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Washington
1,228
Michigan
598
Massachusetts
576
Florida
575
New Jersey
454
Hawaii
406
New York
354
California
252
North Carolina
216
Alaska
208
Wisconsin
195
Texas
168
Maine
105
Oregon
89
Rhode Island
82
Minnesota
81
Ohio
79
Connecticut
73
Maryland
65
Illinois
57
Virginia
47
Georgia
38
Indiana
26
Alabama
24
Delaware
24
Louisiana
24
Mississippi
21
South Carolina
21
New Hampshire
16
Pennsylvania
13

Beaches by State 2024

Beaches by State 2024

Does the United States Have a Lot of Beaches?

There are a lot of people who are curious about the best beaches in the United States. First, understand that the United States has one of the largest coastlines in the world. It is a unique country in that it has beaches on two separate oceans. This includes the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. As a result, there are tons of states in the country that have plenty of coastline, but what are the best beaches available? There are several options that stand out from the crowd.

What Is the Best Beach in California?

California is synonymous with beaches. Even though it sits on the colder Pacific Ocean, there are still plenty of great options from which to choose. While there is plenty of opportunity to debate this issue, the best beach in California could be La Jolla Shores. It is located in San Diego, and there are plenty of activities available. Some people are interested in playing beach soccer, while other people might be interested in playing beach volleyball. There are even people who try their hand at surfing. Because there are so many activities available, and because there is plenty of space to spread out, La Jolla Shores could be the best beach in California.

What Is the Best Beach in Florida?

Florida is called the Sunshine State for a reason. It has plenty of beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and on the Gulf Coast. Even though it is difficult to beat the tropics of the Florida Keys, there are a lot of people who overlook Cape San Blas. It is not necessarily as developed as some of the other beaches, such as Panama City, but that means that you have plenty of opportunities to spread out. It is also a barrier peninsula, so you will have plenty of opportunities to go snorkeling and scuba diving. If you are looking for a beach that will give you more opportunities to relax, you might want to consider checking out Cape San Blas.

What is the Best Beach in South Carolina?

South Carolina is another state that is synonymous with beaches. With plenty of warm water available, there are lots of opportunities to go sunbathing and scuba diving. There is plenty of room for debate, but Hilton Head Island is arguably the best beach in South Carolina. It is also one of the best beaches in the country. From the Harbour Town Lighthouse to the Salty Dog Cafe, and from the luxury of the shipyard to the rural areas of the docks, this is an island that has something for just about everyone. With lots of delicious food, plenty of sunshine, and an endless array of activities for people of all ages, it is easy to see why people come from all over the world to visit Hilton Head Island. It is a gorgeous place to explore throughout the year, and there are plenty of opportunities for people to take advantage of.

Beaches by State 2024

  • Data on the total number of beaches in each state come from the Environmental Protection Agency's BEACH Act list of beaches as of April 2024. The EPA list includes coastal and Great Lakes beaches only. Other sources may tabulate differently or use a different definition of what constitutes a beach. For example, the 2024 BEACH Act count includes 252 beaches in California, while the state of California's own website claims 420 in total.
  • EPA data is provided to the EPA by individual states. As such, polling inconsistencies between one state and another are possible.
  • Data on each state's best beach name and location are compiled from reputable sources, but should nonetheless be regarded as educated opinions rather than data-backed scientific fact.

Download Table Data

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State
Total # of Beaches
Total Beach Length (Mi)
Best Beach Name
Best Beach Location
Washington1,2281053.60Alki BeachSeattle
Michigan598469.20Cheboygan State Park BeachCheboygan
Massachusetts576152.80Crane BeachIpswich
Florida575909.20Destin BeachDestin
New Jersey454196.80Cape May BeachCape May
Hawaii406289.30Kaanapali BeachMaui
New York354122.80Jacob Riis BeachJacob Riis Park
California252327.50Pfeiffer BeachBig Sur
North Carolina216335.90Emerald Isle BeachEmerald Isle
Alaska208316.50Black Sand BeachPrince William Sound
Wisconsin19553.70Big Bay BeachMadeline Island
Texas168331.90Port Aransas BeachPort Aransas
Maine10540.40Ogunquit BeachOgunquit
Oregon89224.00Cannon BeachCannon Beach
Rhode Island8228.10Narragansett Town BeachNarragansett
Minnesota8158.60Lake Carlos BeachLake Carlos State Park
Ohio7945.80Headlands BeachMentor
Connecticut7315.40Ocean Beach ParkNew London
Maryland6520.10Assateague Island BeachOcean City
Illinois5716.70Illinois Beach State ParkZion
Virginia4736.60Virginia BeachVirginia
Georgia3884.50North BeachTybee Island
Indiana2626.60Indiana DunesIndiana Dunes National Park
Alabama2428.30Gulf PlaceGulf Shores
Delaware2424.00Fenwick IslandFenwick Island State Park
Louisiana2421.90Grand Isle BeachGrand Isle State Park
Mississippi2134.50Gulfport BeachGulfport
South Carolina2191.00Kiawah Island BeachesKiawah Island
New Hampshire168.80Hampton BeachHampton
Pennsylvania133.10Black Moshannon State Park BeachBlack Moshannon State Park
ArizonaLone Rock BeachLake Powell
ArkansasLake Ouachita BeachMountain Pine
ColoradoMedano CreekGreat Sand Dunes National Park
IdahoCascade LakeLake Cascade State Park
IowaEmerson Bay State BeachMilford
KansasGlen Elder State Park BeachGlen Elder
KentuckyPennyrile Forest State Resort Park BeachDawson Springs
MissouriFugitive BeachRolla
MontanaBrush Lake State Park BeachDagmar
NebraskaLake McConaughy BeachOgallala
NevadaSand Harbor BeachLake Tahoe Nevada State Park
New MexicoElephant Butte BeachElephant Butte Lake State Park
North DakotaLake Metigoshe BeachLake Metigoshe State Park
OklahomaTom Steed Reservoir BeachKiowa County
South DakotaSylvan Lake BeachCuster
TennesseeRock Island State Park BeachRock Island State Park
UtahSand Hollow State Park BeachSand Hollow State Park
VermontSand Bar State ParkMilton
West VirginiaSummersville Lake beachSummersville Lake
WyomingString Lake BeachGrand Teton National Park
showing: 50 rows

Which state has the most beaches?

The state with the most beaches is Washington, with 1,228 beaches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources