The 50 Best Beaches in America

A trip to the beach is good for body, mind and soul, and with thousands of miles of seacoast and lakeshore in the USA, you are never far from a ravishing ribbon of sand. The following are, in no particular order, 50 of the finest beaches in the country- some in warm weather states, others in unexpected locales-all either recently receiving accolades or possessing a unique mix of inviting sand and seaside diversions.

One of San Diego's star attractions, Coronado Beach is among the most iconic strands in the country. In addition to golden sand that literally sparkles in the sun, the beach owns perhaps the grandest backdrop of any beach in the country in the form of the historic Hotel del Coronado.

Arguably the best beach on the Big Island, Hapuna is home to a sweeping white sand beach and relatively serene waters. As a bonus, migrating whales have been known to be spotted offshore here, too.

This South Carolina island is lined with divine beaches, but Beachwalker Park is the only stretch exclusively open to the public. Along the southern section of this beach, you'll find Captain's Sam's Inlet, which is home to an abundance of colorful birdlife.

Wild and windswept beaches are but one of the star attractions of Mustang Island, the capital of Lone Star State island life. Taupe-colored shores are the norm here as are surrounding seas rich with fish.

Sanibel Island is a seashell lover's heaven and Bowman's Beach is the best stretch for combining your collecting with swimming & sunbathing.

Don't let the carnival atmosphere fool you; Venice Beach is a great place to spend a few hours on the sand. Or playing volleyball. Or skating. Or bike riding. Or gawking at weightlifters at Muscle Beach.

This idyllic beach in Eastham exemplifies the charms of Cape Cod. Soft, golden sand, a historic former Coast Gaurd Station as a backdrop and bursting-with-birdlife Nauset Marsh are among the many features of the beach.

Not all of America's excellent beaches are on the sea as this shoreline star is pure Michigan. You will find Oval Beach in Saugatuck and it features soft light brown sand backed by a series of rolling sand dunes.

Located at the far west (and slightly quieter) end of world-famous Waikiki Beach, this beach offers the widest stretch of sand on the shore and is even home to a unique, manmade tropical lagoon. Duke Kahanamoku Beach also offers breathtaking views of Diamond Head mountain.

Is it the sugar-white color of the sand that makes this beach so special? Or is it the emerald green, see-your-feet waves of the Gulf of Mexico that lap upon its shore? Or perhaps the quirky vibe of the beach's namesake village? All come together to make Grayton Beach one of the best in the country.

It's rare to find a beach in such a stunning location that has remained as unspoiled as the ones on Ocracoke Island have. Here, the wild and rugged shoreline dominates, without a high-rise hotel anywhere in sight.

Siesta Beach on Siesta Key possesses some of the whitest and most fine sand in the world, but that's just one of the reasons that this place is so special. The shape of the beach is a near-perfect crescent and is backed by an eclectic collection of shops, bars and restaurants.

A caramel-colored shoreline dominated by the famed Haystack Rock makes this Oregon beach stand out from the rest in the Pacific Northwest. Cannon Beach also features waterfalls and rock pools full of sea life.

Relative seclusion is the calling card of Sandbridge Beach in Virginia Beach, where sea oats and sand dunes dominate the scene.

Coligny is Hilton Head's most popular beach and it is home to a wide expanse of sand in addition to a full roster of amenities. The beach is also home to the legendary libations of beach bar Pool Bar Jim's.

Buoyed by a true "you carry it on, you carry it off" policy, the sands on the community-owned Ogunquit are as squeaky clean as they are inviting.

This paradise on earth is located on the eastern side of Oahu and is home to calm waters, white-sand beaches and teal blue water. Lingering just offshore is a series of dramatic islands that only serve to enhance the atmosphere.

New Jersey's most sophisticated summer town is also home to one of the country's best sweeps of sand. The beach in Cape May is known for being sparkling clean and is the perfect complement to the town's collection of characterful Victorian homes.

Easily one of the most famous beaches in the USA, South Beach lives up to the hype. Soft sand, turquoise water and pretty people abound, all with a backdrop of Miami's colorful Art Deco-era hotels.

While it may not feel as secluded or "secret" as some other sandy destinations on this list, Wrightsville Beach and its pier are both the perfect places for relaxation or watersports recreation.

A wide expanse of sand offering visitors a full repertoire of recreational opportunities and amenities sits beside one of the best historical boardwalks in the country.

At the heart of Alabama's small-but-sensational stretch of Gulf Coast shoreline, the strands of Orange Beach feature soft, white sand and seafoam green water.

The island of Kauai is full of secrets and this beach is surely one of the most rewarding. Hard to find, even harder to leave, Secret Beach (also known as Kauapea) is only accessible via an unmarked road and a short, but steep hike.

While the awe-inspiring dunes get the lion share of the attention at Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, they are flanked by several gorgeous beaches that are lapped by cool, clear water.

Huntington is heaven for beach lovers as Southern California's "Surf City" features five different stretches of sand, each with their own distinct style and personality. Picking one is a tough job, but someone has to do it.

One of Nantucket's finest beaches, Madaket makes the list for its relatively quiet atmosphere, tucked-away location and golden waves of sand.

With sand like light brown sugar and dramatic sand dunes filled with beach grass, Cooper's Beach is the finest public stretch in the Hamptons.

Skyscrapers and sand don't often feature as a pair, but they manage to come together for something special at Ohio Street Beach in Chicago. The small but comfortable urban beach features a backdrop of iconic buildings and a much more chill vibe than its sister stretch of sand North Avenue Beach.

The crown jewel of the romantic coastal town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Beach is as beautiful as they come. The soft, light brown sands are backed by several cypress trees, adding a dramatic framing to the beach.

One look at the name will tell you that this sliver of land that juts out into Lake Erie feels much more like an island than a peninsula. The beaches here are perfect for recreation or relaxation and the "island" even features a lighthouse.

As it is only accessible by sea, this pristine island has remained largely untouched and unbelievably pretty. The island's beach is soft and powdery and the mangroves on the island are home to a variety of coastal wildlife.

A quintessential Pacific Northwest Beach, rugged Ruby lies within Olympic National Park and is home to eye-catching sea stacks and beautiful brown sand.

Just down the sand from Caladesi Island, Clearwater Beach might not be as secluded, but it's just as special. The beach is wide and is backed by several great restaurants and bars.

Not to be confused with the other South Beach in Miami, this is where the best of Tybee Island all come together. Paramount among attractions are the pristine sands and an always-buzzing pier.

This national seashore is renowned for its miles of windswept sand and its captivating colony of wild horses. The sands of Assateague Island also makes for one of the best spots for beach camping on the East Coast.

This strand of bewitching barrier dunes between Bethany Beach and the town of Fenwick Island is home to quiet stretches of sand that maintain the mystique of days gone by.

Located just in front of the majestic Mohegan Bluffs, this small beach boasts one of the most beautiful backdrops on the East Coast.

Located on the panhandle of Florida, Navarre has the same powdery white sand and jade waters as its neighbors in Destin and Pensacola, but just not as many crowds.

A hidden gem if there ever was one, this beach lies tucked away within Redwood National park and is only accessible via a hike. What it lacks in size, it makes up for with an extra-large dash of rugged, Northern California beauty.

Can you find more paradisical stretches of sand? Perhaps. Can you find a better combination of wide public beach and enticing boardwalk on the East Coast? No, no you cannot.

As the name would suggest, this hidden gem of a beach on Jekyll Island is full of fantastical, otherworldly driftwood, which makes for quite the unique sunbathing background.

Striking sea stacks, golden sands, stunning Pacific sunsets and its proximity to Malibu make El Matador one of the stars of the SoCal beach scene.

Yes, Lake Tahoe is landlocked, but it also is home to several excellent beaches. At Sand Harbor, you'll find crystal clear water, soft brown sand and views of the surrounding mountains.

This beach on the friendly Hawaiian island of Molokai features over 3 miles of white sand and hardly ever a trace of crowds.

While you'll find several quality beaches around the Big Apple, Jones is special. Here, a six-mile stretch of sand is combined with one of the best outdoor concert venues in the country to create summer heaven.

Colorful cottages perched above the surf are the calling card of Nags Head, one of the Outer Banks' most beautiful sweeps of beach.

Folly may be the closest beach to Charleston, but it manages to retain its "edge of America" atmosphere. The sands are soft and the surf is perfect for fishing and riding waves.

Over 30 miles of light brown sands make South Padre Island the perfect place to leave it all behind. Besides suntan maintenance, kitesurfing is also a much-beloved pastime on this Lone Star beach.

One of the quintessential beach towns of Southern California, Manhattan Beach is world-famous for its beach volleyball scene.

Home to wheaten beaches, gentle waves and vibrant underwater life, Kapalua Bay is arguably the most impressive beach on the amazing island of Maui.