Top Beach in Each State

A Guide to the Best Beaches in Every U.S. State

The United States is home to a diverse array of beaches, each offering unique experiences that cater to different interests and preferences. From the bustling urban shores of Chicago to the serene glacial lakes of Montana, every state has its own special charm when it comes to sand, surf, and sun. Whether you're looking for adventure, relaxation, or a mix of both, there's a perfect beach waiting for you.

Alabama: Orange Beach

Orange Beach offers a blend of entertainment and natural beauty. With an amusement park, an arcade, and a Ferris wheel, it's a family-friendly destination. Visitors can also enjoy flyboarding, sunset dolphin cruises, sailing, and diving down to the state’s first deliberately-sunk ship wreckage. The area is known for its vibrant atmosphere and variety of activities.

Alaska: Black Sand Beach, Barry Arm

Alaska’s Black Sand Beach is a striking destination with water cascading from hanging glaciers, sea life among icebergs, and commanding views of Barry Arm. Despite being only a quarter-mile long, it makes up for its size with stunning natural features. This unique beach is a must-visit for those seeking a breathtaking experience.

Arizona: Rotary Beach, Lake Havasu

Lake Havasu is a popular spring break destination, with Rotary Beach being one of the best spots. It offers a great green space, easy access to swimming, playgrounds, and sports parks for volleyball, bocce, and skateboarding. The area is ideal for families looking for a fun and relaxing day out.

Arkansas: Caddo Bend, DeGray Lake Resort State Park

Caddo Beach in Arkansas is perfect for family outings, with a designated swimming area off-limits to personal watercraft and boats. Picnic tables under tree canopies provide shade, making it a great spot for a peaceful day at the beach. It’s a hidden gem that offers a tranquil escape.

California: Treasure Island Beach, Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach on the West Coast is known for its romantic ambiance, with glittering Pacific views, towering cliffs, and a secret cove. Treasure Island Beach is a top choice for those looking for a scenic and secluded beach experience. It's a place where nature and beauty come together seamlessly.

Colorado: Chatfield State Park, Littleton

Chatfield State Park offers views of the Rocky Mountains, 26 miles of biking and hiking trails, and abundant water sports like jet skiing and paddleboarding. Hot air balloon rides and an off-leash dog park add to the appeal, making it a perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

Connecticut: Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison

Hammonasset Beach is the largest in Connecticut, stretching two miles along Long Island Sound. It features a boardwalk, concession stand with dog-friendly seating, a kayak launch point, and environmental programs. The state park has 5,000 campsites available, making it a great spot for a multi-day getaway.

Delaware: Rehoboth Beach

Rehoboth Beach is kid- and LGBTQ-friendly, with a clean, quaint vibe and plenty of nearby shopping, dining, and a stellar boardwalk. It's an ideal destination for families looking for a relaxed and enjoyable beach experience.

Florida: Lido Key Beach, Sarasota

Lido Key Beach is a cosmopolitan Gulf Coast choice, known for its soft sand, gentle waves, and family-friendly vibe. While not as well-known as South Beach or Clearwater, it offers charm and hospitality that make it a standout destination.

Georgia: Mid Beach, Tybee Island

Mid Beach on Tybee Island offers unspoiled beauty with a legendary fort, lighthouse, resorts, and endless outdoor recreation. The sand is ideal for castle construction, making it a favorite among families.

Hawaii: Waimea Bay Beach Park, Oahu

Waimea Bay Beach Park is one of the most famous big-wave surfing beaches on Oahu. It's a perfect spot for both surfing and sunbathing, especially during the winter months when massive swells are common.

Idaho: Sandy Point, Lucky Peak State Park

Sandy Point is a serene state park beach perfect for families with young children. It has zero waves and lots of inflatable tubes, making it a safe and enjoyable spot for little ones.

Illinois: Oak Street Beach, Chicago

Oak Street Beach in Chicago offers a calm oasis amidst the skyline. It's located near Michigan Avenue and has bars, restaurants, paths for running and biking, and a million-dollar view of the city.

Indiana: Dunbar Beach, Indiana Dunes National Park

Dunbar Beach in Indiana Dunes National Park is known for its smooth sand, seclusion, and history. It's a great spot for a peaceful beach day with a rich historical background.

Iowa: Awaysis Park, Storm Lake

Awaysis Park is one of Storm Lake’s must-see beaches, featuring a swimming beach, picnic area, and an iconic lighthouse. It's a perfect spot for a relaxing day out.

Kansas: Kanopolis Lake, Kanopolis

Kanopolis Lake is a serene lake with a full-service marina, swimming beaches, picnic areas, and cabins. It's a great spot for boating, fishing, and hiking.

Kentucky: Buckhorn Lake, Buckhorn

Buckhorn Lake is a popular spot for swimmers and sunbathers, with a lakeside bathhouse, changing rooms, showers, and a guest-use marina. It's a great place for a summer getaway.

Louisiana: North Beach, Lake Charles

North Beach is the only inland white beach between Texas and Florida, offering a natural beauty that's easily accessible. It's a perfect spot for a quiet beach day.

Maine: Crescent Beach State Park, Cape Elizabeth

Crescent Beach State Park is known for its gentle waves, easily accessible bathrooms, lifeguards, and a snack bar. It's a great spot for a safe and enjoyable beach day.

Maryland: North East Beach Area, Elk Neck State Park

North East Beach Area offers a tranquil state park near Elkton, with shallow, warm water perfect for floating in the Chesapeake Bay. It's a great spot for a peaceful beach day.

Massachusetts: M Street Beach, Boston

M Street Beach, nicknamed “Southie Beach,” is filled with beautiful young people playing corn hole and spike ball. It's a great spot for a fun and lively beach day.

Michigan: Grand Haven State Park Beach, Grand Haven

Grand Haven State Park Beach is a classic All-American beach holiday destination, with a lighthouse, boardwalk, soft sand, and pleasant Great Lake water. It's a perfect spot for a summer vacation.

Minnesota: Lake Itasca State Park, Lake Itasca

Lake Itasca State Park is the headwater of the Mississippi River, offering swimming, kayaking, fishing, hiking, camping, and a bit of cool history. It's a great spot for an adventurous beach day.

Mississippi: Front Beach, Ocean Springs

Front Beach in Ocean Springs offers unrivaled panoramas of the Mississippi Sound and calm, shallow sea waters. It's a great spot for a peaceful beach day.

Missouri: Fugitive Beach, Rolla

Fugitive Beach is a popular man-made beach with a water park and recreation area. It's a great spot for a fun-filled day with options for sliding, jumping, and swimming.

Montana: City Beach, Whitefish

City Beach in Whitefish offers a seven-mile glacial lake beach with a swimming area and a separate spot for paddle boating and canoes. It's a great spot for a relaxing day away from the hustle and bustle.

Nebraska: Calamus Reservoir State Recreation Area, Burwell

Calamus Reservoir offers 5,000 acres of clean water ringed by white-sand beaches. It's a great spot for fishing, swimming, and enjoying the natural beauty of the Sandhills.

Nevada: Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe

Sand Harbor in Lake Tahoe offers some of the world's prettiest patches of sand above 6,000 feet. It's a great spot for a scenic beach day with stunning views of the alpine lake.

New Hampshire: Weirs Beach, Laconia

Weirs Beach on Lake Winnipesaukee offers a 1,300-foot boardwalk with arcades, shops, and bites to eat. It's a great spot for a family-friendly beach day with great views.

New Jersey: Strathmere

Strathmere is a secluded Atlantic coast heaven, offering sunbathing, dolphin watching, ocean kayaking, surfing, fishing, and kiteboarding without the crowds. It's a great spot for individuals and couples.

New Mexico: White Sands National Monument

White Sands National Monument is a 275 square mile dunes area perfect for sand-surfing and sledding. It's a unique beach day experience unlike any other in the United States.

New York: Jacob Riis Park, New York

Jacob Riis Park is known as "the people’s beach" due to its access to public transit. It's a happening spot with live music, shopping, a beach volleyball league, concessions, and a film festival. It's a great spot for a lively beach day.

North Carolina: Emerald Isle, Crystal Coast

Emerald Isle is the crown jewel of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, offering calm, crystalline waters perfect for wading and frolicking in the surf. It's a great spot for a coastal boat tour and wildlife spotting.

North Dakota: Devils Lake

Devils Lake is the largest natural lake in North Dakota, offering beautiful beaches and more fish and fun than you could ever need. It's a budget-friendly spot for a beach day.

Ohio: Headlands Beach State Park, Mentor

Headlands Beach State Park is the largest natural beach in Ohio, with unique plant species that thrive on this one-mile-long beach. It's a great spot for a peaceful beach day with migrating songbirds and Monarch butterflies.

Oklahoma: Lake Eufaula State Park, Eufaula

Lake Eufaula State Park offers many sandy beaches and over 600 miles of shoreline. It's a great spot for families to enjoy volleyball, picnics, and a water park.

Oregon: Cape Kiwanda, Pacific City

Cape Kiwanda offers a picturesque stretch of Pacific Ocean sand with a monolithic 327-foot sandstone Haystack rock. It's a great spot for a scenic beach day with a chance to scale the Great Dune for a panoramic view.

Pennsylvania: Presque Isle State Park

Presque Isle State Park is Pennsylvania’s only seashore, with 11 beautiful beaches. It's a great spot for a summer vacation with a lighthouse, great picnic opportunities, and swimming holes with lifeguards.

Rhode Island: Misquamicut State Beach, Westerly

Misquamicut State Beach is big, busy, and so much fun on summer weekends. It's a great spot for learning to surf, swinging, riding the rides, chilling out in a shady gazebo, or people-watching.

South Carolina: Edisto Beach State Park, Edisto Beach

Edisto Beach State Park offers a 1.5-mile white-sand shoreline fringed by palmettos, with the state's longest system of ADA-accessible hiking and biking trails. It's a great spot for a fun beach day for everyone.

South Dakota: Angostura Reservoir, Hot Springs

Angostura Reservoir offers crystal-clear water with 36 miles of shoreline perfect for cooling off beneath South Dakota’s sweltering summer sun. It's a great spot for a refreshing beach day with a nine-hole disc golf course.

Tennessee: Grundy Lakes, South Cumberland State Park, Tracy City

Grundy Lakes is a man-made beach near Chattanooga perfect for lounging in the sun or spreading out a water-side picnic. It's a great spot for a family-friendly beach day with nearby waterfalls.

Texas: Rockport Beach, Rockport

Rockport Beach offers a Blue Wave Beach experience with public thatched-roofed palapas, restrooms, and showers. It's a great spot for a family-friendly beach day with opportunities for shells and hermit crabs.

Utah: Bridger Bay Beach, Antelope Island State Park, Salt Lake City

Bridger Bay Beach offers a two-mile stretch of white, Oolitic sand where you can float in the lake due to its 12 percent salinity. It's a great spot for a beach day with bison, antelope, coyotes, and water birds.

Vermont: Sand Bar State Park, Milton

Sand Bar State Park offers 2,000 feet of smooth, soft sand extending into the shallow water. It's a great spot for a peaceful beach day with changing facilities, a snack bar, and boats for rent.

Virginia: Virginia Beach and Sandbridge

Virginia Beach offers a Cape Henry Lighthouse, a three-mile-long boardwalk, and an Ocean Breeze Water Park. For a more secluded experience, head to Sandbridge, which offers an island-like vibe for families or couples.

Washington: Alki Beach, Seattle

Alki Beach offers easy access from Seattle with tremendous views of the skyline and Space Needle. It's a great spot for a beach day with a mini Statue of Liberty and a rich history.

West Virginia: Beech Fork Lake, Lavalette

Beech Fork Lake offers over 30 miles of shoreline with a swimming beach, kayaks, canoes, and paddle boats available for rent. It's a great spot for a casual day on, or in, the water.

Wisconsin: North Beach, Racine

North Beach in Racine offers 2,500 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline with a designated Blue Wave Beach, a great playground, and live music in the summer. It's a great spot for a fun and relaxing beach day.

Wyoming: Leigh Lake, Grand Teton National Park

Leigh Lake is a photographer’s dream come true, with the majestic Tetons as a backdrop. It's a great spot for a day of relaxation, kayaking, skipping stones, wading in the teal water, or capturing the beauty of the national park.