Vitamin D in Virginia: best months for sun and a travel guide

The best months for vitamin D in Virginia are May to September. In June, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 7 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 9.2 usable sun hours a day. For a beach stay it is too cool from October to April.

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Virginia month by month

Virginia is rated at its median coastal place, for skin type III at age 30. Click a month for the details.

Month	Rating	Sun window	Peak UV	Full dose, age 30	Full dose, age 65	Afternoon high	Rainy days
January	Too cold	2.3 h	2.7	20 min	37 min	11°C	8/30
February	Too cold	4.1 h	3.7	14 min	27 min	10°C	4/30
March	Too cold	5.4 h	4.9	11 min	20 min	17°C	7/30
April	Too cold	7.2 h	6.3	8 min	16 min	19°C	4/30
May	Excellent	7.4 h	6.9	8 min	14 min	26°C	8/30
June	Excellent	9.2 h	7.7	7 min	13 min	29°C	3/30
July	Excellent	8.4 h	7.5	7 min	13 min	29°C	11/30
August	Excellent	8.0 h	7.1	8 min	14 min	30°C	5/30
September	Good	6.5 h	5.5	10 min	18 min	25°C	6/30
October	Too cold	5.9 h	4.9	11 min	20 min	21°C	1/30
November	Too cold	3.5 h	3.4	16 min	29 min	16°C	5/30
December	Too cold	2.1 h	2.7	20 min	37 min	10°C	3/30

Sun window is the number of hours a day with UV Index 2.5 or higher. Full dose is the minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm out of 30.

Travel guide: why go to Virginia

Why go

Virginia has a lively boardwalk beach, historical sites and a wild island with ponies.

Best for

Families and history fans.

What to expect

A beach season from late May to September, with hurricane risk in late summer. The sea is cool early on. Roads and boardwalks get crowded on summer weekends.

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Places in Virginia

Each place has its own climate, so its best months can differ from the country as a whole.

Virginia Beach best: Excellent

Three-mile boardwalk, surf and seafood.

Best for families, groups

Best months May to September · Avoid too cool from October to April

Chincoteague best: Excellent

Island of wild ponies and a national wildlife refuge.

Best for nature lovers, families

Best months June to September · Avoid too cool from October to May

Norfolk best: Excellent

Naval city with a harbourfront and museums.

Best for history fans, short stays

Best months May to October · Avoid too cool from November to April

Williamsburg best: Excellent

Living-history colonial town, inland.

Best for history fans, families

Best months May to October · Avoid too cool from November to April

Cape Charles best: Excellent

Quiet small town with a bayside beach.

Best for couples, quiet-stay seekers

Best months May to September · Avoid too cool from October to April

Questions about vitamin D in Virginia

When is the best time to visit Virginia for vitamin D?

The best months for vitamin D in Virginia are May to September. In June, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 7 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 9.2 usable sun hours a day.

Can you get vitamin D from the sun in Virginia in December?

Yes, but slowly. In December a full dose takes about 20 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 2.1 usable hours a day.

How long do I need in the sun in Virginia?

In June, the best month, about 7 minutes at midday with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III at age 30; about 13 minutes at age 65. Darker skin needs longer and fair skin burns sooner, so keep sessions short. This is an estimate for planning, not medical advice.

Which months should I avoid in Virginia?

For a beach stay, avoid the months when it is too cool from October to April.

What is the best place in Virginia for vitamin D?

In June the strongest sun of the places we rate is around Cape Charles. Each place has its own rating, so open the place list to compare them.