The 12 Best Beach Vacation Destinations in the US

Nothing says ‘relaxation’ like a vacation on the beach, where you can spend long days basking in the sun with your toes in the sand and the waves as your soothing soundtrack. With over 12,000 miles of coastline, the US is home to some of the world's most beautiful and diverse shores. Fortunately, you don’t have to choose between coasts; nearly every corner of the country has a beach worth visiting – be it for dramatic landscapes, a historic town, or romantic seclusion.

From the sugar-white sands of Florida to a quiet corner of Michigan, these are the 12 best beach vacation destinations in the US. Don’t forget your sunscreen!

Three miles of sand on Maui’s west coast combine all the ingredients for a quintessential Hawaiian beach vacation. Ka’anapali’s golden sands are lined with beautiful places to stay and open-air restaurants overlooking neighboring islands. Its turquoise water is clean, clear, and teeming with marine life – perfect for snorkeling. This is also one of the best places on the island to see the sunset, especially during a traditional luau.

Things to do near Ka’anapali Beach

Just before sunset, you can watch as a Hawaiian warrior lights torches before diving off a sacred rock into the water – a ceremony honoring Maui’s last chief.

A ride aboard an outrigger canoe will allow you to see Maui from the sea and learn more about Hawaiian history and lore.

Brave the winding Road to Hana to see waterfalls, rainforests, black-sand beaches, and roadside stands selling homemade banana bread.

Places to stay near Ka’anapali Beach

Less than two miles from Ka’anapali, this one-bedroom apartment in Kahana offers multiple balconies and beach views. Aloha Spirit Maui home delivers a luxury experience with its private pool, outdoor soaking tub, and lanai overlooking the sea.

Book a cottage or beachside rental along Cannon Beach to see one of the most Instagrammed places in the US. Its sands are punctuated by jagged rock formations that rise from the water’s surface, providing a nesting place for tufted puffins and other coastal birdlife. At low tide, you can walk to the base of Haystack Rock – the largest of the boulders – to spot starfish and crabs hiding in shallow pools. 

Things to do near Cannon Beach

Ecola State Park is a natural oasis where hiking trails lead through old-growth forest and clifftop viewpoints overlook landmarks including Tillamook Rock Lighthouse.

Foggy mornings and golden afternoons along the Pacific have inspired scores of artists, many of whom display their work at local galleries such as DragonFire and White Bird.

Cannon Beach is a popular pit stop along Highway 101, considered one of America’s most picturesque road trips.

Places to stay near Cannon Beach

Historic Haystack Cabin features a wood-burning stove and is just a one-minute walk from the sand. Windwhistle is a beachfront property less than two miles from Cannon Beach, with ocean views from every room.

Florida is blessed with some of the most beautiful beaches in the US. Siesta Key, an island off the coast of Sarasota, is home to Siesta Key Beach – an expansive playground for swimmers and sunbathers who come to enjoy its cool-to-the-touch quartz sand, shallow turquoise water, and proximity to Siesta Key Village’s restaurants and shops.

Things to do near Siesta Key Beach

A range of local watersports facilities and guided tours can get you out on the water in style. Parasailing, tubing, snorkeling, fishing, and boat charters are all available, as are paddleboard rentals.

On the mainland, Sarasota’s John and Mabel Ringing Museum of Art displays antiquities, contemporary art, and European masterpieces, including a notable collection by Peter Paul Rubens.

Places to stay near Siesta Beach

Stay Siesta Dunes is a five-minute walk from Crescent Beach and a quick trolley ride away from Siesta Key Beach. Couples book this cozy condo for its waterside location and outdoor dining area.

Three of California’s best beaches sit along the 21-mile stretch of sand that frames Malibu – a beach city famous for its celebrity-owned mansions, art institutions, and canyon hikes. It’s a surfer’s world at Surfrider Beach, whose right-hand break lures longboarders of all experience levels. At Zuma, Malibu’s largest beach, you can enjoy swimming, bodyboarding, and beach volleyball. For dramatic views, El Matador State Beach is a photographer’s dream with its rock formations and sea caves you can explore at low tide.

Things to do near Malibu

Trails in the Santa Monica Mountains pass verdant gorges, Pacific Ocean vistas, and cascading waterfalls, including the 150-foot-tall Escondido Falls.

Sample fresh, seasonal California cuisine with a view at places like Malibu Farm and Geoffrey’s Malibu, followed by a tasting tour of local vineyards.

Getty Villa, located east of Malibu in Pacific Palisades, is a picturesque museum modeled on a Roman villa where you can browse exhibits dedicated to Greek and Roman art.

Places to stay near Malibu

Floor-to-ceiling windows frame every sea and mountain view from Malibu Glass House, which also features a hot tub and is less than two miles from Malibu Lagoon State Beach. At Malibu Seaside Bliss, you’ll have access to four bedrooms, a balcony facing the water, and a private garden. Zuma, Paradise Cove, and other beaches are less than two miles away.

A short drive from Tampa Bay, Clearwater Beach is consistently ranked as one of the best beaches in the US due to its fine sand, clear water, and perpetual sunshine. Pier 60 is the center of it all, where anglers cast their lines, locals watch for dolphins, and families make a beeline for the shaded playground. Sunsets are events in themselves – a prelude to a festival featuring vendors and street performers that takes place every fair-weather day of the year.

Things to do near Clearwater Beach

At the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, you can see bottlenose dolphins and sea turtles and learn how these animals are rescued, rehabilitated, and released back into the wild.

A ride aboard the vintage-style Jolley Trolley is an easy way to sightsee as you travel to nearby towns, including Dunedin and Tarpon Springs.

Order a grouper sandwich from Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill – a local icon – for a beachfront meal with a view.

Places to stay near Clearwater Beach

This four-bedroom townhouse, a short walk from the beach, features a balcony and a private boat slip. You’ll be right on the sand during a stay at Bayside Cottage, which includes access to a shared infinity pool.

Kennebunkport, a seaside town in southern Maine, oozes New England charm. The former fishing village is like an open-air museum with its tightly packed shops, restaurants, charming cottage rentals, and inns lining its Dock Square. The shoreline is mostly rocky, save for Goose Rocks Beach. The sand here is flat and soft, which is unique for Maine and perfect for lounging, leisurely beach walks, and enjoying views of Timber Island.

Things to do near Kennebunkport

Maine is the lobster capital of the US, and you can sample the crustacean at many of Kennebunkport’s top restaurants, including Earth at Hidden Pond and Mabel’s Lobster Claw.

Sail to the Cape Porpoise Islands to watch fishermen haul in lobster traps and glimpse Goat Island Light, which has guarded the harbor since 1833.

At the Seashore Trolley Museum, you can ride a restored streetcar and learn about the evolution of public transportation in New England.

Places to stay near Goose Rocks Beach

Y Go By, a nine-minute walk from Goose Rocks Beach, has a backyard, sundeck, and outdoor shower. Located on an inlet, Bufflehead Retreat offers a stone patio facing the waterfront.

Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard – sister islands off the coast of Massachusetts – are known for their beaches. Nantucket is quieter due to its smaller size and isolated location. Also unlike the Vineyard, every beach on Nantucket is open to the public for swimming, surfing, sailing, and beyond. Head to north shore beaches like Jetties for calmer waters facing Nantucket Sound. Farther east, Sconset Beach is less crowded, with gentle waves and resident gray seals.

Things to do on Nantucket

The Sconset Bluff Walk – a cliffside path on Nantucket’s eastern shore – is considered one of the island’s most beautiful trails.

Learn about local history at the Nantucket Whaling Museum – home to a 46-foot-long sperm whale skeleton – and the Great Point Lighthouse, better known as the ‘Nantucket Light’.  

Boat charters offer glimpses of island life, with opportunities to visit oyster farms, enjoy catch-and-release fishing, and take guided tours of historic landmarks.

Places to stay on Nantucket

On Madaket Beach, Love Sand is an oceanfront property offering sea views from most rooms. The Bungalow is within walking distance of Children’s Beach and the Whaling Museum.

It’s a 50-minute drive between Lihue – Kauai’s largest city – and Hanalei on Kauai’s north shore, but the journey is worth it to see one of the most beautiful beaches in the US. Crescent-shaped Hanalei Bay Beach faces three large, forested mountains – a dramatic skyline that reflects the island’s ‘Garden Isle’ nickname. In the summer, the bay’s calm waters are a boon for swimmers and paddle-boarders. Come winter, strong waves lure experienced surfers.

Things to do near Hanalei Bay

Hanalei is the gateway to the Napali Coast, a hikeable area of immense natural beauty famous for its picturesque waterfalls, jagged cliffs, and sweeping ocean views. 

A walk through the Limahuli Garden and Preserve passes terraced taro gardens and vibrant flowers and plants, while guided tours provide insight into Hawaiian culture and history.

In Hanalei Town, you can cool off with Hawaiian shave ice, browse art galleries, and grab a bite to eat – poke, perhaps? – from local food trucks.

Places to stay near Hanalei Bay Beach

This three-bedroom getaway includes a balcony and is within walking distance of the beach. For sea views and proximity to Halanei Pavilion Beach Park, treat yourself to a stay in this five-bedroom vacation home.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a breathtakingly beautiful protected area in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It’s known for its colorful sandstone cliffs and caves, whose iron-red and copper-green hues are the result of minerals reacting to seeping water. One of the only places you can camp here is along Twelvemile Beach, where you can enjoy unparalleled views of Lake Superior and cliff formations that date back hundreds of millions of years.

Things to do near Twelvemile Beach

Renting a boat or kayak is one of the best ways to see the area’s distinctive cliffs. Keep an eye out for Miners Castle, a unique rock formation left after centuries of erosion.

Waterfalls are abundant near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Highlights include Munising Falls, Bridalveil Falls, Chapel Falls, and Tahquamenon Falls – the largest in Michigan.

Despite the longer drive to Soo Locks, visitors carve out time to watch as freighters travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes.

Places to stay near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Located 30 miles south of Twelvemile, Manistique Home Yard is pet-friendly and features a spacious yard with a fire pit.  UP Badger Lodge sits on the shores of Powell Lake and includes a dock with kayaks and a rowboat for guest use.

The beauty of the Outer Banks, a 200-mile-long string of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, is no secret. Millions of visitors seeking a low-key beach vacation descend upon these sands each year. The draws: windswept beaches with towering dunes and wild horses, tiny towns with weather-worn boardwalks and historic lighthouses, and plenty of opportunities for water and land-based exploration.

Things to do near the Outer Banks

In the village of Corolla, you can spot wild Banker horses grazing by the beach, visit the historic Whalehead residential home, and climb up Currituck Beach Lighthouse for panoramic views.

Stop by the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills to see where the first manned airplane flight took place in 1903.

The winds at Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head are perfect for hang-gliding and kite-flying. You can also watch the sunset from the tallest dune on the Atlantic coast.

Places to stay near the Outer Banks

This three-bedroom rental in Nags Head has a balcony, outdoor shower, and hot tub.

Across the street from Nags Head Beach, Hair of the Dog in Kill Devil Hills offers a private pool and fenced-in backyard.

Myrtle Beach has long been a seaside escape for families and sun-seekers. Between its 60 continuous miles of sand and surplus of coastal attractions – award-winning golf courses, southern-style restaurants, amusement and water park rides, and an iconic boardwalk – there’s seemingly no end to the fun you can have in this resort town.

Things to do near Myrtle Beach

The Myrtle Beach SkyWheel – the boardwalk’s crown jewel – is a 187-foot-tall observation wheel that soars over the city and provides aerial views of the ocean, beach, and beyond.

For nighttime entertainment, catch a performance at the historic Carolina Opry – an unmissable local landmark.

Within the 9,100-acre Brookgreen Gardens, you’ll find a zoo, castle, labyrinth, and trail that crosses a restored rice field.

Places to stay near Myrtle Beach

Stay at this five-bedroom beach house for access to two covered balconies, seasonal pools, and ocean views. This two-bedroom apartment is steps from Surfside Beach and includes access to a fitness center and tennis courts.

The Pacific Coast Highway is a famous road trip route that passes through Carmel-by-the-Sea – one of the best beach towns in America that’s known for its history, art, and rugged beauty. At Carmel Beach, locals let their dogs run free on the white sand, surfers brave the cold waters to catch swells, and joggers follow the Scenic Pathway that winds along a beachside bluff shaded by Monterey Cypress trees.

Things to do near Carmel Beach

Tours of the Carmel Mission, a National Historic Landmark, spotlight its sanctuary, gardens, and galleries containing art and artifacts.

Some of the area’s best hiking and snorkeling opportunities are in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, where you can spot seals, otters, and whales.

The rugged beauty of central California comes to a head in Big Sur, an area famous for its mountainous coastline, redwood forests, and pristine beaches.

Places to stay near Carmel Beach

Less than a mile from Carmel Beach, Dolce Tempo features a light-filled sitting room, a fireplace, and an outdoor furnished patio. This pet-friendly two-bedroom vacation home is 1.2 miles from the sand and includes a shaded outdoor dining area with a grill.

Which US beaches have the whitest sand?

Florida possesses some of the best white-sand beaches in the US – some of which never seem to feel hot under your toes no matter how strong the sun. Clearwater Beach is famous for its fine white sand, as is Siesta Key Beach, whose grains of pure quartz feel powdery and cool to the touch. California’s Carmel Beach, another white-sand beauty, is well cared for by the city and community.

Which US beaches are the best for swimming?

The best beaches for swimming generally offer gentle waves and sandy surfaces (stepping on rocks and corals is no fun for anyone). Due to their dependably warm temperatures, Florida, California, and Hawaii all have open beaches year-round for swimming and sunbathing. 

Which are the best US beach towns?

The best beach towns in the US offer a mix of sand, sun, and local culture. Other coastal hotspots not covered in this article include:

• Newport, Rhode Island

• Santa Barbara, California

• Jacksonville Beach, Florida

• Cape May, New Jersey

• Honolulu, Hawaii

Which US beaches are the best for honeymoons?

When choosing from the best beach honeymoon destinations in the US, newlyweds dream differently – some want to maximize their downtime, while others want to fill their days with adventure.

For privacy and serenity, consider the laid-back glamor of Nantucket, Kennebunkport, or Carmel. Alternatively, pair fun in the sun with plenty of local activities in Clearwater or Ka’anapali.