Top Beaches on the East Coast of the USA

• Jenness State Beach // New Hampshire

  

  Jenness Beach is a popular spot with surfers and is one of the most easily reached surf spots from Boston. Generally speaking this is a beginner-friendly beach with a gently sloping sand bottom but on its day the waves here can be awesome.

  The beach is also a good family friendly choice with cheap parking and good amenities. Lifeguards patrol the beach during the summer months meaning swimming is fairly safe and there is a picnic area.

  The modern bathhouse by the car park has changing stalls, showers and restrooms.

  With New Hampshire… read more »

• Wrightsville Beach // North Carolina

  

  The Atlantic beach at Wrightsville stretches for around 4 miles and is best known by those of a certain age as a location in the TV series Dawson's Creek. The youthful atmosphere of Wrightsville Beach continues today due to its proximity to the University of North Carolina, Wilmington drawing students to its shoreline on sunny days.

  With the almost guaranteed waves of the Atlantic close at hand, Wrightsville Beach is a celebrated surfing and kiteboarding destination. Surf stores can rent out all the gear you'll need, and also offer beginners lessons.… read more »

• Nags Head // North Carolina

  

  Nags Head Beach lies on North Carolina's Outer Banks barrier island network. It's lined on its landward side by private beachfront homes and hotels, although public access and parking is maintained at specific points.

  Once visitors have reached Nags Head Beach, they'll find an apparently endless expanse of golden sand. It probably takes its name from one of the many Nags Heads in England which usually relate to something horse head-shaped. One of the main attractions here is Jockey's Ridge State Park, which contains the tallest dune system on the US… read more »

• Holden Beach // North Carolina

  

  Holden Beach lies at the eastern end of a long thin barrier island separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway. Easily reached by car, Holden Beach has been voted one of the best family beaches anywhere in the US.

  Its soft sands are a great space for having some fun in the sun, while its Atlantic waves are perfect for a quick swim. Surfboards, paddleboards, boats and bikes can all be rented for those looking to take full advantage of their time at Holden Beach. Meanwhile, the Intracoastal Waterway is… read more »

• Kitty Hawk // North Carolina

  

  Kitty Hawk Beach is located on the oceanic side of Bodie Island, a naturally-formed barrier island. Centred around its pier, the beach stretches out in either direction for several miles. Although lined almost all the way by beachside properties built to face the miraculous Atlantic sunrises, Kitty Hawk Beach still manages to maintain a feeling of serenity above all else.

  Local and visiting fishermen can often be found on the pier, while low tide offers the chance for shelling alongside the sands. It's said to be best in the early summer.… read more »

• Oak Island // North Carolina

  

  Oak Island Beach is located a short distance south of Wilmington. Separated from mainland North Carolina by the Intracoastal Waterway, Oak Island Beach meets the Atlantic Ocean between Oak Island Golf Club and Long Beach.

  Facing directly south, the sands of Oak Island Beach are unusual for NC in offering the chance to witness both sunrise and sunset. In between, visitors to Oak Island Beach have a choice of water sports, including canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. There are two fishing piers, and a marina from where boat trips around the… read more »

• Emerald Isle // North Carolina

  

  Emerald Isle Beach can be thought of stretching in a continuous ribbon of white sand from The Point at the western end of the island to Indian Beach approximately halfway down its length. That makes Emerald Isle Beach roughly 9 miles long.

  Emerald Isle Beach has previously taken the crown as the best beach in North Carolina as voted for by the readership of USA Today, and with good reason. A great destination for families, couples and solo travellers, there's plenty of opportunity for relaxing on Emerald Isle Beach's… read more »

• Bald Head Island // North Carolina

  

  Once known as Smith Island, Bald Head Island helps form the eastern bank of the Cape Fear River as it exits for the Atlantic Ocean, in North Carolina's Brunswick County. It can be accessed via a 20-minute ferry ride from Southport.

  A nationally recognized turtle nesting site for four different sea turtle species, Bald Head Island's main beach is a broad sweep of yellow sand on the island's south coast. It runs for almost the entire four-kilometre length of this coast, with views towards a tapering nineteenth century lighthouse known as… read more »

• Topsail Beach // North Carolina

  

  With four miles of white sand, it's easy to see why Topsail Beach has been drawing in the crowds since before World War Two, when visitors would have to arrive by boat. Just north of Wilmington, Topsail (pronounced Topsal) Beach forms a significant part of the Atlantic side of a 30 mile long barrier island.

  Backed by private homes, there are 20 public beach access points onto Topsail Beach, which comprises a deliciously straight run of clean white sand alongside attractions such as the 250 yard fishing pier. Sunbathers and swimmers… read more »

• Kure Beach // North Carolina

  

  Around 16 miles south of Wilmington, Kure Beach edges the Atlantic side of the town sharing its name (pronounced cure-ey). Its sands run in a near-straight line for roughly 4 miles, before meeting with Wilmington Beach to the north and the seawalls of Fort Fisher to the south.

  Kure Beach's width maxes out at nearly half a mile, although most areas are much narrower. Averaging around 100 yards wide, some of this width is occupied by a dune system covered in marine grasses. The best way to reach the beach itself… read more »

• Atlantic Beach // North Carolina

  

  Atlantic Beach is located at the eastern end of Bogue Banks barrier island between Bogue Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Notable for its long, near-straight expanse of off-white sand, Atlantic Beach is an area of coast well known for its water sports. More than one surf shop makes it incredibly easy to hit the waves on a board, while other adrenaline-inducing activities include jet ski rentals and yacht charters.

  For those who are looking to enjoy Atlantic Beach without getting on the water, there are beachside bike rentals, and a boardwalk… read more »

• Cape Lookout // North Carolina

  

  The beach at Cape Lookout forms a continuous V of gorgeous sand which wraps around the cape's Atlantic shoreline for mile after mile. The widest extent of sand can be found at the base of the V, where the beach ends at Cape Lookout Shoals. However, that's not to say that the long ribbons of pristine sand which stretch out to either side of this area are narrow or uninviting.

  Forming the coastline of Core Banks barrier island, family-friendly Cape Lookout Beach has a range of activities capable of entertaining all… read more »

• Nantasket Beach // Massachusetts

  

  Nantasket Beach lines the coast of Hull town in the greater Boston area. At high tide, it takes the form of a relatively narrow but long stretch of fine greyish sand running for around four kilometres. The low tide reveals an expansive area of rock pools. When walking along the water line, visitors should watch out for large pebbles, which can be washed up by the incoming tide, especially towards the beach’s southern end.

  Because of its proximity to Boston, Nantasket Beach is one of the busiest beaches in this… read more »

• Napatree Point Beach // Rhode Island

  

  Set on a narrow spit of sand jutting out towards Connecticut is Napatree Point beach - a lovely arc of near-white sand is backed by low grassy dunes and a small lagoon. The beach sits just to the west of Rhode Island's exclusive Watch Hill and the bay is overlooked by Watch Hill Lighthouse.

  Now a nature reserve the headland here was once the site of an artillery installation. Today all that remains of Fort Mansfield are a couple of ruined gun emplacements.

  There's plenty of wildlife to spot on Napatree Point.… read more »

• Nauset Beach // Massachusetts

  

  Running along the Atlantic east coast of Cape Cod, between Coast Guard Beach and Chatham Harbor for around 10 miles, Nauset Beach is the longest on the cape. This beautifully pristine stretch of fine, near-white sand is backed by low grassy dunes for much of its length giving it a wild feel.

  Much of the year this part of the coast is pretty quiet. You can often go for long bracing walks along the shoreline and barely see another soul. Whilst you may not see many people at Nauset outside… read more »

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