With spring now firmly in the air, we owe it to ourselves to get (safely) outside and once again experience the sun on our skin, the sand between our soles, and the cool ocean water splashing against our feet. If the idea of snorkeling, surfing, swimming, or even just some much-needed relaxation time spent listening to the ASMR-like sound of waves cascading on a sandy beach appeals to you, then you’re going to need our guide to the very finest beaches in the United States.
This essential countdown may not include all of the beaches you predict. Currently, which beach in the United States is the most attractive? Well, this essential index covers the entirety of the United States, from East Coast gems and West Coast favorites to the gorgeous beaches of Hawaii and even an essential refuge in Chicago.
Best Beaches to Visit in the United States:
1. Santa Monica Beach- Santa Monica, CA
What’s not to love about Santa Monica, California? It has endless, wide beaches that run to the sky in both directions, the famous beauty of the Santa Monica Pier, and a huge number of restaurants all within three blocks. Not only is the beach soft, but the views are amazing, especially when the sun sets in the west, right over the Pacific Ocean.
In fact, on a good day, which is almost every day in Santa Monica, the colors of the sky at sunset—yellow, red, pink, and blue—are the stuff of dreams. Stop fooling yourself, this is the best beach in the United States.
2. Cocoa Beach- Cocoa Beach, FL
If you love both history and the sun, Cocoa Beach is a close second to Santa Monica, even though it is 3,000 miles away and on the other side of the country. This is where the astronauts from Mercury and Gemini used to hang out when they weren’t training or getting ready for their flights.
Not only that, but you can see a big launch from nearby Cape Canaveral from here, which is a big plus! This part of the country has a really unique part of US history, and like the sunsets over the Pacific Ocean, you can lie on the sand and watch our small G-type main-sequence star slowly creep over the horizon to start a new day. You should also check out Melbourne, as there are some great places nearby to eat and hang out.
3. Hanalei Bay- Kauai, HI
Kauai is one of Hawaii’s less popular islands, but it has some of the most beautiful beaches. Hanalei Bay is the biggest bay on Kauai. It is on the north side of the island and has more than two miles of soft white sand, a calm bay, and mountains in the background. Families will have plenty of room to spread out on the beach, which is rarely busy. In the summer, sailing, stand-up paddle boarding, and swimming are all great ways to enjoy the bay.
4. Mavericks- Half Moon Bay, CA
You don’t have to be a big wave rider, and let’s face it, not many of us are, to enjoy watching these amazing surfers do dangerous things. Mavericks weren’t meant to be there, and Half Moon Bay was only known for its yearly pumpkin festival before it was found to have big wave surf spots that were just as good as Waimea in Hawaii. But then Jeff Clark told everyone about this quiet beach about 20 or so miles from San Francisco, and the rest is history.
5. Rockaway Beach- New York, NY
Rockaway Beach, which is on the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens, NY, and faces the Atlantic, is another beach you can visit. There is also a lot of history in this area, so a nice stroll should definitely be part of a stay. There are a lot of bars and restaurants, and there are also a lot of things to do at night. As a result, the restaurant and bar scene has become hipper and younger, with crowded tiki bars and cheap Mexican restaurants.
6. Siesta Beach- Siesta Key, FL
Siesta Key is a place to relax, just like its name says. The wide beach rarely feels too crowded, and the fine quartz-crystal white sand stays cool to the touch, so dig your feet in while reading your favorite book. Bring your drinking drinks in a cooler, but don’t bring glasses. If you want to get some exercise, you can rent boats and paddleboards.
7. Coronado Beach- San Diego, CA
This famous white-sand beach is anchored by the Grand Hotel del Coronado. It is a Southern California gem that actually sparkles because it has bits of the mineral mica, which looks like gold. Gentle waves make it fun to play in the harbor, and a huge grassy area that never feels crowded is perfect for building sandcastles and flying kites. Marilyn Monroe made the beach famous in the movie “Some Like It Hot.” If you stay at “The Del,” you can feel like a movie star and use the retro candy-striped chairs and swanky cabinets on the beach. Navy SEALs will sometimes train at the north end as well.
8. Moshup Beach- Martha’s Vineyard, MA
In the summer, a lot of people go on vacation to Martha’s Vineyard, but most of them stay on the northern edge of the island. Locals and people who have lived on the island for a long time go to Moshup Beach in the town of Aquinnah. The white sand beach is a place to get away from the crowds. It is below the sandy rocks, at what was once called Gay Head but is now called Aquinnah, its Native American name.
9. Seaside Beach- Seaside, OR
Cannon Beach, with its famous Haystack Rock, might be Oregon’s most well-known beach, but we prefer this seaside neighborhood, which is better known for its smooth waves and sweet treats like saltwater taffy. (Some of The Goonies were also shot here.) There’s a lot to do here, with shops, bars, and an oceanfront walkway that all have great views of the Pacific. Surfing, hiking, biking, kayaking, and kite-flying are all common hobbies.
10. El Matador State Beach- Malibu, CA
El Matador is a small beach that is mostly made up of rocky outcroppings. It may not be your idea of a perfect beach day, but it is a beautiful beach in an area of Los Angeles that has some of the best smooth beaches. Zuma and Point Dume are just a few miles south along the Pacific Coast Highway. You’ll need shoes, and don’t bring too much stuff, because the spot in western Malibu can only be reached by a steep dirt road. The beach isn’t very wide, so you’ll need to keep an eye on the waves. It has parking on the top of a hill and some large and impressive rock formations. If you get there early or stay late, you should be able to see a beautiful sunrise or sunset.
11. Kaanapali Beach- Maui, HI
Maui’s monarchs and kings used to spend their vacations at Kaanapali Beach, where they would watch the waves and sunsets. This famous stretch of white sand is home to surf schools, cocktail bars, and an amazing torch-lighting ceremony that goes back to the late 1700s when King Kahekili ruled Maui and Oahu for 45 years. Visit the Maui Ocean Center booth on the beach before you go swimming to learn how to name the different kinds of colorful marine life you see. Then walk along the beach and enjoy the restaurants and luau shows that are all around.
12. Ocracoke Island- Outer Banks, NC
At the southern end of the Outer Banks is Ocracoke Island, which sounds like the Southern veggie and the cola. It was once a pirate haven and is now one of the best beaches in North Carolina. Blackbeard and his friends hid out and had parties on these beaches, and you can play pirate for a week if you don’t mind taking a boat. Find places where you don’t have to worry and people who don’t mind sharing their space.
13. Venice Beach- Venice, CA
Let’s face it: Venice Beach is one of the most famous in the country and for good reason. Venice is very different from Santa Monica Beach, which is right next to it. It’s known for being very open and all about freedom of speech and opinion. Imagine North London’s Camden in the 1990s or San Francisco’s Mission District around the same time. Both places were a little rough around the edges, but they were very interesting and great places to feel the spirit of the time. Venice has cleaned up, but thankfully none of its charms have been lost. And most of Los Angeles comes here in the summer.
14. Shi Shi Beach- Olympic National Park, WA
Shi Shi Beach is one of the most interesting-looking beaches on the West Coast. It has dozens of arches and rock pyres that stick straight out of the water. Even though it’s not the best place to get some sun, science nerds will love it. There are a lot of tide pools because of the rocks. Starfish, crabs, kelp, and fish live in these pools. Bring shoes, because it’s a 3.3-mile walk through thick forest to get to the beach. But the reward is worth the walk, and you can camp there overnight.
15. Oak Street- Chicago, IL
Beaches aren’t just for places on the coast. Gold Coast Beach is one of the most popular places to relax in Chicago. There are volleyball events, a restaurant, and a great view of the city skyline. Find Jeff Zimmermann’s bright painting “You Know What You Should Do” by the Oak Street Beach underpass on your way to this stretch of beach.
If you are planning a trip to the United States, we recommend that you visit these beaches at least once. Visit our homepage section for more travel guides.