Top Beaches on the East Coast of the USA

• Rockaway Beach // New York

  

  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 »

• Cherry Grove Beach // South Carolina

  

  Cherry Grove Beach is a small stretch of sandy beach between North Myrtle beach and Little River on the North / South Carolina. It has a rich history of local landmarks and there is plenty to do on and around the beach. If you want to enjoy fishing or golf, you will fit right in because they are very popular here. The best spot for fishing is on the Cherry… read more »

• Veterans Park Beach // Massachusetts

  

  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 »

• Plymouth Beach // Massachusetts

  

  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 »

• South Beach // Massachusetts

  

  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 »

• Menemsha Beach // Massachusetts

  

  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 »

• Apollo Beach // Florida

  

  Located on Florida's eastern Atlantic coastline in New Smyrna, Apollo Beach is on the Canaveral National Seashore (National Park). Great for beach lovers, it has an endless strip of pristine golden sand and, being more secluded, it is one of the top nudist beaches in Florida. (This should not to be confused with the other Apollo Beach on Florida's Gulf Coast near Tampa!)

  Located on a barrier island, Apollo… 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… read more »

• Folly Beach // South Carolina

  

  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 »

• Surfside Beach // Massachusetts

  

  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 »

• Cliff Beach // Massachusetts

  

  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 »

• Jetties Beach // Massachusetts

  

  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 »

• Longnook Beach // Massachusetts

  

  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 »

• Edisto Beach // South Carolina

  

  Edisto Beach is the name of both the beach and the surrounding town of around 400 residents, most of whom commute from here. A vacation spot since the 1920s, today Edisto Beach is one of just a handful of largely uncommercialised, family-friendly beaches located in the region.

  Although only stretching a few metres back, the beach runs uninterrupted for around four miles, from the mouth of Big Bay Creek to the… read more »

• Virginia Beach // Virginia

  

  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 »