50 Best Beaches in America

As long as you have the sun and a shoreline, you've got yourself a beach. Based on this broad definition, we've picked our favorite waterfronts in every state. Keep reading to see which waterfront made the list in your state. You might as well start your own summer beach bucket list while you're at it.

Claiming its share of the Alabama Gulf Coast, Orange Beach is a well-kept secret by locals and regular visitors. The small town has access to the largest artificial fishing reef in America, making it a great spot to cast a line and relax. In case the white sand shores aren't inviting enough to keep you satisfied, there's a wonderful wharf with rides (including a Ferris wheel, of course), zip-lining, an arcade, movie theater and tons more.

Summertime is when you want to head to Juneau, Alaska, to visit Eagle Beach. As the name implies, you can expect to spot eagles, along with salmon frantically traveling upstream (seasonally), enormous whales, lazy sea lions and plenty of other incredible wildlife. Eagle Beach has prime camping grounds, too. It's like having a front-row seat to a musical produced by nature. The sweet sights and sounds of Eagle Beach are enough to trade a playbill in for a park brochure.

In the middle of northern Arizona, a surprising beach can be found in the town of Page. Lake Powell, one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the country, is full of character. Visitors have the option of lodging lakeside, camping or renting their own houseboat. Utah has shared ownership of the unique lake, which spans close to 2,000 miles of shoreline.

A surprising waterfront can be found in northern Arkansas at Bull Shoals Lake. With a shoreline that stretches over 1,000 feet, it's easy to find a secluded area to soak in the silence. Famous for its bass-fishing opportunities, Bull Shoals is a relaxing retreat for those seeking serenity. This local lake is perfect for families but also works well as a destination for solo travelers and couples looking for a more peaceful path.

The West Coast is lined with so many awesome beaches, it's a shame to only pick one. If we have to choose, Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur, California, ranks as a favorite for more reasons than one. It takes a bit of determination to find the secluded purple sand beach, but the journey proves worth it once you spot the famous Keyhole Arch, especially if you can catch it at the right time of day.

Not your typical beach, Medano Creek at the Great Sand Dunes National Park is the result of a seasonal "surge flow" from melted snowfields on nearby mountains. Since the sand the creek passes over is void of pebbles and rocks, ridges form in the sediment enabling it to make its own waves! Medano Creek is best in May and June, when snowcaps are melting. Soak up the beach-like vibes in this temporary flowing phenomenon with other tubers, wakeboarders and visitors looking for somewhere to cool down.

The beaches of Silver Sands State Park in Milford, Connecticut, have a spectacular half mile of shoreline for visitors to enjoy all year long. When temperatures drop, it's easy to absorb the views from the lengthy boardwalks while inhaling crisp Connecticut air. During some parts of the day, tides are low enough for beachgoers to walk out onto the sandbar and take in this breathtaking beach from another flattering point of view.

Families who know about Dewey Beach, Delaware, tend to come back more than once. It's one of those quaint places that has a boardwalk brimming with life, packed with rides the kids will never want to leave. Rehoboth Bay lies on one side but the town's opposing façade, Rehoboth Beach, faces the open Atlantic Ocean. The dual bodies of water make this a beach town with something for all ages.

Always in the top rankings for best beaches in Florida, Clearwater Beach retains that top spot for good reason. White sand beaches don't get any more pristine than what you'll find here. The dockside dining options, sailing and fishing charters, and family-friendly activities (hello, mini-golf and pirate ships) can't keep visitors from the sandy shoreline. Trust us, once you get a glimpse of a beach like this, it'll be hard to put your attention anywhere else.

The isles of Georgia beckon out to lovers, especially St. Simons Island. This charming barrier island is located on the southeast coast of the Peach State and grants visitors an array of beaches, golfing and charming historical sites to see. Just as the local lighthouse (first constructed over 200 years ago!) guides ships toward its shores, St. Simons can lead any beach-seekers to an unforgettable summer.

Everyone has heard of the world-famous Waikiki beach, but there's much more to see in magical Hawaii. Lanikai and Kailua are adjacent beaches on the east side of Oahu island. Many have called these twin beaches their favorite in the nation, and even in the world. The calming turquoise waters offer the most inviting swim of your life. South of the soft white sands, the Mokulua Islands are visible, tiny pieces of land that act as bird sanctuaries and kayaker's havens.

You surely won't run out of things to do at Priest Lake in Idaho. The backdrop never gets old, with stunning panoramic views of the lake and mountains. The warmest months of the year promise perfect waters for summer swimmers. Hiking, fishing, paddle boarding and all sorts of beach activities are available for sun seekers, although this Idaho lakefront is accessible all year long.

The downtown area of the Windy City can be so attractive, many visitors forget that there are sandy shores nearby. Chicago might be the last place you think of for a trip to the beach, but the shoreline of Lake Michigan turns this Illinois metropolis into a refreshing getaway. There are several different beaches to choose from, but our favorite would have to be Rainbow Beach, for the convenient amenities and the nearby garden, which is one of the oldest in town.

The lakeshore of the Indiana Dunes continues to be one of the most popular family beach destinations in the country, often compared to beaches in Hawaii and California. Easygoing vibes fill the air while the kids kick up sand and adults relax in the summer sun. If you're feeling up for adventure, the surrounding dunes are great for hikes, kayaking and biking.

If central Iowa seems like an unlikely place for a beach, you're not thinking outside the box. The Saylorville Lake Marina takes up 26,000 acres on the Des Moines River and provides waterfront visitors with endless possibilities, including boat rentals, water sports and loads of fishing. There's even a floating bar and grill! We see you, Iowa. We're officially impressed.

Beach parks are the best and Shawnee Mission Lake and Park in Shawnee, Kansas, checks off all the required boxes. Beautiful sunsets on sandy beaches? Check. Covered shelters and picnic areas for all-day adventures? Got those, too. How about an area in the park for your dog to roam freely? Go ahead and bring Rover because at Shawnee Mission Lake, he can have a beach day with the rest of the family. There's ample good times to go around in the 1,600-acre park and 120-acre lake.

Already offering generous views filled with mountains and cool rock formations, Kentucky gives another gift to visitors in the natural form of beaches. Kentucky Lake is the best place to find optimal sandy spots, especially on Barren River Lake. Catch up on rest and relaxation by sunbathing or floating in the easy waters. Fishers can opt to cast the line in hopes of catching one of the local bass, crappie, bluegill or channel local marine species.

Don't be mistaken—swamps aren't the only wetlands Louisiana claims. Try out a beach along Lake Charles, such as the popular North Beach. The lakeside lounging here is convenient, located closely to city amenities, restaurants and shops. There's even a casino nearby. A brick and iron promenade is also on hand for those who need a break from walking in the sand. This metro beach is only one of many different entrance points to Lake Charles, each one with its own unique personality.

There's comfort in reminiscing and Old Orchard Beach, Maine, is a pleasant blast of nostalgia. This is the place to take your loved ones for a true family vacation experience. With carnival games and rides to distract the young at heart, those who prefer to loosen up by laying out can do so on the 7-mile shoreline. Summertime is primetime here, with fireworks, live concerts and marine animal sightings.

Our favorite thing about Chesapeake Beach in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, is how well developed it is. There's a pier for fishing, boardwalk rides for excitement, the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum for education and endless beachfront choices for food and drinks. Visitors can also enjoy the moonlight cruises offered during summer nights and the nearby water park, for those who are done dealing with the sand.

We should all be so lucky to visit the world-renowned Martha's Vineyard at least once in our lives. The Massachusetts island is popular with beachgoers who love history and that quintessential East Coast quaintness. You're not able to just stumble onto any beach here, though, since some require permits or are private, but Katama or South Beach will give you everything you need. On one side, you'll find three miles of coast, including great surf, and on the other side there's a calm salt pond.

The great Lake Michigan has a lot of love and waterfront to go around, but the split-peninsula state keeps most of the best shoreline for itself. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore follows suit with near-perfect beaches available to the public, especially the Glen Haven Beach. Add in the Cannery Boat Museum, and that makes for an all-inclusive day trip.

Dark sediment and jutting cliffs dominate the North Shore in Silver Bay, Minnesota, making this an exclusive treat for the eye. Climbers everywhere will adore the formations at Palisade Head, and a short drive down the street will take you to the intriguing Onyx (aka Black Beach). Picnic tables allow for convenient seating, perfect for beachgoers to get comfortable and take in the intriguing black sand. With the unbelievable natural wonders in Silver Bay, this visit could become one of the best summer trips you'll ever take.

Many people drive to Biloxi, Mississippi, for the stellar casino play the city is known for. In the summertime, vacationers have even better motivation to visit—for the peace of Biloxi Beach. Residents know this to be the cleanest, quietest beach in town, which makes it a fantastic locale for families with kids in tow. This summer, consider leaving prints in the soft, white sands of Biloxi Beach and enjoying the Gulf Coast.

The encompassing Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has all of the amenities a beach park could offer, and then some. Live music is performed in the Band Shell. Canoes and kayaks are launched from the fishing pier, and children play in the "Tot Lot" play area while the true vacationers simply lay out on the beach. With such a full menu of activities and experiences, it's hard to find a reason not to swing by Lake Harriet this summer.

Another beach park that is suitable for all ages, especially the kiddos, is Lake Josephine, located in Montana's Glacier National Park. This place is pristine, clean and gleams with beautifully clear waters. Ample picnic tables and a nice playground for kids surround the swimming area. The glacier-filled background makes the setting seem more like a painting than reality. Lifeguards on duty during daylight hours push this beach park to near perfection and should be on every beach lover's summer bucket list.

No doubt about it, the shoreline of Lake McConaughy near Ogallala, Nebraska, is a camping utopia. The openness of the beach, the contrast of crystal blue water on the colorless sand and excellent fishing conditions make this 20-plus miles of lakefront irresistible. You would think this seemingly flawless beach had constant campers and hikers everywhere, but with a little planning and a dash of luck, it's possible to find isolated areas that you don't have to share with anyone else.

This beach is boulder-ific! The most prominent features of Nevada's Sand Harbor are the large rocks, boulders and cliffs that ring around the lovely Lake Tahoe. Visitors love to walk along the lengthy promenades and leap from the bluffs into waters that are distinctly different hues. If you're coming here to kayak or canoe, you'll want to come in from the stairless south entrance for ease of launch.

The manicured shores of Hampton Beach State Park have been a favorite beach destination for residents and tourists of New Hampshire for a long time. You certainly won't find trash on these sandy stretches, and the friendly local community is proof of the pride this beach village has. It only gets better: The upgraded boardwalk across the street has arcades, shopping, eateries, a movie theater and much, much more. Stick around after dark to see fireworks close out a summer day.

Not your average beach boardwalk, the wooden walkway of Asbury Park is lined with the familiar arcades and shops, but there's an added twist. The small New Jersey town has a reputation for having interesting antique shops and art galleries that make it stand out from other beach towns. People-watching is a highly recommended activity here, but with so much to do, see and eat, you might end up as the object of observation!

The sandy beaches of Elephant Butte Lake in New Mexico are terrific, but the camping and fishing is what you show up for. Local wildlife sightings could include rabbits, quail and even roadrunners. Because this is the largest state park in New Mexico, the various acceptable water vehicles range in size from kayaks to full-size sailboats. This is a popular place on summer weekends, but a mid-week visit will ensure thin crowds and maximum peace.

After Hurricane Sandy destroyed the boardwalk at Rockaway Beach in New York in 2012, the entire beach area needed a revival. Now, the Queens beach and boardwalk that seemed a bit dated pre-Sandy have been reconstructed with a brand-spanking-new boardwalk that many people enjoy more than the former one. The city even added sand and dunes to give the now re-popularized shoreline a facelift. Job well done, NYC.

Don't expect to find a flock of restaurants and shops near the shores of the Outer Banks, North Carolina's barrier islands. The Nags Head Fishing Pier is equipped with a small tackle shop and bar, both with the same owners, and only requires a tiny fee to use. Since these piers were once so prevalent in the Outer Banks (with many having been torn down), it's a sort of honor to experience the living history of this region by just casting a line (no permit required) or taking a stroll on an elevated platform of this spectacular beach.

Lake Sakakawea is a prize to campers in northwestern North Dakota. For an affordable fee that gives you access to water and electricity, you can have a designated lakeside camping site with so much space in between you and the nearest campers, you might think you have the entire place to yourself. Enjoy the freeing feeling of being alone in the wilderness while at this spacious reservoir.

If you stand in the right spot in Ohio's East Harbor State Park, you can see the massive roller coasters poking the sky from Cedar Point. From this point of view on Lake Erie, a few other isles also add to the horizon and make it easy to spend your summer days just staring into the sky. We can't forget to mention the Marblehead Lighthouse, which you have to tour to get the full effect of this sweet beach park.

If you've ever wanted to attend a sailing regatta, Lake Hefner might be your best bet. The members-only Oklahoma City Boat Club throws races and water vehicle events that are usually open to the public, in an effort to raise cash for charities. Bird watchers should consider visiting Lake Hefner, as well, since fowl love stopping by while migrating. The playground, sports fields and eating areas in the park are all first come, first served.

One of those beaches that not enough people talk about—but everyone should know about—is camera-ready Cannon Beach in Oregon. Mentioned more often is Haystack Rock, the 235-foot-tall rock formation that can be reached by foot during low tide on the beach. Haystack Rock is impressive, and the tidal pools are home to several small water species, like crabs and starfish. Be careful not to squish the little guys as you explore the curious beach formation.

Lake Erie could easily be mistaken for an ocean if you look at Avonia Beach Park in Fairview, Pennsylvania. The lakeside is silently radiant and a fantastic place to watch the trout swim upstream. Anglers, this is where you want to be with bait and hook ready to go. If trout isn't what you're into, sit back and listen to the natural song of the lake and wait for the sun to set.

Get ready for a big dose of Americana in Newport, Rhode Island, particularly at Bowen's Wharf. The best parts of traditional beach boardwalk culture are all on display here. It's enough to bring the kid out in a 95-year-old. The thematic beachfront is touristy in the greatest ways possible. The old-timey buildings, brick-lined streets, the oversized nautical statues. There's something adorable about the in-your-face maritime theme that just works.

No other city does a boardwalk quite like Myrtle Beach. That must be why families never tire of visiting the South Carolina beach town, no matter how many times they've gone in the past. The 60-mile coastline is traced with carnival-style rides, ice cream parlors and restaurants where the servers wear suspenders with a zillion buttons pinned on. The best eateries provide elevated views, including the restaurant and open-air bar built on the 2nd Avenue Pier.

In Custer, South Dakota, beach lovers head straight for Sylvan Lake. The lakefront is an amazing site, with unusual rock formations that add a natural signature to this very special place. These boulders are awesome to look at—but navigating around them is another story completely. Make sure you come prepared with water and snacks in case you decide to hike a bit. Take your time kicking back on the white sands, swimming, kayaking and enjoying your trip.

With few bodies of water offering swimming options in Tennessee, it's a good thing Boone Lake has been upgraded in recent years. While the changes were out of necessity, the lakeside park has been updated with an area for swimming (Boone Reservoir), a boat ramp and a volleyball net. Repairs due to a sinkhole discovered in 2014 might go on for awhile, but that doesn't mean you can't still enjoy the park's exceptionally kept grounds this summer.

Though it was popular in the past, South Padre Island in Texas has had some serious cosmetic changes in recent years. Sure, there's a $10 entrance fee to the beach (there's also a monthly pass option), but once you pay, you'll realize it's worth the price. Included amenities are spotless beaches, showers, picnic and barbecue pavilions and more. For activities, you can go on a dolphin-spotting cruise, hunt for seashells or just go float around the Gulf of Mexico. The new boardwalk and ongoing renovations have transformed SPI into a swanky beachfront locale.

Antelope Island is the largest of the 10 islands of Great Salt Lake, and the Bridger Bay area is a beach with a shallow shoreline. The desert aesthetic makes it seem unlikely that any water could survive long on the isle, but the massive Great Salt Lake can handle the heat. The humid conditions leave a high salt concentration in the water, which give off faux-ocean aromas in the air. Do your best to remember you're not at sea, but instead on an island in Utah with herds of free-ranging bison.

Even though Vermont shares the shores of Lake Champlain with New York and Canada, the best access points, like North Beach, can be found in the smallest region of the three. The exposed lake is a literal and figurative breath of fresh air. Visitors can choose from rock climbing (or jumping) activities, swimming, diving, sailing, and even certain sizes of yachts are allowed on the lake. More active visitors might want to expand on their beach experience and try out the phenomenal hiking and biking paths all over the grounds.

Classics are timeless for a reason and Virginia Beach is the epitome of this rule when it comes to beachfront experiences. The engaging local community keeps the shoreline tidy so you're not distracted by litter. That frees up the attention of summer fun-seekers so they can enjoy the overloaded activities on the beach and boardwalk. Expect warm weather to come with live concerts in the band shell and exciting marine sightings, such as spotting dolphins, on a regular basis.

A valued treasure to residents, Owen Beach in Tacoma, Washington, is the place to take your kids, wade in shallow waters or rent a kayak. Whatever you do, you'll be able to see Vashon Island from the shore, which makes for an eventful day trip via ferry, in case you get curious enough. During the summertime, you can find small bites and concession stands nearby. If it's your first time visiting and the water currents seem more intense than you imagined, a local guide can help you steer clear of a dangerous crush, which is usually further out from shore.

Usually dams are named after the nearest town that they're built by, but since the closest city was Gad, West Virginia, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers didn't want to call it "Gad Dam," they decided to name this one after the next closest town, Summersville. This is only a piece of the story about the fascinating Summersville Lake and Dam. Another thing that makes this locally popular lakeside shore cool is that there used to be an entire town where the lake is now. Think of this history as you swim, snorkel and scuba dive in this enchanting reservoir.

If Milwaukee isn't already your go-to beach city, it soon might be. The Wisconsin town is home to Bradford Beach, the largest and most popular local sandy shore around. Get ready to play some pickup volleyball once you arrive at this social hotspot. A bar set right on the beach is complemented by rentable cabanas, lounge chairs and umbrellas.

In Wyoming, Lewis Lake lies at the southern end of Yellowstone National Park. Another peaceful campground that the most outdoorsy of us will want to come back to over and over again, this lakeside beach exudes tranquility. Since the lake is in one of the best national parks in the nation, visitors should take advantage of the hot springs, unreal hiking paths and biking opportunities, all within a stone's throw.