Copy linkEmailFacebookWhatsAppXLinkedInBlueskyThreadsImpact Link
SaveSaved
This story is available exclusively to Business Insider
subscribers. Become an Insider
and start reading now.Have an account? .
Miami's South Beach.
Flickr / Esa L
You don't have to go far to sink your feet into some soft white sand or plunge into clear aquamarine waters. Some of the world's best beaches are right here in the US.
2015-06-15
For this list, we looked at seven notable beach rankings compiled by travel experts, vacationers, and water-quality researchers and combined these rankings to come up with the ultimate list of the best beaches in the US.
23. Hanalei Bay in Kauai, Hawaii, is the island's largest bay (close to three miles long) and is also home to Hanalei Beach — a 125-feet-wide stretch of pure white sand.
22. Main Beach in East Hampton, New York, is both pristine and secluded, making it the perfect destination for those seeking luxury without the crowds.
21. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park sits on a barrier island along the southwest coast of Florida, near Naples. It boasts beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico, as well as bird-watching, snorkeling, hiking, and fishing.
20. Situated on the tip of New Jersey's Cape May Peninsula, where the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean meet, Cove Beach's gray sands attract people all year long for swimming, kayaking, surfing, or sunbathing.
19. Hunting Island State Park lies just east of Beaufort, South Carolina. The semitropical barrier island has one of the only lighthouses open to the public in all of South Carolina.
18. One of the alluring beaches that lies along the southern coast of Kauai, Hawaii, Poipu Beach Park has a lifeguard on duty seven days a week, which is why it’s considered one of Hawaii’s safest beaches.
17. Coast Guard Beach is in the heart of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and is a classic example of a typical New England beach: rough and cold waters, but ample sand for sunbathers.
16. Kailua Beach Park sits on the Hawaiian island of Oahu less than a half-hour away from Honolulu; it’s near a number of other small islands, so it’s a good beach for kayaking.
15. The village of La Jolla in San Diego, California, is home to La Jolla Cove Beach, whose waters — filled with colorful fish, stingrays, and leopard sharks — are a snorkeler’s and diver’s paradise.
13. One of Lanai, Hawaii’s most popular beaches, Hulopo’e Bay is a protected marine preserve, and since no ships can anchor here, the beach is a prime spot for turtle and dolphin spotting.
11. St. George Island State Park sits on Florida’s panhandle and features miles and miles of undeveloped open beaches that are great for families hoping to picnic, fish, or look for shells.
10. Waimanalo Bay Beach Park is one of three beaches on the more than five-mile-long Waimanalo Bay in Oahu. Hawaii’s longest bay, it offers stunning views of the magnificent Koolau Mountains.
9. Barefoot Beach is a preserve in Bonita Springs, Florida, is made up of 342 acres of natural land. It’s one of the only remaining undeveloped barrier islands on the southwest coast of Florida, and therefore boasts a variety of animal species.
8. Famous for its nightlife and beautiful beachgoers, South Beach in Miami, Florida, is known as both the “American Riviera” and an “art-deco playground” thanks to the colorful buildings that surround its dazzling white sand and swaying palm trees.
7. Beachwalker Park lies on the west end of South Carolina’s Kiawah Island and is the only beach accessible to the public on the island. Visitors can swim in the ocean while enjoying views of the Kiawah River.
6. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is located in Hanauma Bay, in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was formed within a volcanic cone and is a protected-marine-life conservation area and underwater park.
5. One of Maui, Hawaii’s best known and most picturesque beaches, Ka’anapali Beach is bordered by some of the island’s most luxurious resorts. There’s also a concrete path that runs the length of the beach, ideal for runners and walkers.
4. Siesta Beach on Florida’s Siesta Key has sand that’s almost pure quartz, so it’s no wonder the beach has been recognized for having some of the whitest and finest sand in the world.
3. The gulf waters of Clearwater Beach in Clearwater, Florida, are warm and inviting, and the town itself is family friendly, with an aquarium, plenty of restaurants, and beachfront activities.
2. Coronado Beach in Coronado, California — near San Diego — has consistently been ranked as one of America’s best beaches. Its gentle waves and glittering mineral Mica sand draw beachgoers year-round.
1. Cape Hatteras — located in North Carolina’s Outer Banks — takes the top spot on this year’s list. It has something for everyone, from plants and wildlife to salt marshes and ocean waves and even a lighthouse.
Sarah writes for the travel vertical at Business Insider. She graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in magazine journalism and German. She is from Chicago, and currently lives in Brooklyn.
