The 25 Best Beaches in the U.S., From Florida to Hawaii
The 25 best beaches in the United States – from Siesta Key and Hanalei Bay to Cannon Beach, Cape Cod and the Outer Banks – with what makes each one special.
With coastlines on two oceans, the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes – plus Hawaii and the Caribbean territories – the United States has an extraordinary variety of beaches. These are 25 of the best, grouped by region.
Florida and the Gulf Coast
1. Siesta Beach, Florida
Siesta Key's quartz sand is so fine and white it stays cool underfoot. Calm, shallow water makes it perfect for families. See our guide to Florida's best beaches.
The sand is so fine and white it squeaks under your feet and stays cool even at midday, and the water is calm and clear. At sunset on Sundays, a drum circle gathers on the beach.
2. Clearwater Beach, Florida
Wide sand, lively Pier 60 sunsets and easy access from Tampa.
A wide stretch of white sand, a long pier and a lively atmosphere, with sunset celebrations every evening at Pier 60.
3. Destin and the Emerald Coast, Florida
Sugar-white sand and emerald-green water on the Panhandle – see our pick of Destin's best resorts.
Sugar-white sand meets water so green it looks unreal, and the harbour is full of fishing boats and seafood restaurants.
4. Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida and Mississippi
Protected barrier islands near Pensacola with dunes, forts and quiet beaches.
Long, quiet stretches of white sand and dunes, old forts and calm, clear water – far from the crowds.
5. Gulf Shores, Alabama
Family-friendly sand and warm water, with Gulf State Park next door.
White sand, warm water and a laid-back beach-town atmosphere with seafood shacks and beach bars.
6. South Padre Island, Texas
Long beaches, warm water and sea turtle rescue centres on Texas's southern tip.
Wide sandy beaches, warm Gulf water and a lively party atmosphere in spring; calm and peaceful the rest of the year.
The Atlantic Coast
7. Cape Hatteras and Ocracoke, North Carolina
Wild Outer Banks beaches, historic lighthouses and wild ponies on Ocracoke.
Wild, windswept beaches, the striped Cape Hatteras lighthouse and wild ponies on Ocracoke – remote and beautiful.
8. Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Ten miles of quiet sand near Charleston, with dolphins feeding along the shore.
Ten miles of quiet beach, salt marshes and herons and egrets in the lagoons – perfect for cycling at low tide.
9. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Hard-packed sand perfect for cycling – see our Hilton Head guide.
Wide, hard-packed sand that's perfect for cycling, dolphins in the waves and sunsets over the marshes.
10. Assateague Island, Maryland and Virginia
Undeveloped beaches famous for their wild horses.
Wild horses graze on the dunes and wander along the beach – a magical and unique sight.
11. Cape May, New Jersey
Victorian architecture, birdwatching and gentle beaches at the tip of New Jersey.
Victorian houses painted in candy colours, a lighthouse and a beach with lifeguards and gentle waves.
12. East Hampton Main Beach, New York
Classic Hamptons dunes and a polished, relaxed atmosphere.
Wide, golden sand, dunes and grand houses behind – elegant and peaceful.
13. Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts
Race Point and Coast Guard Beach have huge dunes, Atlantic waves and seals.
Huge dunes, lighthouses and cold Atlantic waves – walk at sunset and watch for seals.
The Great Lakes
14. Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan
Giant dunes rising above the clear, turquoise water of Lake Michigan.
Climb the huge sand dune and Lake Michigan stretches below like an ocean, turquoise and calm.
California and the Pacific Northwest
15. Coronado Beach, California
Wide, sparkling sand in front of the historic Hotel del Coronado in San Diego.
The sand sparkles with mica, the Hotel del Coronado's red roofs rise behind and the Pacific waves roll in gently.
16. La Jolla Shores, California
Feel free to use my photos, but ple
/ CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsCalm water for kayaking and snorkelling with leopard sharks and sea lions nearby.
Calm waves for swimming and kayaking, sea lions on the rocks nearby and leopard sharks in the shallows in summer.
17. Pfeiffer Beach, California
Purple-tinged sand and Keyhole Arch on the Big Sur coast.
Purple sand, a rock arch and waves rushing through the keyhole at sunset – wild and dramatic. The road is narrow and the car park small.
18. Cannon Beach, Oregon
The towering Haystack Rock and tide pools full of sea stars.
Haystack Rock rises from the beach, with tide pools full of starfish and anemones at low tide.
19. Ruby Beach, Washington
Driftwood, sea stacks and misty forest in Olympic National Park.
Driftwood logs, sea stacks and mist rolling in from the Pacific – wild, moody and beautiful.
Hawaii
20. Hanalei Bay, Kauai
A wide crescent of sand backed by green mountains and waterfalls.
A perfect half-moon of sand, green mountains with waterfalls behind and calm water in summer.
21. Lanikai Beach, Oahu
Soft sand and turquoise water facing the Mokulua islands – go early to find parking.
Soft white sand, turquoise water and the two Mokulua islands offshore – perfect for kayaking at sunrise.
22. Kaanapali Beach, Maui
Resort beach with excellent snorkelling at Black Rock.
A long golden beach lined with resorts, where divers leap from Black Rock at sunset.
23. Hapuna Beach, Big Island
One of the Big Island's largest white-sand beaches, with calm summer swimming.
Wide white sand and clear blue water – one of the best beaches for swimming and bodyboarding in Hawaii.
The Caribbean
24. Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico
On the island of Culebra, a perfect horseshoe of white sand and clear water.
A horseshoe of white sand and turquoise water, with an old rusty tank on the beach – a reminder of the island's military past.
25. Trunk Bay, St John, US Virgin Islands
An underwater snorkelling trail inside Virgin Islands National Park.
An underwater snorkelling trail with signs on the seabed, white sand and palm trees – postcard-perfect.
Tips for a US beach trip
- Check flags and rip-current warnings – lifeguards aren't on every beach.
- Parking and permits: some beaches charge for parking or require advance permits in summer.
- Protect wildlife: keep away from nesting turtles, seals and birds, and take your rubbish home.
- Hurricane season: June to November on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
Frequently asked questions
Which US state has the best beaches?
Florida and Hawaii are the most famous, but California, the Carolinas and Massachusetts also have world-class beaches. It depends whether you want warm water, surf or wild scenery.
What is the best beach in the US for families?
Calm, shallow beaches such as Siesta Beach and Clearwater Beach in Florida, Coronado in California and Gulf Shores in Alabama are great for families.
When is the best time for a US beach holiday?
Summer is peak season on most coasts. Florida, Hawaii and southern California are pleasant almost year-round; the Gulf and Atlantic coasts have a hurricane season from June to November.
Keep reading
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