Best USA Beaches

By | Last Updated:
Contents
  1. Short Sands
  2. Wells Beach
  3. Plymouth Beach
  4. South Cape Beach
  5. Longnook Beach
  6. Veterans Park Beach
  7. South Beach
  8. Menemsha Beach
  9. Cliff Beach
  10. Jetties Beach
  11. Surfside Beach
  12. Nantasket Beach
  13. Orchard Beach
  14. Rockaway Beach
  15. South Beach (Staten Island)
  16. USA beach map

The Best U.S. Beaches...

  • 241. Short Sands // Maine

    Short Sands
    Fred Hsu
    Great for:
    • Swimming
    • Surfing

    Short Sands Beach stretches for around 300 yards within the oceanfront community of York, southern Maine. Despite its name, Short Sands Beach still manages to form a suitable fine ribbon of sand within Ellis Park. On the highest tides, Short Sands can all but disappear temporarily.

    Together with the park, Short Sands Beach provides amenities which include public restrooms, basketball courts, a children's sand playground and a grassy picnic area. During… read more »

  • 242. Wells Beach // Maine

    Wells Beach
    Bud
    Great for:
    • Surfing

    Wells Beach stretches for almost a mile just south of the town of Kennebunkport. It was named Wells Beach after the small resort town nearby, which has been referred to as both the antiques capital and the friendliest town in Maine. It's believed to be the third-oldest town in the state, having been founded as long ago as 1643.

    The beach is particularly popular during the summer months, with visitors making… read more »

  • 243. Plymouth Beach // Cape Cod

    Plymouth Beach
    Davies
    Great for:
    • Swimming

    Located in iconic Cape Cod Bay, Plymouth Beach stretches for 3 sandy miles along a narrow barrier island with water on either side. The barrier island protects Plymouth Harbor from the open ocean waves.

    It gets its name from the nearby town of Plymouth and Plymouth Rock. It was an early settler area for the Mayflower pilgrims who named it after their departure point in the UK - Plymouth.

    Although parts of… read more »

  • 244. South Cape Beach // Cape Cod

    South Cape Beach
    Pintsmasher
    Great for:
    • Fishing
    • Swimming

    Stretching for about a mile, the near-white sands of South Cape Beach are a wonderfully wild yet accessible part of the Cape Cod coast. Beyond the dunes the beach backs onto an area of wetlands and the estuary of Waquoit Bay. Out front are the sheltered waters of Vineyard Sound, a far cry from the Atlantic waves to be found along the Cape Cod National Seashore.

    Along with swimming and sunbathing… read more »

  • 245. Longnook Beach // Cape Cod

    Longnook Beach
    Ollie Jones
    Great for:
    • Surfing

    One of Cape Cod's top nudist beaches, Longnook Beach is located in the Massachusetts town of Truro. Although situated in one of the most popular oceanside resorts on the American east coast, it remains relatively quiet because it can only be accessed via a steep path down a high sand dune.

    Formed of a narrow band of light-coloured sand, the waves are usually mild, making it a good spot for… read more »

  • 246. Veterans Park Beach // Cape Cod

    Veterans Park Beach
    William DeSousa-Mauk

    One of Cape Cod's prettiest beaches near Hyannis, Veterans Park Beach has excellent facilities and delightful views across Lewis Bay.

    Ideal for families, there's a playground, BBQ grills, disabled facilities, benches, bike racks, showers, lifeguards, restrooms…in fact everything you need for a full day's activities. There is also plenty of parking in the area for a fee.

    The beach is moderately busy but rarely overcrowded. There's a volleyball court and the all-important… read more »

  • 247. South Beach // Martha's Vineyard

    South Beach
    William Waterway
    Great for:
    • Fishing
    • Swimming
    • Surfing

    Beautiful South Beach (also known as Katama Beach) is a free public beach in the Katama area of Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard. Washed by the Atlantic waves, the 3-mile beach is on a barrier island with rolling surf on one side and calm pond waters on the other. The surf is good for body surfing but youngsters are safer swimming in the pond.

    The wide expanse of unspoilt sand has lifeguards… read more »

  • 248. Menemsha Beach // Martha's Vineyard

    Menemsha Beach
    N. Friedler
    Great for:
    • Fishing

    Located on the exclusive island of Martha's Vineyard, Menemsha Beach is northeast of Menemsha Pond between Aquinnah and Chilmark. It is home to the local US Coastguard Station and featured in the filming of Spielberg's epic movie, Jaws.

    This public beach is one of the white sandy beaches that the island is known for. It overlooks the channel of ocean known as Vineyard Sound with views to Gay Head Lighthouse and… read more »

  • 249. Cliff Beach // Nantucket

    Cliff Beach
    Tim Sackton

    Located on the north-facing coast of Nantucket Island overlooking Nantucket Sound, Cliff Beach is north of Town Pasture and close to Nantucket Cliffs which stand about 11 metres high.

    The white sandy beach is edged by dunes with tracks providing access to the sand. The easiest public access is from Nantucket Beach Club and then walk west.

    You can still see the remaining two conical white towers known as the Nantucket Cliff… read more »

  • 250. Jetties Beach // Nantucket

    Jetties Beach
    Jeff Dell
    Great for:
    • Swimming
    • Kitesurfing

    Jetties Beach is a large sandy on the north shore of Nantucket, facing the Cape Cod coastline and protected by Nantucket Sound. It is on the outskirts of the town and takes its name from the large jetty that protrudes from the point of land at the entrance to Nantucket Harbor.

    There is ample parking near the beach including disabled parking spots. You can also take the NRTA shuttle bus… read more »

  • 251. Surfside Beach // Nantucket

    Surfside Beach
    Bob P. B.
    Great for:
    • Surfing
    • Kitesurfing

    Situated on Nantucket South Shore and 3 miles from downtown, Surfside Beach lives up to its name with powerful Atlantic waves, strong currents and cooler water.

    It's a great beach for families with plenty of space for picnics, sandcastles and ball games as well as fishing. There are food concessions, a taco truck, showers and restrooms - no wonder it's one of the most popular beaches with locals and tourists of… read more »

  • 252. Nantasket Beach // Massachusetts

    Nantasket Beach
    Rob McCready
    Great for:
    • Family
    • Swimming
    • Surfing

    Nantasket Beach lines the coast of Hull town in the greater Boston area. At high tide, it takes the form of a relatively narrow but long stretch of fine greyish sand running for around four kilometres. The low tide reveals an expansive area of rock pools. When walking along the water line, visitors should watch out for large pebbles, which can be washed up by the incoming tide, especially towards… read more »

  • 253. Orchard Beach // New York

    Orchard Beach
    Bebo2good1
    Great for:
    • Swimming

    A lovely broad stretch of clean sand, Orchard Beach edges Pelham Bay for a length of well over a mile. Brought to a definitive stop at either end of the bay by stone seawalls, it faces out towards Long Island from the East Bronx on Long Island Sound.

    Part of Pelham Bay Park, the beach is subdivided into 13 sections backed by a paved promenade spotted with food stores and other… read more »

  • 254. Rockaway Beach // New York

    Rockaway Beach
    Shinya Suzuki
    Great for:
    • Swimming
    • Surfing
    • Kitesurfing

    Long Island's Rockaway Beach stretches along the Jamaica Bay oceanfront a short distance from the take offs and landings of JFK Airport. Forming the southernmost parts of the Borough of Queens, it holds the record for being the largest urban beach in the United States.

    Sometimes called the 'Irish Riviera' because of the number of residents in the neighbourhood with ancestors back on the Emerald Isle, Rockaway Beach had to undergo… read more »

  • 255. South Beach (Staten Island) // New York

    South Beach (Staten Island)
    Tommy Miles
    Great for:
    • Fishing

    With beautiful views back towards Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, South Beach is a long stretch of sand where Upper Bay opens out into Gravesend Bay. Its northeast end – closest to the bridge, is edged by Battery Hudson historic landmark and the Camp Gateway campground, while its opposite end runs into Midland Beach without a break. The Franklin D Roosevelt boardwalk and bike path follows its entire 1.5 mile length.

    South Beach is… read more »