Top Beaches on the East Coast of the USA

• Moshup Beach // Massachusetts

  

  Located on the exclusive barrier island of Martha's Vineyard, Moshup Beach aka Aquinnah Public Beach is a gem. It's also known as Gay Head or referred to by locals as "the cliffs beach" as that's what it is.

  The cliffs are multicolored providing a stunning and dramatic backdrop to the beach. These cliffs are so special they are a National Landmark and are owned and protected by the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah. The colors range from orange, red and mustard yellow to dark purple and were once beneath the ocean.

  Many of… read more »

• Crane Beach // Massachusetts

  

  Crane Beach is one of the finest beaches on the U.S. East Coast. It has clean water and miles of golden sand backed by beautiful countryside. Part of the Crane Estate, the beach is managed by the Trustees of Reservations and is known for conservation as well. It has more than five miles of marked trails through the coastal sand dunes, and it is an important nesting site for the piping plover. The center piece of the estate is Castle Hill, an imposing early 20th century mansion.

  The sand at Crane… read more »

• Hammonasset Beach // Connecticut

  

  Just over a hundred years ago, in July 2020, Hammonasset Beach State Beach opened to the public. It has been a popular destination ever since. Easy to access from I-95 Exit 62 and close to Madison, CT it attracts over a million visitors each year.

  Once a settlement for native American Indians, the name "Hammonasset" means "place where we dig holes in the ground". By 1898 the Winchester Rifle Company was using it as a firing range to test their weaponry.

  Today this 2 mile stretch of soft golden sand is… read more »

• Old Orchard Beach // Maine

  

  Set in Saco Bay, towards the southern end of Maine's Atlantic coast is the thriving little resort town of Old Orchard Beach. The town has a long and colorful history and was once dubbed "The Garden by the Sea" which featured, you guessed it, an orchard!

  However it wasn't until the late 1800s that the town took off as a holiday resort, with the near seven mile stretch of sand as the main attraction. Old Orchard Beach soon became hugely popular and along with a pier, hotels and boardwalk it was… read more »

• Jacob Riis Park Beach // New York

  

  Jacob Riis Park Beach makes up the westernmost part of the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. Named after the social journalist who urged the city authorities to purchase the land to create a public park and beach, its long length of sand is dotted with original art deco structures from the 1920s and 30s, including the bathhouse (bath pavilion).

  The beach's northern end is paralleled by a 140 foot wide concrete boardwalk where the historic Wise Clock stands. Its length is subdivided into a series of bays distinguished by breakwaters of wood,… read more »

• Madaket Beach // Massachusetts

  

  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 great swimming spot although people do surf here. If you are looking for something more adventruous on the land, head… read more »

• Hollywood Beach // Florida

  

  With its gorgeous white sand reaching out to turquoise waters, Hollywood Beach is a South Florida gem. Located between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, the beach here stretches for 2.5 miles along the Atlantic Ocean. A boardwalk runs the length of the beach and is lined with all kinds of cafes, attractions and shops. If that isn't enough, then there is a trolley to take you from the beach to downtown Hollywood. It's also a great place for just sitting on the beach and people watching.

  Hollywood Beach is popular… read more »

• Lighthouse Beach // Massachusetts

  

  Looking out over the Edgartown Outer Harbor toward Chappaquiddick Island, Lighthouse Beach has warm waters in the summer and splendid views. One of the main attractions is the Lighthouse, which many people come to see. The beach is otherwise pretty quiet and a great spot to enjoy the views of sailboats in the harbor and the ocean.

  The lighthouse itself is one of five on the island of Martha's Vineyard. It was built in 1828 on a small man-made island in the Edgartown Harbor. The original was replaced by another… read more »

• Mayflower Beach // Massachusetts

  

  Located in the mid-Cape, Mayflower beach is off of Dunes Road in Dennis. The views from the tidal flats during low tide allow for some great photos, and the sunsets can be pretty amazing. The beach is large with lifeguards and plenty of room for games. You will find public restrooms, a boardwalk, a picnic area, and parking as well.

  You can stay in a variety of accommodations from little shanties to large mansions along the beach. You will find mini golf and golf nearby, and there is a shopping… read more »

• Cape Hatteras // North Carolina

  

  Cape Hatteras is part of the Outer Banks, a group of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina that separate and protect the mainland from the Atlantic Ocean. These islands are well known for their beautiful white sand beaches which seemingly stretch forever along the Atlantic coast. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a 70 mile section of the Outer Banks running from Bodie Island to Ocracoke Island

  The Cape Hatteras coast is actually divided into a number of long sandy beaches. You will find places to park by most… read more »

• Cooper's Beach (Southampton) // New York

  

  This beautiful and serene beach in Southampton, Long Island, has a stretch of white sand running along the Atlantic Ocean. You can walk on the beach, sit in the sun, or you can surf and bodyboard. A local eatery, Serenity, has a Lobster Bake every Friday and Saturday, and there are live concerts. You will also find a concession stand, bathhouse, and chair and umbrella rentals.

  The wide sandy beaches attract many New York City dwellers throughout the summer and this is one of a handful of beaches in the Hamptons… read more »

• Lucy Vincent Beach // Massachusetts

  

  Located near Chilmark on the island of Martha's Vineyard, Lucy Vincent beach is a beautiful stretch of golden sand that runs along the Atlantic coast. Sadly, unless you are a resident or renting a house in town, you cannot access this beach from June 1 through September 15. Beach passes are required during that time.

  The beach was originally owned by the town librarian, Lucy Vincent, and upon her death in 1970, her heirs worked out a deal with buyers that the town could have the beach and access to… read more »

• Marconi Beach // Massachusetts

  

  Named for the Italian wireless inventor, Guglielmo Marconi, Marconi Beach is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. It was from this location that Marconi sent a message from President Theodore Roosevelt to King Edward VII of the United Kingdom from this location. This was the first transatlantic radio transmission from the United States back in 1903.

  Marconi Beach provides views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Cape Cod Bay, and the Outer Cape. It is located in Wellfleet, and it is a large beach backed by steep grassy sand dunes. There… read more »

• Race Point Beach // Massachusetts

  

  Race Point Beach is in Provincetown, right at the very top of Cape Cod. The scenery here is both unique and beautiful, with sandy beaches, whales in the ocean, and historical lighthouses among the extensive dunes. You will love walking on the beach or relaxing in the sand.

  Spring is the time to come for whale watching, you can spot various species breaching out in the ocean. From critically endangered North Atlantic right whales to huge finback whales. So don't forget to bring your binoculars if you are visiting at… read more »

• East Hampton Beach // New York

  

  Main Beach is on the eastern edge of Long Island in East Hampton, New York. This prisitine shoreline has sand which is soft and stretches endlessly between the dunes and the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

  There's plenty to do at this upmarket location. You can rent surfboards, kayaks, or paddle boards or even take a lesson if you are just learning. There are lifeguards to make sure that you are safe in the water and you will also find a snack bar, restrooms, and showers.

  You can take a… read more »

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