6 Best Towns Near Virginia Beach For Retirees
For retirees seeking a close-knit Virginia town close enough to Virginia Beach for easy day trips, several appealing options stand out. Sandbridge offers the easiest beach access with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge nearby for quiet walks and birdwatching. Smithfield provides a historic setting with more than 200 noteworthy homes in its Historic District and senior programs through the Mary Wells Senior Center. About an hour's drive from the beach is Franklin, where the median home sold price of $241K runs well below the state median of $462K. These are six of the best towns near Virginia Beach for retirees.
Sandbridge
Just 15 miles south of Virginia Beach, Sandbridge is a beach town in its own right, an ideal spot to relax, take long walks along the shore, and watch the sunrises and sunsets over the water. Sandbridge was named to Travel and Leisure's 2025 list of 10 Calmest Beaches in the US. In fact, Sandbridge residents have the benefits of two beaches: the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Back Bay of Currituck Sound to the west. Visit the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge to see some of the 300 species that make the coastal marshes, woodlands, and forests their home. As a resident, you will be there to see the migratory birds that stop to rest in the fall and winter, too.
False Cape State Park, accessible via the refuge, offers an educational tram tour, miles of hiking trails, and primitive campsites. Located near the refuge, Little Island Park has one beach for swimming and fishing and a separate beach for surfing. The park has picnic areas and shelters with charcoal grills. It also has courts for playing pickleball, tennis, basketball, and volleyball, plus equipment that can be borrowed. Several beach wheelchairs are also available. The median home sold price in Sandbridge was $1.1M in March 2026. However, while multi-million dollar single-family homes raise the median sold price, many two- to three-bedroom condos are offered for sale in Sandbridge within the $350K-$550K range. When medical care is needed, Sentara General Hospital in Virginia Beach is about 16 miles away.
Poquoson
Situated on the Virginia Peninsula, Poquoson is only 43 miles from Virginia Beach. Poquoson is a close-knit town with community spirit. They are known for the Poquoson Seafood Festival, set for October 16-18, 2026. The town also frequently holds events like the All-American Picnic in the Park with food, vendors, and fireworks, held this year on June 26. The Thomas Jefferson Rollins Nature Area is great for fishing, crabbing, and bird watching. Hunts Neck Landing overlooks the Poquoson River and has a boat ramp.
Poquoson is informally known as Bull Island because farmers used to let their cattle roam freely in the marshes; residents still call themselves Bull Islanders. The median home sold price in Poquoson was $544K as of April 2026. Several hospitals are located in nearby larger towns; the closest is Sentara Careplex Hospital, just 15 minutes away in Hampton, VA. Poquoson has four parks with shelters that can be rented, a pool for open swimming that can also be rented for pool parties, and opportunities for kayaking on the river. The Poquoson Senior Center plans lunch and activities on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with transportation available if needed.
Smithfield
About 46 miles from Virginia Beach, Smithfield is known worldwide for Smithfield Hams. However, Smithfield is also a hub for history, architecture, and culture. Its Historic District has over 200 noteworthy houses, 37 commercial buildings, plus churches and more. Among the homes to see is the circa 1780 Wentworth-Grinnan House, which was owned by several prominent families through the years. In its on-site warehouse, products like molasses, hams, and bacon were stored, waiting to be shipped to ports as far away as Bermuda and the West Indies. This house is an example of Georgian architecture; others in the historic district show Colonial, Federal, and Victorian styles.
Rent kayaks and paddleboards at Windsor Castle Park in the heart of town. The riverside park has picnic areas, a canoe/kayak launch, fishing pier, woodland trails, a mountain bike path, dog park, and the Windsor Castle manor house. The Mary Wells Senior Center serves Isle of Wight county residents aged 60+ with programs such as classes on technology, nutrition, Medicare fraud and other scams, and a place to socialize. The median sold price for Smithfield homes was $495K as of April 2026. Riverside Smithfield Hospital provides 24-hour ER care, as well as diagnostics, imaging, cardiology, and surgery.
Williamsburg
While Williamsburg is typically thought of as a busy tourist destination, about 15K people also call it home. Just 59 miles from Virginia Beach, residents can enjoy the history of Colonial Williamsburg and the Atlantic Ocean's surf on the same day. At Colonial Williamsburg, costumed interpreters depict life in the colony in the 1700s. As a resident, you will have time for leisurely visits to two folk art museums under one roof: the Abby Aldrich Folk Art Museum showcases work by amateur artists, and the useful, yet artistic, items at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. Visiting relatives might enjoy Busch Gardens or Water Country USA, both in Williamsburg.
The median home sold price in the Williamsburg area was $465K as of April 2026, which includes condos, townhouses, and single-family homes. Numerous 55+ communities for active seniors are also available, with homes starting at $300K. Williamsburg is also a college town due to the presence of William & Mary University. Their year-round calendar includes many events that are open to the public, like the Annual Lemon Project of reconciliation and Judy Collins' farewell tour, plus workshops, symposiums, and lifelong learning opportunities. Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center is highly rated in many specialties, including cardiology and geriatrics.
Franklin
Far removed from the tourist areas, but still only about an hour's drive (60 miles) from Virginia Beach, is the town of Franklin. Stop at the Visitors Center, located in the old, renovated train depot, for information on the town. The Cat's Meow, on Main Street in the town's Historic District, offers women's and children's clothing, jewelry, accessories, and gifts. Faded Cottage is known for its antiques, vintage finds, and high-quality handmade items. Virginia Outdoors caters to people who enjoy the outdoors with hunting and fishing equipment, bait, apparel, coolers, and camping gear.
The town has eight parks and two sports centers with programs for all ages, including some specifically for seniors. The 200-acre Blackwater Park on the Blackwater River has an 800-foot boardwalk and two trails, and is ideal for viewing wildlife. Barrett's Landing Park has interpretive panels explaining the history of the town and the area. Franklin's median home sold price, according to Redfin, was $241K as of March 2026. Bon Secours Southampton Medical Center is conveniently located in Franklin.
Hayes
About an hour's drive north of Virginia Beach is the community of Hayes. Although Hayes is also close to Yorktown (5 minutes) and Newport News (27 minutes), living in Hayes imparts a rural suburban vibe with an unhurried pace of life. Nearby Machicomoco State Park celebrates the Powhatan Tribes associated with the park's location, and Native Americans provide educational programs, including native clothing and culture. Situated on the York River, the park offers opportunities for fishing, a canoe/kayak launch, and paved, gravel, and natural trails for walking and biking. Timberneck House, built around 1792 as part of the Rosewell Plantation, is in the park and is undergoing restoration. When it opens, it will provide educational programs and lodging.
Since Hayes is so close to Yorktown, you can take in the historic attractions, museums, and battlefield any time without having to pack them into a short period as visitors do. You will want to go to Riverwalk Landing often, though. Its nine buildings overlooking the York River house gifts, home decor, and clothing boutiques, fine and casual restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, bakeries, events, and performances. According to Redfin, the median home sold price for Hayes was $419K as of March 2026. Should you need advanced health care, Riverside Walter Reed Hospital is just eight minutes away in Gloucester.
Retirement Within Easy Reach of Virginia Beach
A look at these small towns shows that, in Virginia, it is quite possible to live close to Virginia Beach while enjoying the charm and pace of small-town life. Even an hour away in Hayes, Franklin, or Williamsburg, you can have lunch at the beach, enjoy the afternoon sun and surf, and be home before dark. Each town has its own appeal, such as the annual seafood festival in Poquoson, the Colonial history and pageantry of Williamsburg, and the activities and spaces designed specifically for seniors in many of these towns.
