Jamestown Beach Event Park is a James City County park on the James River at 2205 Jamestown Road in Williamsburg, Virginia, about a mile and a half upriver from Historic Jamestowne. The swim area is roughly a quarter mile of sand sheltered by stone breakwaters, and the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry pier sits immediately south, so ferry boats pass offshore all day. From Richmond, take I-64 east to exit 234, then VA-199 east eight miles to VA-31 south (Jamestown Road) and another 3.9 miles. From Norfolk, take I-64 west to exit 242A, VA-199 for 5.4 miles, then VA-31 south for 3.9 miles. The park office is at 757-259-5360.

The beach and restrooms are open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. Entry is free. Non-resident parking is charged only from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.: $5 weekday or $10 weekend for a passenger vehicle carrying up to eight, $15 or $20 for nine to fifteen passengers, and $30 for a bus. Residents of James City County and the City of Williamsburg park free with a Virginia license or ID showing a current address. Card payments add a 2.95 percent convenience fee. Concessions run Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, noon to 7 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends and holidays.

There are no lifeguards. Swimming and wading are at your own risk, though the park is patrolled by a county park ranger, James City County Police, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and the Virginia Marine Police. The James River Association samples the water here weekly from Memorial Day through Labor Day under its James River Watch program and publishes bacteria results every Friday on Swim Guide, which means a posted result can be a week old after a storm. Rainfall is the main driver of bad numbers. Unusually wet weather in 2025 dropped the basin-wide swimming and paddling safety rating from 85 percent to 76 percent.

Conditions on the James change quickly. Currents strengthen away from shore, and boats and jet skis run just beyond the breakwaters, so stay inside the buoy line. Do not swim alone, do not hang on the buoys, do not jump off the observation pier, and stay off the breakwater rocks. Children under 12 need someone at least 16 with them. Lightning clears the water and also suspends boat rentals for 30 minutes.

Facilities include outdoor rinse stations and showers, restrooms, picnic areas with county charcoal grills, and a concession building. Personal charcoal grills and open fires are prohibited, propane is allowed. Accessibility is better than most river beaches: accessible parking, walkway, restrooms and picnic area, a beach mat running down to the water, and a free floating beach wheelchair reserved at 757-345-6045. Canoes and kayaks rent Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, $15 resident or $20 non-resident per hour for a single kayak and $20 or $25 for a tandem, last rental at 5:30 p.m. You can launch your own craft, and rack storage for 24 boats is arranged through the James City County Marina at 757-585-9255.

Camping is not allowed here. The county points campers to Chickahominy Riverfront Park on John Tyler Highway. Fishing is confined to the peninsula beside the ferry bridge and needs a Virginia freshwater license, not the beachfront, the rocks or the pier. No glass containers on the sand, no alcohol, and dogs stay on a leash of 8 feet or less except in the off-leash area near the entrance and in the water.