Top Beaches on the East Coast of the USA

• Lighthouse Point // Connecticut

  

  The beach at Lighthouse Point forms a dog-leg around the southern and western end of Lighthouse Point Park, in the East Shore district just south of downtown New Haven. This city beach is therefore an ideal spot from which to admire the natural beauty of Long Island Sound, in addition to Five Mile Point Light, a lighthouse dating from 1847.

  Lighthouse Point Beach comprises an area of sand approximately 250 yards long. Its shoreline is partially protected by breakwaters, and is watched over by lifeguards in season. The summer also sees… read more »

• Fairfield Beach // Connecticut

  

  Fairfield Beach comprises approximately five miles of wide sandy beach on Long Island Sound. It forms a narrow spit or peninsula which runs continuously between Pine Creek Point to the south and Shoal Point to the north, the closest stretch of land to Penfield Reef.

  Fairfield Beach's Long Island Sound location has made it a prime spot for building, with almost its entire length lined with often grandiose beachfront properties. These connect with the state's road network via Fairfield Beach Road, behind which visitors will find the waterways of Pine Creek.… read more »

• Pleasure Beach // Connecticut

  

  Pleasure Beach stands guard at the entrance to Bridgeport Harbour. On the same narrow barrier beach peninsula as the better-known Long Beach, Pleasure Beach has a much more natural appearance. Its pale sand is mixed with shingle and pebbles from Long Island Sound, alongside occasional pockets of coastal grasses and areas of washed-up seaweed.

  Brought back to life in 2014, the area around Pleasure Beach had been Connecticut's largest ghost town after its structures were abandoned following a major fire. Today, Pleasure Beach is accessible via a free water taxi… 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 north and west to the edge of the town close to the Visitor Center to the east. At this point… 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 United States.

  Particularly busy from June until schools restart in September, Virginia Beach Oceanfront is edged for its entire length by… read more »

• Orchard Beach // New York

  

  A lovely broad stretch of clean sand, Orchard Beach edges Pelham Bay for a length of well over a mile. Brought to a definitive stop at either end of the bay by stone seawalls, it faces out towards Long Island from the East Bronx on Long Island Sound.

  Part of Pelham Bay Park, the beach is subdivided into 13 sections backed by a paved promenade spotted with food stores and other shops. There's a good amount of local parking, as well as two children's playgrounds, picnic areas and good sports facilities… read more »

• South Beach (Staten Island) // New York

  

  With beautiful views back towards Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, South Beach is a long stretch of sand where Upper Bay opens out into Gravesend Bay. Its northeast end – closest to the bridge, is edged by Battery Hudson historic landmark and the Camp Gateway campground, while its opposite end runs into Midland Beach without a break. The Franklin D Roosevelt boardwalk and bike path follows its entire 1.5 mile length.

  South Beach is primarily a beach for relaxing in the sun or messing about in the shallows, although Ocean Pier makes it's a… read more »

• Asbury Park // New Jersey

  

  Hitting its heyday in the 1920s, Asbury Park Beach in New Jersey remains an attractive proposition for those seeking out a day beside the Atlantic Ocean waves. Rated as one of the state's top beaches, in more recent times it has had some allure with the surfing community, while still drawing in those looking to relax on a wide expanse of clean sand.

  There are plenty of places to eat and drink on the adjoining boardwalk, as well as mini golf and Asbury Splash Park for the kids.

  To make use of… read more »

• Cedar Beach // New York

  

  A landscape as far from the skyscrapers of New York City as it's possible to get, New York State's Cedar Beach in Babylon lies on the long and narrow Jones Beach Island, itself off the southern shores of Long Island. Facing out into the waters of the New York Bight, Cedar Beach comprises a huge area of broadly flat pale sand.

  Home to numerous beach volleyball courts (used by the local league on Monday nights), and easily traversed thanks to a boardwalk running parallel to the shoreline, Cedar Beach is… read more »

• Jones Beach // New York

  

  This six mile white sand beach faces out into the Atlantic Ocean from the chain of islands that form the southern extent of New York's Long Island. Although one of the most popular and most visited beaches in the region, its size helps to ensure it never feels overly crowded, even on busy summer days.

  Named after a seventeenth-century militiaman, Jones Beach includes a two mile boardwalk and an outdoor concert venue. Open year round, it is subdivided into 'fields', with field 10 the go-to spot for anglers. Fields 3-5 are… read more »

• Hobe Sound // Florida

  

  Situated on Jupiter Island on Florida's Atlantic facing "Treasure coast", Hobe Sound oozes natural beauty. Something of a rarity on this stretch of coast, Hobe Sound is one of the few public beaches in Martin County. To either side are the enclaves of the very wealthy - this is one of Florida's most exclusive neighborhoods.

  Being on the Atlantic coast, Hobe Sound picks up a fair bit of swell and surfing is popular. You will also often see anglers casting from the beach here.

  There are lifeguards on duty, and whilst the… read more »

• Huntington Beach // South Carolina

  

  You can get a front row view of the Atlantic Ocean from this pristine and wide-open Grand Strand beach, which is located less than 20 miles from Myrtle Beach. The beautifully clean and white sands feel like butter under your toes and there's plenty of wriggle room too.

  Nature lovers make a beeline for this beach, to get hooked into the finest surf fishing South Carolina has to offer. Bird watching's also high on the list of things to do, and it's one of the top spots on the east… read more »

• Hunting Island Beach // South Carolina

  

  Hunting Island Beach lies in the cluster of islands which typify South Carolina's Atlantic coastline between Charleston to the north and Savannah, Georgia, to the south. It's a straight section of near-white sand stretching for around two kilometres, facing roughly eastwards.

  Backed by a basic campground, Hunting Island Beach sits within Hunting Island State Park. Its sands are reached via Route 21, also known as Sea Island Parkway. The park attracts up to a million visitors each year, who come for the mix of sun, sea, hiking, history and wildlife.… read more »

• Seabrook Island Beach // South Carolina

  

  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, each has their own unique aspects which keep the islanders flocking to them.

  Pelican Beach is a great spot for young… read more »

• Sullivan's Island Beach // South Carolina

  

  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 from here so you may want to go soak up some revolutionary war history while visiting this picturesque town. 

  The island… read more »

You might also like...

• 

  Massachusetts Dog Friendly Beaches

• 

  The Best Tropical Beaches in the US

• 

  Best Beaches On The U.S. West Coast

• 

  USA Best Nudist Beaches

• 

  The Best Beaches on the Florida Panhandle

• 

  The Best North Shore of Oahu Beaches

• 

  The Best Gay-Friendly Nude Beaches in the World

• 

  Florida Best Beaches for Families