Tall Pines / Chesapeake Bay KOA Holiday Blog
2026 Season: March 12 - November 30!
Driving Directions from the North
The water at Tall Pines / Chesapeake Bay KOA sits close enough that you can hear it from most sites near the beach. Pocomoke Sound stretches out from the campground's private beach and small boat ramp, part of the wider Chesapeake Bay, and on a calm morning it's flat enough for a first-time paddler to feel comfortable within a few minutes.
You don't need to own a kayak, a paddleboard, or even a golf cart to make the most of that setup. The camp store rents all three, plus water trikes, so a family can show up with swimsuits and sunscreen and still spend an afternoon on the Sound. This guide walks through what's available, how to plan a day around it, and what to know before the kids paddle off toward open water.
Tall Pines / Chesapeake Bay KOA's private beach sits right on Pocomoke Sound, and it's the starting point for almost everything on this list. Guests who bring their own kayak or small boat can launch straight from the boat ramp next to it, skipping a drive to a public landing. Everyone else has a reason to head down there too, since it's also where golf cart, kayak, paddleboard, and water trike rentals get picked up.
The beach is calm rather than a surf beach. Sand gives way to shallow water gradually, so a parent can wade in alongside a toddler without much drama, and a first-time paddleboarder gets a forgiving spot to find their balance. A fishing and crabbing pier sits a short walk away if someone in your group wants to drop a line between paddle sessions, though that's really its own outing (see our guide to catching crabs on the Chesapeake Bay for the full rundown).
If easy water access matters to your trip, think about where you book. The waterfront back-in sites sit closest to the beach and ramp, and there are only six of them, so they tend to fill up ahead of summer weekends. Our complete guide to RV sites at Tall Pines / Chesapeake Bay KOA breaks down every option, from those waterfront spots to sites near the tidal lagoon.
Hauling a cooler, folding chairs, and two kids from a back site to the beach can turn into its own workout at a campground this size. That's where golf cart rentals earn their keep. The camp store rents carts by the hour or by the day, so a family can grab one just for the beach run or keep it parked at the site for the whole weekend.
A cart also solves the gear problem in one trip instead of three. Paddleboards, coolers, and a stack of towels load into the back of a golf cart more easily than they fit on a bike rack or in someone's arms. Guests staying at sites closer to the water usually skip the rental since the walk is already short, but families farther back tend to book one every time they return.
Rentals are available by the hour or day, so check current rates at the camp store when you arrive. Golf cart inventory is limited, and it can run out on busy holiday weekends, so it's worth asking about availability when you reserve your site instead of waiting until check-in.
Pocomoke Sound is part of the wider Chesapeake Bay, and the stretch in front of Tall Pines / Chesapeake Bay KOA is sheltered enough that beginners can get comfortable within a few minutes. The camp store rents kayaks, paddleboards, and water trikes by the hour or day, so nobody has to strap gear to the roof of a car to spend an afternoon on the water. Each option handles a little differently, and picking the right one depends on who's paddling.
None of these require experience to enjoy for an afternoon. A short paddle out from the beach keeps you close enough to see the shoreline the whole time, which matters for parents keeping an eye on younger kids on a separate board. Ask camp store staff which direction has the calmest water that day. Wind and tide affect Pocomoke Sound more than they would a small inland lake, and staff who launch guests every day tend to know current conditions better than a general tide chart would.
Families who want to make the most of a day on Pocomoke Sound usually follow some version of this plan.
1. Head to the beach early. Mornings tend to have calmer water and fewer bugs than late afternoon, which makes it the easiest time for kids to try paddling for the first time.
2. Pick up rentals at the camp store. Grab a golf cart if your site is far from the water, then rent kayaks, paddleboards, or a water trike depending on who's coming along.
3. Load the cart and drive down together. One trip covers gear, coolers, and life jackets instead of three separate walks back to the site.
4. Paddle close to shore first. Let younger or less confident paddlers get comfortable near the beach before anyone heads farther out.
5. Take a midday break. Swim, eat lunch at the pavilion, or let the kids run off energy on the jumping pillow before a second round on the water in the late afternoon.
This order isn't a strict rulebook, but it front-loads the calmest water and lowest bug pressure into the part of the day when kids are also freshest. A family that flips it, paddling late in the afternoon after a full day at the pool, usually ends up dealing with tired kids and the dusk mosquitoes this stretch of the Eastern Shore is known for.
A private beach and calm sound make Tall Pines / Chesapeake Bay KOA a forgiving place to introduce kids to paddling, but it's still open water connected to the Chesapeake Bay. A few habits make the difference between a relaxed afternoon and a stressful one.
For general paddling and boating conditions beyond what's specific to this stretch of water, the Chesapeake Bay Program has resources on the Bay's watershed worth a look before a first visit.
No. The camp store rents kayaks, paddleboards, water trikes, and golf carts on site, available by the hour or by the day. Check current rates and availability when you arrive, since inventory is limited and rentals go quickly on summer weekends and holidays.
Policies on solo rentals for kids can vary by season and staffing, so ask the camp store directly about any age or supervision guidelines before your trip. Younger paddlers should stay within sight of the beach and wear a life jacket regardless of experience.
No. The small boat ramp next to the private beach is there for guests who bring their own kayak, canoe, or small boat. If you don't own one, the camp store's rental kayaks, paddleboards, and water trikes launch right from the adjacent beach.
Ask camp store staff before you launch. They watch Pocomoke Sound daily and can tell you if conditions are calmer earlier or later in the day, or point you toward the pool and playground instead until the wind settles down.
Tall Pines / Chesapeake Bay KOA sits on Pocomoke Sound on Virginia's Eastern Shore, with a private beach, boat ramp, and on-site rentals that put families on the water within minutes of setting up camp.
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