globaltrekster
This is a great park for practicing beach photos and day hikes through the woods. You can also beach comb without the shell police trying to confiscate your angel wings and conches. Do be aware that it is very windy by the pier, so dress in layers, even in the summer.I did not use the lodges and because I went on the weekend in the winter, there were no facilities open, including the ranger station, gift ship, and restrooms by the pier. I did drive pass the lodges and they are very roomy with lots of space in between them, although they are right off the main road.This is a great stop on the road. It is right off of Route 13 and a good resting area when on a long road trip. The fee for the weekend is $5 and on the weekdays is $4.
Palomino922
A group of us reserved two lodges at Kiptopeke State Park for the first weekend on January. Each lodge had 6 rooms (2-queens, 2-twins, 2-bunks), 3 full bathrooms, fully stocked kitchen and a nice open living room with gas fireplace. We enjoyed hiking thru the woods and walking on the beach. Very enjoyable! Downtown Cape Charles is 5 miles north with cute shops, consignment stores, antiques and restaurants. In the winter most are only open on the weekends. Chincoteague is 1 1/4 hours north.
JVinVB
Having camped at Kiptopeke with our RV, we recently stayed at Kiptopeke in their lodges, which are FANTASTIC. We rented 2 lodges, as we were with 7 other couples, 4 couples per lodge. Each lodge accommodates 16, however 2 of the bedrooms are set up for kids, with bunk beds. The lodges are open and airy with the impressive cathedral ceilings. The 2 "Master" bedrooms, with queen size beds, share a large bathroom. 2 bedrooms with 2 twin beds, each have their own large bathrooms. The lodges are very well stocked with pots and pans, bakeware, utensils, silverware, even oven mitts, dish towel, paper towels, toilet paper, dish soap, new sponge and dish scrubber. Even though it is well stocked, you will still need to bring your cooking spices, salt pepper, oil, etc. Each bathroom is supplied with hotel size shampoo, lotion, mouthwash and soaps. Towels are supplied, a bit rough, but not bad for just a couple of days. There are additional blankets in the bedrooms, no need to bring your own, though you may want your own personal pillow. There is a gas fireplace in the main area, plenty of furniture for sitting around, and 16 chairs for the dining room table and peninsula eating areas. We had a fabulous time, the weather was 47*, brisk and clear, and we were able to take a nice long walk on the groomed trails, down to the beach, wharf / marina area and back thru the campgrounds to the lodges. We enjoyed the board games we brought with us, and in nice weather you can enjoy the rocking chairs on the front and back porches, along with the BBQ grill. Check in was smooth, and the Park Ranger was very informative about the Cement Ships in the Bay. We enjoyed visiting Cape Charles,Chincoteague, and Chatham Winery, and their many delicious wines, where we purchased several bottles!All in all, we ALL had a wonderful time at the Kiptopeke Lodges, and would highly recommend you enjoy them too!
Hikingshoes
Trails are well maintained and wildlife is abundant. All trails are easy to traverse and several have buildings to view song birds and water fowl from without disturbing them.
Annie620
My husband and I love hiking and since Back Bay Wildlife Refuge (our first choice) was closed for hunting, we thought we'd try this park. We came from Virginia Beach and our experience was dampened a bit when we realized we had to pay a $13 toll to get to the island. I thought, ok, probably won't have to pay on the return trip (wrong) so it was $26 for the trip, plus $4 entrance fee. It would have been nice to have this noted on the park website. Not many people there which was nice. First Landing State Park had longer and nicer trails.
988thomasr
Kiptopeake is very popular with families, for camping, fishing, boating. The beach and fishing pier are protected by the concrete ships that form a barrier to storms. Even when full the park is not overcrowded. Relax and enjoy
Brotherdickdca1981
We only had a short time there, but found it to be one of the most enjoyable parks we have ever seen.
Kirsten_music
Great butterfly garden, easy trails, great sunset view where Wood Warbler Boardwalk ends at the beach!
surfer02_10
What a beautiuful state park located on the Chesapeake Bay with the bridge tunnel nearby. There is an area for fishing from the pier, a launch ramp for boats and kayaks and a campground for those hardy folks that enjoy camping. There is a breakwater that is made up of nine old concrete ships that were originally used during the 1900's. There are walking trails thru the maritime forest and a great sandy beach for swimming. This is a must do when visiting the Cape Charles area.
mrskadel
My husband and I originally stopped here to check out the LOVE chairs, which are no longer there, however we stayed around and enjoyed the sights. There is a good bit to do there, we didn't stay long to check it all out, but it's worth a quick pit stop.
KathyPoe
Good spot for birders: hawk watch platform has official counter throughout the fall. Plus butterfly gardens and monarch tagging program. Updated facilities. Clean & well maintained.
496rossr
Recently, I had the chance to visit the Kiptopeke State Park for a three day sea kayak symposium that headquartered in the park. While I spent most of my time in the water, I got to see much of what the park had to offer. It has nice, clean, and sandy beaches, is pet friendly, and has an excellent fishing pier from which the anglers appeared to fare quite well. There is a very large boat ramp with plenty of room to maneuver fairly large watercraft, and they rent kayaks for recreational paddlers. The campgrounds appeared spacious and clean, and the lodges were surprisingly nice. Park staff were friendly and helpful, and they have a small store to accommodate the need for essentials and souvenirs. There also was a very nice fish cleaning station that could allow for several people to clean their catch simultaneously, and the bathrooms were very well maintained with a handicap accessible shower to wash off the sand. I believe it is an excellent locale for a day trip or more extended stays, and offers something for just about everyone.
SandCadi
We stopped here to spend a couple of days camping. What a pleasant surprise. The park has adequate facilities with access to the beach and coastal waterway. Kayaks are available for rent for cheap money and the crabbing (blue) is great at the right time of year.
maceb18
We did a day trip to Kiptopeke State Park just to check it out for a future staycation. The Park is well maintained and there are quite a few employees. The campgrounds were organized and clean. They even have a Yurt available for rent. The beaches were clean but a little too shallow with not enough waves. Probably good for children under the age to 10.
Orions777
Really nice park just off of route 13 before the bridge and tunnel. Wooden boardwalks, bay views, fishing pier, seashells to collect, a store and a network of trails. Great for birding. A must stop for a few hours to check it out.