Best USA Beaches

By | Last Updated:
Contents
  1. Blind Creek Beach
  2. Bandon Beach
  3. Haulover Beach
  4. Bowling Ball Beach
  5. Carmel Beach
  6. Pfeiffer Beach
  7. San Gregorio State Beach
  8. Hapuna Beach
  9. Goochs Beach
  10. Ogunquit Beach
  11. Sconset Beach
  12. Bowman's Beach Park
  13. Lawai Bay
  14. Madaket Beach
  15. Secret Cove
  16. USA beach map

The Best U.S. Beaches...

  • 76. Blind Creek Beach // Florida

    Blind Creek Beach
    William "Patrick" MacFall
    Great for:
    • Fishing
    • Swimming

    This pristine stretch of sand is located on Hutchinson Island on Florida's Treasure Coast. Set about as far away from any of the crossings from the mainland, it is probably no coincidence that Blind Creek is an official clothing-optional beach. Far away from prying eyes and coastal development this is the perfect place to relax and work on that all-over tan.

    This is a beach with a wonderfully natural feel to… read more »

  • 77. Bandon Beach // Oregon

    Bandon Beach
    © Andrew Soundarajan / iStock

    Bandon Beach is a wide and wild public beach. Its sands form a relatively flat surface as they head towards the Pacific, making them suitable for all sorts of games, from beach football to tag. Commonly referred to as Bandon State Natural Area, the beach is probably best known for its sea stacks - thin slivers of rock that rise majestically out of the surf and have all manner of… read more »

  • 78. Haulover Beach // South Florida

    Haulover Beach
    Great for:
    • Swimming
    • Surfing

    White sand, clear turquoise sea - nothing unusual there for a Florida beach. Oh, and clothes are optional! That's right, the northern third of Haulover is an officially sanctioned nude beach.
    But there is more to Haulover beach than getting naked - this beach has a fantastic array of amenities and things to do making it one of the best family beaches in the Miami area. Along with… read more »

  • 79. Bowling Ball Beach // Northern California

    Bowling Ball Beach
    Brocken Inaglory
    Great for:
    • Surfing

    The intriguing name of this California beach comes from the rounded boulders up to a metre in diameter which sit on its cliff-lined sands. Part of Schooner Gulch State Beach, Bowling Ball Beach lies a short distance south of Point Arena along Highway One. To reach it from the highway, you need to take the right-hand trail.

    The unusual geological phenomenon responsible for the near-spherical rocks is known as "concretion" and… read more »

  • 80. Carmel Beach // Central California

    Carmel Beach
    © 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 »

  • 81. Pfeiffer Beach // Central California

    Pfeiffer Beach
    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 »

  • 82. San Gregorio State Beach // Northern California

    San Gregorio State Beach
    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 »

  • 83. Hapuna Beach // Big Island

    Hapuna Beach
    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 »

  • 84. Goochs Beach // Maine

    Goochs Beach
    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 »

  • 85. Ogunquit Beach // Maine

    Ogunquit Beach
    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 »

  • 86. Sconset Beach // Nantucket

    Sconset Beach
    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 »

  • 87. Bowman's Beach Park // South Florida

    Bowman's Beach Park
    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 »

  • 88. Lawai Bay // Kauai

    Lawai Bay
    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 »

  • 89. Madaket Beach // Nantucket

    Madaket Beach
    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 »

  • 90. Secret Cove // Lake Tahoe

    Secret Cove
    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 »