Best USA Beaches
The Best U.S. Beaches...
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76. Carmel Beach // Central California
© Blake Carroll Great for:- Surfing
Located in the town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, in central California's Monterey County, Carmel Beach is formed of a stunning arc of pale sand that runs for close to a mile in length. Edged by vegetation to one side and clear Pacific waters to the other, it looks almost tropical in appearance.
Despite slightly chilly water temperatures, which top out at around 61°F/16°C, Carmel Beach is a popular surfing spot. It is also… read more »
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77. Pfeiffer Beach // Central California
Robert Brett Pfeiffer Beach is in the Big Sur area of California. Roughly a mile long, it is located down a twisting and unmarked two-mile paved road that is unsuitable for RVs and trailers as it has only five points at which vehicles are able to pass one another in opposite directions.
However, this beach more than makes up for the slight difficulty in getting there in sheer beauty. Its main attraction is… read more »
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78. San Gregorio State Beach // Northern California
Nathan Siemers Great for:- Surfing
Close to Silicon Valley in the South Bay Area, San Gregorio State Beach is a popular beach with a large car park and good amenities. Located on a wild stretch of the California coast this is a great place for picnics, birdwatching, beach activities, walking, hunting for fossils and exploring the trails.
Accessed from La Honda Road and Cabrillo Hwy, you will find restrooms, picnic tables and barbecues. There is a… read more »
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79. Hapuna Beach // Big Island
Polihale Great for:- Family
- Snorkeling
- Swimming
- Surfing
Situated on the Kohala Coast, Hapuna Beach is one of the Big Island's largest white sand beaches. A great choice for families with children, Hapuna is a reliable pick because of its range of attractions. These including sunbathing and sand castle building as well as swimming, snorkelling and bodyboarding thanks to a near-continuous shore break.
Roughly 800 metres long and relatively broad, especially during the summer when the sand builds further,… read more »
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80. Goochs Beach // Maine
Wesley Fryer Great for:- Swimming
- Surfing
One of the best beaches in the US according to US News, Gooch's Beach lies between the rocky promontory known as Oaks Neck and the mouth of the Kennebunk River in southern Maine. Curving gently around its Atlantic frontage, the beach's waters are partially protected by breakwaters at either end, while its rich sand is backed by beachside properties.
While only a few yards wide, Gooch's Beach stretches from roughly 600… read more »
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81. Ogunquit Beach // Maine
Mark Bonica Great for:- Family
- Swimming
- Surfing
- Kitesurfing
Stretching for over three miles along the Atlantic Ocean, the beaches of Ogunquit are known for its white sand and crashing waves. The Main beach is easily accessible from the center of town via Beach Street and extends northwards for around a mile before seamlessly blending into Footbridge Beach. In general, the further north you head, the quieter it gets.
Ogunquit beach maintains something of a wild feel as it… read more »
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82. Sconset Beach // Nantucket
Doug Butchy Great for:- Surfing
- Kitesurfing
Located on the eastern tip of the island, Sconset Beach faces the rolling Atlantic waves and has strong currents. It is near the Siasconset Old Historic District and is accessed along a boardwalk and foot bridge from Gully Road. The area has changed little since it began as an 18h century fishing village. The wide beach is quiet and uncrowded with easy access to the ocean.
Children can have fun at… read more »
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83. Bowman's Beach Park // South Florida
Mark Sherman Great for:- Family
- Fishing
Several miles in length, Bowman's Beach sits on the Gulf of Mexico on the southern shores of Florida's Sanibel Island. Situated on one of the quieter parts of island, with just one main road heading north, Bowman's Beach is close to both JN Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge and the lagoon-like waters of Clam Bayou.
Roughly ten minutes on foot from the nearest car park, the path leads through the grassy… read more »
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84. Lawai Bay // Kauai
Daderot. Great for:- Snorkeling
This quiet little bay is situated on Kauai's South Shore not far from Koloa. Known for its clear blue waters, golden sand and lush tropical surroundings Lawai Bay is part of the historic Allerton Garden, a beautifully landscaped botanical garden within the National Tropical Botanical Garden system. The gardens were once a retreat for Hawaiian royalty and feature beautifully designed landscapes, towering tropical trees, and hidden waterfalls.
The bay’s calm… read more »
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85. Madaket Beach // Nantucket
Eric Gross Great for:- Surfing
On the far west coast of Nantucket, the beautiful beach of Madaket has soft sand that stretches seemingly endlessly along the Atlantic coast. Despite its obvious appeals the beach never get crowded with sunbathers and those looking to just relax tending to stay near the village.
Madaket beach has the strongest waves on the island, and there can be very dangerous rip tides and undertows here. This is not a… read more »
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86. Secret Cove // Lake Tahoe
Ray Bouknight Great for:- Swimming
Loved by locals and visitors alike, Secret Cove lies roughly midway along the east coast of Lake Tahoe in Nevada. Just off Highway 28, it's no more than 300 metres in length. This means that even though it is called "Secret" Cove there can be restricted quantities of space on the sand.
Limited to day trips because of a lack of accommodation, this tiny near-circular cove has beautifully clear shallows, although… read more »
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87. Zuma Beach // Southern California
tmastro Great for:- Family
- Swimming
- Surfing
One of largest and most popular beaches in Los Angeles County, Zuma Beach has clean waters and wide sands that extend for a total of around two miles. The location for the famous final scene in the original 1968 version of Planet of the Apes, it is now better known by the surfing community for its breaks, with Zuma Beach hosting several major competitions each year. Kite surfers tend to… read more »
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88. El Matador State Beach // Southern California
Graham Great for:- Swimming
This public beach in Western Malibu is one of the smallest but most charming of the region's long list of shoreline attractions. El Matador State Beach sits at the base of dramatic cliffs and formed of golden sand washed by aquamarine waters.
It is accessed along a steep path and wooden staircase, via a small parking lot suitable for around 20 vehicles which sits on a bluff above the high tide… read more »
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89. Shark Fin Cove // Northern California
Located just a few miles up Highway 1 from Santa Cruz, Shark Fin Cove is a different world. It isn't hard to see where the beach gets its name from; viewed from the right angle the hulking rock that guards the bay's entrance cuts the same profile of a huge shark's fin. The sandy beach is also known as Shark Tooth Cove, for the same reason.
But there's more to Shark… read more »
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90. Grayton Beach // Florida
goldenticket76 Great for:- Family
- Swimming
- Kitesurfing
Located on the Florida Panhandle, Grayton Beach faces south into the crystalline waters of the Gulf of Mexico. A Blue Wave beach (similar to the better-known Blue Flag scheme in Europe), it is a delightful strip of level white sand. The beach is part of a historic coastal village of the same name, and via its grid of streets, with Grayton Beach State Park.
A popular spot year-round, Gulf of Mexico… read more »
USA Regions
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California
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Florida
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Hawaii
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Maine
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Massachusetts
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North Carolina
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Oregon
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Rhode Island
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South Carolina
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Texas
USA Cities
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