Whether its fishing on the James River, sailing on the Chesapeake Bay or sunbathing at the Atlantic ocean beaches, you don’t have to travel very far to enjoy the water in Newport News. Various parks throughout the City offer fresh and salt water fishing opportunities. This includes fishing on the Lee Hall Reservoir (boat rentals are available) or from the James River, Hilton, Anderson Park and King-Lincoln Park fishing piers. Charter fishing vessels leave regularly from the City’s Seafood Industrial Park for the thrill of ocean fishing. The shallows around one of the three bridge tunnels crossing Hampton Roads or around the "ghost fleet" harbored near Fort Eustis are favorite fishing grounds for the amateur fisher.

There are plenty of opportunities for sailing and motor boating in Newport News. Besides several marinas in and around Newport News, there are three boat launch ramps in Newport News—along the Warwick River, James River and Hampton Roads Harbor. Rowboats, canoes and paddleboats can be rented at Newport News Park for an excursion on the Lee Hall Reservoir. Boats and canoes can also be rented at Lake Maury at the Mariners Museum Park.

Local beaches include those at Huntington Park (along the James River) and Anderson Park (along Hampton Roads Harbor) or at Buckroe Beach (on the Chesapeake Bay) and Yorktown Beach (along the York River). Ocean View and Chic’s Beach are on the other side of Hampton Roads. For more surf, the Atlantic Ocean beaches of Virginia Beach are less than an hour away. Nags Head and the Outer Banks—where locals go for those extended beach vacations—are about two hours away.

If you don’t have a swimming pool in your back yard, chances are you can join a neighborhood association and swim in an outdoor pool all summer long. Most neighborhood associations participate in summer swim leagues. Year-round swim leagues operate from the Fort Eustis and Coast Guard aquatic centers (membership in these leagues is open to non-military families). Two outdoor swimming pools are also operated by the Newport News Parks and Recreation Department in the Southeast Community. Indoor swimming pools are located at two Boys and Girls Club locations, at the YMCA and the Riverside Wellness Center, at the Mid-City Community Center and at various private health spas.