasting two hours, the tours maintain a four-to-one ratio between paddlers and instructors. The flat-water tours launch from a private dock behind the shop, whereas the ocean tours launch from Little Island Park.
If you’re only looking for a rental, a 10’6” Surf and Adventure SUP will cost you $45 per day or $99 for the week. The company describes the SUP as being a versatile board that is good for cruising the water of Sandbridge, cross-training, and riding small waves.
Ebbing Tides Eco Tours
Location: 4425 Shore Dr. Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Ebbing Tides Eco Tours has two paddleboard tour options: Chesapeake Bay Sunset Paddle and Pleasure House Point Eco Paddle.
The two-hour Chesapeake Bay tour, which costs $55, gives participants the opportunity to watch the sunset over the bay, burn some calories, get some fresh sea air, and possibly spot a dolphin or two. After the sun sets, they put lights on their boards and paddle back to the starting point. The three-hour Pleasure House Point tour, which costs $75, offers a peaceful, secluded tidal marsh for paddling and exploration. As it’s the “natural side” of Virginia Beach, participants will likely get to see an osprey catch its next meal or a cow-nosed ray skim the water’s surface.
Tula Paddle Sports
Location: 2500 Shore Dr. Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Although it’s based out of Norfolk, Tula Paddle Sports has been servicing Virginia Beach at First Landing State Park at the Narrows since 2010. It offers SUP rentals that start at $30 and go up to $70 depending on length and tours. The two-hour Narrow Beach paddling tour costs $60 for paddleboarders. Starting with a brief lesson on paddle technique, a guide leads participants along the waterway. The tour offers views of the interior shoreline of First Landing State Park. Be sure to ask about the aquaculture areas and restoration projects while on the tour.
Chesapean Outdoors
Location: 600 Laskin Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23451
No matter what kind of paddleboard experience you’re looking for, Chesapean Outdoors has you covered. Its three options include a dolphin tour, First Landing State Park tour, and an early morning or sunset Linkhorn Bay tour. Experience is required to go on the dolphin tour, whereas the other two tours are appropriate for beginners. Lasting for 90 minutes, the tours range from $45-$55.
Adventure Kayak & SUP
Location: 5605 Blackwater Rd. #1151 Virginia Beach, VA 23457
While based in Chesapeake, Adventure Kayak & SUP services Virginia Beach with a rental location at Blackwater Trading Post, as well as through custom drop-off locations. Established in 2013, the company prides itself on specializing in “off-the-beaten path” experiences.” It holds paddleboard and kayak tours in several locations, but also provides rentals with same-day on-site delivery.
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