Most beautiful US beaches: East Coast, West Coast, and Hawaii
"Life is a beach – I'm just playing in the sand," said a wise man (read: Lil Wayne). Don't we all strive to live so beautifully?
A logical place to start might be this collection of beautiful beaches from around the United States, where you can enjoy sands of all colors and textures, waters both powerful and pleasant, panoramic views, and ocean city vibes.
Slip into your best red bathing suit and get ready to hit the ocean in slow motion. Surf, sunbathe, see wildlife, build bonfires… the US is your oyster.
East Coast
Siesta Beach, Florida
The sand here, which is 99% quartz, is said to be the whitest in the world – plus it's soft, clean, and doesn't get too hot in the Florida sun. Add to that dolphins in clear, warm water that's great for swimming, and your picture of paradise is complete. It's hardly surprising that Dr. Beach (a doctor!) twice named this the best beach in the US.
As if bonuses were necessary, it's huge and easily accessible, with a big parking area and plenty of concession stands.
Where to find it: A few minutes from Sarasota (Google Maps).
To spice things up: Book a dolphin tour to get up close and personal with the beach's offshore stars.
Flagler Beach, Florida
Florida is well known as an agglomeration of beautiful beaches, but of course, with great beauty come hotels and high-rises. That can really harsh your mellow.
Fortunately, there's long, sandy Flagler Beach: Florida minus the clutter. Ironically, Henry Flagler's railroad down the coast made it to the town, and it remained a laid-back tourist destination typical of the state as it used to be.
Where to find it: Between Jacksonville and Orlando, about an hour and a half from each (Google Maps).
To spice things up: Take in the views atop a trusty steed with a horseback ride at low tide.
Huntington Beach, South Carolina
The other Huntington, with plenty to offer. This sprawling Grand Strand beach is a looker in itself, but the local wildlife inhabiting the nearby wetlands, including sea turtles, gators, and mink, gives it a big beauty boost. Birders come to spot some 300 species – an upsweep of kettling wood storks against the South Carolina skyline is a sight to behold. You'll see plenty of critters on a walk along the causeway past the salt marsh.
Other delights at Huntington Beach State Park include hikes through a maritime forest and the elegant Atalaya Castle.
Where to find it: About half an hour's drive from Myrtle Beach, SC (Google Maps).
Ocracoke Lifeguard Beach, North Carolina
If it's pretty enough for a treasure-hunter like Blackbeard, it's pretty enough for us. Ocracoke Island – "The Pearl of the Outer Banks" – was the hideout where history's most famous pirate got, uh, slashed to pieces. But things have calmed down since then, honest!
What makes for a good seadog's lair also happens to make for a beautifully undisturbed beach – being only reachable by sea or air means fewer visitors. It was named the States' top beach for 2022, thanks to the absence of cigarette butts and friendliness to sea turtles. You can also spot whales and dolphins here.
Where to find it: Four hours from Norfolk, VA, including a 40-minute ferry ride from Hatteras Island (Google Maps)
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Surprisingly for a beach with clean sand and water, massive waves, and even dolphins, Rehoboth's main beautifier is its boardwalk.
Quaintly charming and lined with specialty shops, eateries, and amusements, it's a top reason why Rehoboth consistently ranks among the best beaches on the East Coast. That said, when you're this pretty and popular, big crowds are a given.
Where to find it: About three hours from Washington and Baltimore (Google Maps).
To spice things up: Get a paddle board or kayak for lessons, an excursion, or just some freelance exploration.
Cape May Beach, New Jersey
Let's do the time warp again, to the Victorian-mansion-lined strand of America's original beach town. It's quiet on the pristine, powdery sand, with visitors just reading books and enjoying the unobstructed views of the Atlantic.
Be sure to step off the beach and into town to shop, stroll, and dine in its Historic District. The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities offers walking tours.
Where to find it: About an hour from Atlantic City (Google Maps).
To spice things up: Head over to Cape May Point and climb the 217 steps of Cape May Lighthouse to see the ocean from 160ft (49m) up.
Surfside Beach, Nantucket, Massachusetts
There once was a beach on Nantucket…
Surfside (usually) does what it says on the package, offering moderate-heavy surf and, in the evenings, bigger waves that draw advanced surfers. And it's a very pretty package, with clean water and soft sand, plus great facilities and eclectic food concessions.
If you're going as a family, be sure to bring a kite and take advantage of the Grey Lady's steady breeze.
How to get there: Take a ferry from mainland Massachusetts or fly from JFK (Google Maps).
Race Point Beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts
This vast stretch of sand at the tip of Cape Cod is named for the fierce riptides that come around the cape's point, but there's more to it than that.
The strand beckons beauty-loving beachgoers with all-day sunbathing in the summer, plus ocean views and fiery sunsets year round. In the spring, bring your binocs to spot migrating whales.
Where to find it: About two hours from Providence, RI (Google Maps).
To spice things up: Trek the two miles (~3km) through beach grass and dunes to the historic Race Point Lighthouse.
West Coast
Laguna Beach, California
Laguna "Beach" actually comprises seven miles (11km) of postcard SoCal coves, cliffs, and beaches. The coastline's prettiness extends beyond golden sands to tide pools and sea caves, while the tall cliffs provide shelter from the wind, making the beaches great for sunbathing and swimming.
The city itself is a renowned artists' colony with over 100 galleries. Laguna Beach is also home to 20,000 acres of protected wilderness with top-class mountain biking and hiking trails.
Where to find it: 1-2 hours from downtown LA (Google Maps).
For an unforgettable experience: Visit the Pacific Marine Mammal Center to see vets treat sick seals and sea lions.
La Jolla Cove, San Diego, California
The golden sands of this small cove are surrounded by sandstone cliffs, and the gentle waters, which get warm in the summer months, are ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and diving.
You'll see the area's diverse marine life in the tidepools at low tide, while large colonies of sea lions can be spotted along the rocky coast. Just be aware that big crowds of these guys can create quite a stench, but of course that doesn't detract from the overall prettiness – wasn't it Outkast who said roses really smell like poo-poo-ooh?
Where to find it: Google Maps
To spice things up: Tear your eyes from the sea lions and strap on a snorkel to swim with leopard sharks.
Carmel Beach, California
The rugged, mountainous Big Sur coastline offers 70 miles (113km) of breathtaking scenery, and easily accessible Carmel Beach is as fine a place as any to park up and explore.
Cypress-tree-lined Scenic Road lives up to its name, but for the full experience, get some white sand between your toes and look out to the electric blue ocean complete with frolicking dolphins and sea otters. Feel free to join them – the views will be especially rewarding if you're atop a surfboard (and not averse to cold water).
Where to find it: About two hours from San Francisco (Google Maps).
Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz, California
Three stunning naturally occurring arches that once formed a huge cliff give this beach its name. They're a fittingly majestic welcoming point for the droves of migrating monarch butterflies that come to winter at the preserve here. If you visit at the right time, it's worth walking the nature trail to see them, but shhh! They don't like loud noises!
The tide pools are teeming with life too, and you might spot shore birds, seals, and otters, as well as whales if you're lucky.
Feel free to get out there and play: the beach is popular with surfers and boogie boarders.
Where to find it: Google Maps
Baker Beach, San Francisco, California
A mile-long stretch of sand by one of the world's most beautiful bridges just had to make a list of the most beautiful beaches in the US, but its charms don't stop at the Golden Gate: set at the foot of rugged, serpentine cliffs, it also offers amazing views of the Pacific Ocean, the Marin Headlands, and Lands End.
The northern end is one of the few places in SF where it's still okay to be nude, but the rest is non-clothing-optional (so don't get TOO excited). Don't swim due to rip currents, but do keep your peepers peeled for porpoises!
Where to find it: Google Maps
To spice things up: Head past the north-end nudies to Battery Chamberlin and take a self-guided tour of the concrete fortress.
Glass Beach, Fort Bragg, California
Actually one of many "glass beaches" in the area, this place gets its name from the multicolored pieces of smooth sea glass mixed in with the beach's sand and pebbles. Like the stars of many fairy tales, the glass's origins are humble: the site used to be a trash dump, and the glass is from broken bottles.
Though it may be tempting, don't pocket any souvenirs! It's actually illegal, and there's already far less glass than there used to be due to people taking what they think is a harmless amount.
Where to find it: About four hours from San Francisco (Google Maps).
To spice things up: Take the city's Skunk Train through the redwood forests for Noyo River Canyon.
Neskowin Ghost Forest, Oregon
An air of mystery can add as much to a beach's allure as it can to a person's. Carbon dating shows that some of the Sitka spruce stumps here are over 2,000 years old, but no one knows exactly how long they were buried before El Niño pounded the coastline and revealed them in 1997-98. Take a wander through the Entish cemetery and see the remnants of these ancient evergreens at low tide.
Where to find it: About two hours from Portland (Google Maps).
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Cannon Beach is best known for the iconic Haystack Rock, which from April through July is home to Oregon's largest tufted puffin breeding colony. But even when the bright-billed dudes with the killer crests are away on mysterious bird business, the sweeping sandy shore and imposing sea stacks still pack beauty by the bucketload.
The city itself is a well-known art hub, with galleries galore and three annual art festivals.
Where to find it: About an hour and a half from Portland (Google Maps).
To spice things up: Make a bonfire and roast s'mores at dusk! It's allowed here. Don't forget a jacket, though – it gets chilly at night.
Waikiki Beach, Washington
The excitingly named Cape Disappointment might be more "epic" than "beautiful," since here we're dealing with a towering, rugged coastline battered by huge waves. Waikiki Beach – a small, sandy cove sheltered by craggy cliffs – is the cape's most popular one.
It's a great place for taking in views of Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, as well dog-walking, clam-digging, or fly-fishing. Or just stand in awe of the power of the ocean in the "graveyard of the Pacific."
Where to find it: About two hours from Portland (Google Maps).
Ruby Beach and Rialto Beach, Washington
Any attempt to include these two beauties separately would be controversial, since both vie for the title of "best" beach in Olympic National Park.
Ruby Beach is named for its reddish sand and is easily accessible and more family-friendly, while rocky Rialto Beach requires a hike, but is worth it for its dramatic pounding waves, huge drift logs, and otherworldly sea stacks.
Where to find them:
- Ruby Beach: About three hours from Seattle (Google Maps).
- Rialto Beach: About four hours from Seattle, including a 45-minute ferry ride from Seattle to Bainbridge Island (Google Maps). There's a half-hour hike from the parking lot to the beach itself.
Hawaii
Lanikai Beach, Oahu
With its powdery white sand and aqua blue water, Lanikai consistently ranks among the best beaches in the world. Its name means "heavenly ocean," and the calm blue lagoon is popular among kayakers, with many paddling right out to the islands.
With so much going for it, the beach attracts a lot of tourists, and unfortunately parts of it have eroded due to the construction of sea walls along some of the expensive seaside homes.
Where to find it: About an hour and a half from Waikiki (Google Maps).
To spice things up: Set off on the Lanikai Pillbox hike to catch the sunrise off the coast from among leftover army bunkers on the hillside.
Red Sand Beach, Maui
To round things off, how about a hidden, dramatically deep crescent-shaped cove with rust-red lava cinder sand? Its color contrasts with the blue ocean beside it, and a high wall of jagged black lava rock protects the cove from the powerful waves that bash the coastline.
It could be the mix of seclusion and otherworldliness that makes it so popular with eccentrics, not to mention nudists. Local hippies even believe that the Mothership is waiting just below the sand…
Where to find it: About two hours from Kahului (Google Maps).
Mahaiula Beach, Big Island
On the surface, this is your classic tropical beach with salt-and-pepper sand, stunningly clear turquoise water, swaying palm trees, and sea turtles swimming in the cove. What makes it stand out is its remoteness: getting there requires a hike over loose volcanic gravel or a drive of several miles over a rough lava road.
You'll find a nice shaded section with white sand on the north end that's great for picnics, while the rockier south side has grills for barbecues and picnic tables.
Where to find it: About 20 minutes from Kona (Google Maps).
To spice things up: Hike 20-30 minutes northward through a lava field to Makalawena Beach – the most secluded stretch of sand among Kekaha Kai State Park's beaches.
Kiholo Bay, Big Island
Black sand and turquoise water help turn the beauty dial here to 10, and guaranteed sightings of sea turtles just nudge it up to 11. The bay is usually pretty quiet, with few tourists, and there's plenty of exploring to be done. Head south along the paths to find secluded ponds, or north to find the one that the beach's heroes in a half-shell favor. If you continue further north, you'll come to a huge lava field.
Where to find it: About 40 minutes from Kona (Google Maps).
To spice things up: Pitch a tent and stay the night! Camping is allowed Friday through Sunday nights.
Tunnels Beach, Kauai
This super-secluded archetypal Hawaiian beach with golden sand and crystal-clear waters is about as photogenic as they come, in no small part thanks to the magnificently lush backdrop of the Bali Hai cliff.
Locals know it as Makua – the common name "Tunnels" comes from the underwater scuba-diver-seducing lava tubes. It's also a major destination for all kinds of surfers, as well as snorkelers, with a host of aquatic critters waiting for you that wouldn't look out of place in Finding Nemo.
Where to find it: About 20 minutes from Hanalei (Google Maps).
Halawa Beach, Molokai
It's no secret that symmetry plays a big role in classic beauty, and the curving twin bays of Kamaalaea Beach and Kawili Beach certainly form a gorgeous spectacle, especially when graced by breaching humpback whales. What's more, the bays open up into the lush and historic Halawa Valley, which itself ends in impressive waterfalls.
Though sometimes murky, the water offshore is usually calm and good for snorkeling and swimming, but it becomes advanced surfing territory when the waves get big in winter. Legend has it the Molokai chiefs surfed here in the old days.
Where to find it: About an hour from Kaunakakai (Google Maps).
Whichever beach you end up visiting, soak up all the beauty you can – and if you head to Red Sand, do let us know if you find the Mothership!
