Best USA Beaches

By | Last Updated:
Contents
  1. Folly Beach
  2. Seabrook Island Beach
  3. Virginia Beach
  4. Rockport Beach
  5. Second Beach
  6. Sullivan's Island Beach
  7. Anne's Beach
  8. Daytona Beach
  9. Pensacola Beach
  10. Kiahuna Beach
  11. Hanakapi'ai Beach
  12. Ha'ena Beach
  13. Kalihiwai Beach
  14. Moloa'a Beach
  15. Wailua Beach
  16. USA beach map

The Best U.S. Beaches...

  • 286. Folly Beach // South Carolina

    Folly Beach
    Great for:
    • Fishing
    • Surfing

    Folly Beach and County Park is beautifully located between the Atlantic and the Folly River on a 12-square-mile barrier island south of Charleston, South Carolina.

    There are six miles of sandy beaches for surfing, kayaking, swimming and walking and the sunsets are breathtaking. The family-friendly beaches are wild and unspoilt with access points on every block. This gorgeous sandy beach has lifeguards, a boardwalk and wheelchair-accessible ramp. Visitors can rent… read more »

  • 287. Seabrook Island Beach // South Carolina

    Seabrook Island Beach
    © Denton Harryman
    Great for:
    • Swimming

    Featuring two championship golf courses, a tournament-ready tennis centre, full service equestrian centre, and a fitness and aquatics complex, this seaside spot, 30 minutes' outside Charleston is primed for action-packed adventurers. 

    And of course, there are the unspoilt beaches too - this barrier island is home to two beautiful sweeps of sand - Pelican Beach and North Beach. Both of them offer sunshine, beautiful views, and hours of enjoyment. However,… read more »

  • 288. Virginia Beach // Virginia

    Virginia Beach
    © Bruce Emmerling
    Great for:
    • Fishing
    • Surfing
    • Kitesurfing

    The pinnacle of Virginia's seaside attractions, Virginia Beach Oceanfront is comprised of a sweep of almost three miles of golden sand where Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean.

    The record holder for the longest pleasure beach in the world, it is home to a number of annual events including the East Coast Surfing Championships. As you might imagine, the surfing conditions are some of the best on this side of the… read more »

  • 289. Rockport Beach // Texas

    Rockport Beach
    Lindsey Parker
    Great for:
    • Swimming

    This family-friendly, man-made spot's about 30 miles from Corpus Christi and overlooks the Aransas Bay on the south Texas coast. It's well-known for its pristine sands, plus a tonne of amenities, with things like volleyball courts, playgrounds and swings along the beachfront. 

    For something a little more laidback, you can take a stroll out onto the pier for a spot of fishing and do some bird watching. 

    There's plenty of parking… read more »

  • 290. Second Beach // Washington

    Second Beach
    © Roger Mosley

    Second Beach, located near La Push on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, is a stunning coastal destination known for its dramatic sea stacks, often wild seas and rugged natural beauty. Part of Olympic National Park, the beach is accessed via a short but scenic hike through lush coastal rainforest. Moss-draped trees and ferns create an almost mystical atmosphere before opening up to the expansive shoreline.

    The beach itself features soft, golden sand… read more »

  • 291. Sullivan's Island Beach // South Carolina

    Sullivan's Island Beach
    © Dsdugan
    Great for:
    • Kitesurfing

    Just minutes from charming Charleston and nestled at the mouth of the Charleston Harbour, Sullivan's Island is an inviting mix of local restaurants and shops, wide-open beaches and watersports, plus a whole load of history and folklore.

    At a relatively modest 3.3 miles, the area isn't huge, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in beauty and charm. Fort Moultrie is just a 30-minute walk… read more »

  • 292. Anne's Beach // Florida Keys

    Anne's Beach
    Ved Ivanov
    Great for:
    • Snorkeling
    • Swimming
    • Kitesurfing

    Located at Lower Matecumbe Key, Anne's Beach can be found in the village of Islamorada. Named for a local environmentalist called Anne Eaton after her death in 1992, its stretch of white sand provides a secluded spot to sunbath or enjoy some time in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

    Surrounded by native planting, the immediate entrance into the water is both shallow and calm year-round, like similar beaches… read more »

  • 293. Daytona Beach // Florida

    Daytona Beach
    © Paul Brennan
    Great for:
    • Family
    • Snorkeling
    • Fishing
    • Surfing

    This waterfront city on Florida's Fun Coast is probably best known for its international speedway circuit, where NASCAR'S most famous race, the Daytona 500, takes place every year.

    But for beach fans, it's the 23 mile stretch of soft white sands that keeps them coming back. At low tide, the shoreline expands to a width of nearly 500ft, so there's plenty of space to spread out and catch some rays in… read more »

  • 294. Pensacola Beach // Florida

    Pensacola Beach
    © Fede Casanova
    Great for:
    • Family
    • Snorkeling
    • Fishing
    • Swimming

    Stretching for several miles along the state's Gulf of Mexico coastline, Pensacola Beach forms the main proportion of Santa Rosa Island. A barrier island approximately 40 miles in length but just a couple of hundred yards wide, it can be subdivided into a number of different beaches and conservation areas. It is connected by road bridges to mainland Florida at various points.

    The most popular entry point is probably the bridge… read more »

  • 295. Kiahuna Beach // Kauai

    Kiahuna Beach
    jockrutherford
    Great for:
    • Snorkeling
    • Swimming
    • Surfing

    Located on the sunny south shore of Kauai near Poipu, Kiahuna Beach is a beautiful stretch of golden sand with calm, clear waters, gentle waves, and stunning ocean views. This family-friendly beach sits in front of the Kiahuna Plantation Resort and offers excellent conditions for swimming, snorkelling, and beginner-friendly surfing.

    The shallow, sandy-bottomed waters make it an ideal spot for wading and boogie boarding, while nearby coral reefs provide opportunities… read more »

  • 296. Hanakapi'ai Beach // Kauai

    Hanakapi'ai Beach
    cogdogblog

    Hanakapi'ai Beach is a remote and strikingly beautiful spot along Kauai’s rugged Nā Pali Coast. Accessible only by hiking the first two miles of the famous Kalalau Trail, this golden-sand beach is framed by steep, jungle-covered cliffs to one side and the expanse of the Pacific Ocean to the other. The journey to the beach takes visitors through lush valleys, bamboo forests, and along dramatic coastal cliffs, making it one… read more »

  • 297. Ha'ena Beach // Kauai

    Ha'ena Beach
    Christopher Michel

    After suffering historic floods in 2018, the highway access to Ha'ena Beach on North Shore Kauai reopened with new restrictions of just 900 visitors per day. This is intended to preserve the pristine natural beauty of this fragile and popular beach. You need to reserve your spot online up to 14 days ahead, pay for parking (currently $5 in 2023) and for the round-trip shuttle (another $11 per person) if… read more »

  • 298. Kalihiwai Beach // Kauai

    Kalihiwai Beach
    Kyle Pearce

    Kalihiwai Beach is a North Shore beauty with a crescent-shaped sandy beach edged with ironwood trees. Even before you reach the beach it will entrance you with views from the scenic highway revealing idyllic green-clad cliffs and ocean vistas. The stunning setting and easy access to this drive-up beach make it a  popular spot for barefoot weddings.

    The western edge of the beach marks the mouth of the Kalihiwai River so… read more »

  • 299. Moloa'a Beach // Kauai

    Moloa'a Beach
    pfly

    This remote beach is found on the northeast corner of Kaua‘i. A secluded, crescent-shaped beach, Moloa‘a has golden sand, clear blue water, and is framed by lush greenery. The shoreline is usually pretty quiet, making it a peaceful spot for those looking to escape busier beaches.

    The water at Moloa'a Beach can be calm in summer, but strong currents and waves are common, especially in winter. Swimming and snorkelling are possible… read more »

  • 300. Wailua Beach // Kauai

    Wailua Beach
    Robert Linsdell

    Wailua Beach is a long, sandy stretch near the mouth of the Wailua River on Kauai’s east shore. Its golden sand and open ocean views make it a scenic spot, but the waves and currents can be strong, especially in winter. While it isn't the best beach for swimming, it's popular with experienced surfers and bodyboarders.

    While the beach is easily accessible, right off Kuhio Highway, it still retains a… read more »