ToClearSkies
Virginia Beach air right now

GoodAQI 47

Virginia Beach’s five-day smoke forecast shows the current index and the clearest time ahead.

47
AQI now
8.4
PM2.5 · µg/m³

Where are you?

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

You may already have the cleanest nearby air.No meaningfully cleaner place has a verified road route within 3 hours. Widen the range or show worse air for context.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
Virginia Beach Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
Williamsburg
Cel-shaded illustration of Williamsburg
AQI 36
#1WilliamsburgChecking road route

Virginia· Good

Colonial capital between the James and York rivers, with tidewater air and an extensive hotel base.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 6.4 µg/m³ here vs 8.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.4/22 × 7 = 2.0 here; 8.4/22 × 7 = 2.7 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
24% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the HAMPTON - NASA monitor.

Still smoky
Norfolk
Cel-shaded illustration of Norfolk
AQI 41
#2Norfolk~25 min drive

Virginia· Good

A major Virginia city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 7.4 µg/m³ here vs 8.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 7.4/22 × 7 = 2.4 here; 8.4/22 × 7 = 2.7 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
12% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the NORFOLK - NOAA monitor.

Still smoky
Chesapeake
Cel-shaded illustration of Chesapeake
AQI unavailable
#3ChesapeakeChecking road route

Virginia

Virginia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Portsmouth Heights
Cel-shaded illustration of Portsmouth Heights
AQI unavailable
#4Portsmouth HeightsChecking road route

Virginia

Virginia community with a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
East Hampton
Cel-shaded illustration of East Hampton
AQI unavailable
#5East HamptonChecking road route

Virginia

Virginia community with a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Moyock
Cel-shaded illustration of Moyock
AQI unavailable
#6MoyockChecking road route

North Carolina

North Carolina community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Newport News
Cel-shaded illustration of Newport News
AQI unavailable
#7Newport NewsChecking road route

Virginia

Virginia community with a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Poquoson
Cel-shaded illustration of Poquoson
AQI unavailable
#8PoquosonChecking road route

Virginia

Virginia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Carrollton
Cel-shaded illustration of Carrollton
AQI unavailable
#9CarrolltonChecking road route

Virginia

Virginia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Suffolk
Cel-shaded illustration of Suffolk
AQI unavailable
#10SuffolkChecking road route

Virginia

Virginia community with a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Smithfield
Cel-shaded illustration of Smithfield
AQI unavailable
#11SmithfieldChecking road route

Virginia

Virginia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Gloucester Point
Cel-shaded illustration of Gloucester Point
AQI unavailable
#12Gloucester PointChecking road route

Virginia

Virginia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Berlin
Cel-shaded illustration of Berlin
AQI 24
#13BerlinChecking road route

Maryland· Good

Eastern Shore Victorian town minutes from Assateague's beaches, a quieter inland base than Ocean City.

48% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.4 µg/m³ here vs 8.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.4/22 × 7 = 1.4 here; 8.4/22 × 7 = 2.7 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Virginia Beach right now

48% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Still smoky
Chincoteague
Cel-shaded illustration of Chincoteague
AQI 31
#14Chincoteague~2 h 35 min drive

Virginia· Good

Barrier-island town beside Assateague's wild beaches on Virginia's Eastern Shore, wrapped by bay and ocean air with plentiful lodging.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 5.5 µg/m³ here vs 8.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 5.5/22 × 7 = 1.8 here; 8.4/22 × 7 = 2.7 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Virginia Beach right now

35% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Pocomoke City monitor.

Still smoky
Cambridge
Cel-shaded illustration of Cambridge
AQI 33
#15CambridgeChecking road route

Maryland· Good

Eastern Shore town on the wide Choptank River, with waterfront air and a growing base of inns.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 6 µg/m³ here vs 8.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6/22 × 7 = 1.9 here; 8.4/22 × 7 = 2.7 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Virginia Beach right now

29% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Horn Point monitor.

Still smoky
Kill Devil Hills
Cel-shaded illustration of Kill Devil Hills
AQI 34
#16Kill Devil Hills~2 h 5 min drive

North Carolina· Good

Outer Banks beach town on a narrow Atlantic barrier island, swept by open-ocean wind, with oceanfront rentals and hotels.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 6.2 µg/m³ here vs 8.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.2/22 × 7 = 2.0 here; 8.4/22 × 7 = 2.7 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.2 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Virginia Beach right now

26% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Still smoky
Nags Head
Cel-shaded illustration of Nags Head
AQI 34
#17Nags Head~2 h 15 min drive

North Carolina· Good

Outer Banks beach town on the barrier islands, exposed to constant Atlantic wind, with cottages and hotels along the shore.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 6.2 µg/m³ here vs 8.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.2/22 × 7 = 2.0 here; 8.4/22 × 7 = 2.7 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.2 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Virginia Beach right now

26% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Nyack
Cel-shaded illustration of Nyack
AQI 11
#18NyackChecking road route

New York· Good

Riverside village on the Hudson's Tappan Zee reach, with open-water air and a gallery-lined Main Street.

77% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 1.9 µg/m³ here vs 8.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1.9/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 8.4/22 × 7 = 2.7 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

6.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Virginia Beach right now

77% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the White Plains monitor.

Tarrytown
Cel-shaded illustration of Tarrytown
AQI 11
#19TarrytownChecking road route

New York· Good

Lower Hudson Valley river town of Sleepy Hollow lore, with wide-river air and a walkable Main Street.

77% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 1.9 µg/m³ here vs 8.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1.9/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 8.4/22 × 7 = 2.7 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

6.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Virginia Beach right now

77% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the White Plains monitor.

Shepherdstown
Cel-shaded illustration of Shepherdstown
AQI 11
#20ShepherdstownChecking road route

West Virginia· Good

West Virginia's oldest town on the upper Potomac, a walkable river-valley base with inns and B&Bs.

76% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 2 µg/m³ here vs 8.4 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 8.4/22 × 7 = 2.7 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

6.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Virginia Beach right now

76% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Hagerstown monitor.

Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT · 49 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

Browse all 200 cities by province & state →

More air-quality pages in Virginia →
Air quality in nearby cities →

What this means · Virginia Beach

Good

AQI 47

AQI = Air Quality Index

Typical person. Air quality is satisfactory for most outdoor plans.

Kids, seniors, heart or lung conditions. Unusually sensitive people can still enjoy the outdoors.

The AQI on this page follows fine particles (PM2.5). Particles here are 8.4 µg/m³ (Good), so the headline and the particle scale below tell the same story.

Act two · Fine particles only

Where PM2.5 lands

This bar is smoke and fine particles (PM2.5) only. Left is cleaner air; right is heavier particle pollution. Today's particles sit in Good.

8.4 µg/m³
Clean · 0Smoky · 40Severe · 80+

Act three · Particle ladder

What each PM2.5 rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · Felt number

Cigarettes a week

A secondary feel for the particle load only — not a medical claim, and not a substitute for AQI.

2.7/wk

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 8.4 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 8.4/22 × 7 = 2.7 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →