Best beach towns in the US
Summer vacation is mostly over across the U.S., with kids already headed back to school. So now is the perfect time to start planning next year's beach vacation.
Travelers were busy during summer 2023. On Memorial Day weekend, largely considered the unofficial start of summer, the Transportation Security Administration screened 9.8 million people, surpassing pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. Trips abroad spiked in popularity as people made up for time lost during pandemic-era travel restrictions.
However, as inflation made travel more expensive, budget-conscious travelers cut costs by driving to their destinations and staying stateside. During the Fourth of July, AAA projected 43.2 million people would travel by car, a new record.
Beach destinations are popular this year, according to a survey from vacation rental platform Vacasa, and outdoor recreation remains a top priority. Not only are beaches a great place to unwind and create family bonding moments, but they also boost people's mental health.
So what makes a good beach town? Access to a beach, of course, but also plenty of indoor and outdoor activities to keep kids entertained, warm weather, and a long beach season—the average number of days beaches are open for swimming. So perhaps it's not surprising that Hawaii and Florida cities dominate this list. But besides the Aloha and the Sunshine states, beachgoers can enjoy the sand and surf in places off the beaten path in Texas and on the Eastern Seaboard.
To be considered a beach town, each city needed at least one beach on the Environmental Protection Agency's National List of Beaches. The EPA list includes beaches that are only used recreationally and open to the public for free or for a fee; it has more than 6,000 beaches on the United States' Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts and on the Great Lakes identified by states and tribes in response to the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000. The act requires states to report water quality monitoring to an EPA database.
Stacker determined rankings by a number of factors, with the most weight given to the number of beaches within a quarter mile of a city or town and the total shoreline of those beaches. Weather patterns and the duration of each beach's swim season affect town scores. The ranking also takes into account the prevalence of beach-related businesses, unemployment rates, and median home prices.
The data was analyzed before the devastating wildfires in Hawaii, so the ranking includes Lahaina, which was obliterated by the blaze. Hawaii's governor estimates it will take years to rebuild the historic site.
Read on to get some vacation planning inspiration.
Correction
A previous version of this article contained multiple errors in data analysis that skewed the overall ranking of beach towns, including incorrectly identifying the number of beaches in some towns and mischaracterizing some municipalities as beach towns. The article has been updated to correct the errors.
#100. Vero Beach, Florida
- Number of beaches: 9
- Beach length: 7.13 miles
- Average swim season length: 162 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.4 degrees
- Median home price: $253,700
#99. Destin, Florida
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 15.26 miles
- Average swim season length: 146 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.2 degrees
- Median home price: $346,500
#98. Morehead City, North Carolina
- Number of beaches: 10
- Beach length: 3.01 miles
- Average swim season length: 214 days
- Average county summer temperature: 78.9 degrees
- Median home price: $308,900
#97. Atlantic Beach, North Carolina
- Number of beaches: 7
- Beach length: 8.73 miles
- Average swim season length: 214 days
- Average county summer temperature: 78.9 degrees
- Median home price: $461,500
#96. Laie, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 4.23 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $891,900
#95. New Smyrna Beach, Florida
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 21.05 miles
- Average swim season length: 243 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.6 degrees
- Median home price: $299,900
#94. Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina
- Number of beaches: 6
- Beach length: 8.06 miles
- Average swim season length: 214 days
- Average county summer temperature: 78.9 degrees
- Median home price: $465,600
#93. Kaunakakai, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 2.59 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $348,900
#92. Riviera Beach, Florida
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 3.82 miles
- Average swim season length: 122 days
- Average county summer temperature: 83.1 degrees
- Median home price: $240,300
#91. Deerfield Beach, Florida
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 4.74 miles
- Average swim season length: 243 days
- Average county summer temperature: 83.5 degrees
- Median home price: $245,500
#90. Wainiha, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 2.75 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $750,000
#89. Kahului, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 3.80 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $626,300
#88. Waialua, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 8.53 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $795,400
#87. St. Augustine Beach, Florida
- Number of beaches: 2
- Beach length: 15.29 miles
- Average swim season length: 244 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.7 degrees
- Median home price: $464,100
#86. Nanakuli, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 1.81 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $419,300
#85. Malibu, California
- Number of beaches: 11
- Beach length: 11.55 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 76.9 degrees
- Median home price: $2,000,001
#84. Orange Beach, Alabama
- Number of beaches: 7
- Beach length: 8.58 miles
- Average swim season length: 152 days
- Average county summer temperature: 81.7 degrees
- Median home price: $344,900
#83. Kalihiwai, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 4.41 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $1,250,000
#82. Marco Island, Florida
- Number of beaches: 6
- Beach length: 11.11 miles
- Average swim season length: 182 days
- Average county summer temperature: 83.0 degrees
- Median home price: $676,000
#81. Long Branch, New Jersey
- Number of beaches: 19
- Beach length: 5.65 miles
- Average swim season length: 105 days
- Average county summer temperature: 76.6 degrees
- Median home price: $380,100
#80. St. Augustine, Florida
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 17.87 miles
- Average swim season length: 244 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.7 degrees
- Median home price: $314,000
#79. Kaanapali, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 4.37 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $1,385,000
#78. Manasota Key, Florida
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 7.24 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.5 degrees
- Median home price: $746,200
#77. Pass Christian, Mississippi
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 6.75 miles
- Average swim season length: 213 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.3 degrees
- Median home price: $192,500
#76. Fort Walton Beach, Florida
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 6.65 miles
- Average swim season length: 244 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.2 degrees
- Median home price: $236,500
#75. Buxton, North Carolina
- Number of beaches: 2
- Beach length: 9.40 miles
- Average swim season length: 214 days
- Average county summer temperature: 78.9 degrees
- Median home price: $333,500
#74. Huntington Beach, California
- Number of beaches: 7
- Beach length: 25.88 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 74.0 degrees
- Median home price: $865,400
#73. Sargent, Texas
- Number of beaches: 1
- Beach length: 9.59 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 85.2 degrees
- Median home price: $215,700
#72. Pompano Beach, Florida
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 5.31 miles
- Average swim season length: 243 days
- Average county summer temperature: 83.5 degrees
- Median home price: $259,900
#71. Pupukea, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 9
- Beach length: 4.27 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $1,116,500
#70. Venice, Florida
- Number of beaches: 7
- Beach length: 6.48 miles
- Average swim season length: 312 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.4 degrees
- Median home price: $307,600
#69. Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 7.29 miles
- Average swim season length: 214 days
- Average county summer temperature: 78.9 degrees
- Median home price: $373,200
#68. Laurel, Florida
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 7.37 miles
- Average swim season length: 218 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.4 degrees
- Median home price: $389,600
#67. Tampa, Florida
- Number of beaches: 7
- Beach length: 8.14 miles
- Average swim season length: 208 days
- Average county summer temperature: 83.8 degrees
- Median home price: $292,900
#66. Paia, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 7
- Beach length: 1.59 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $670,500
#65. Salvo, North Carolina
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 8.09 miles
- Average swim season length: 214 days
- Average county summer temperature: 78.9 degrees
- Median home price: $325,900
#64. Sarasota, Florida
- Number of beaches: 8
- Beach length: 10.80 miles
- Average swim season length: 182 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.4 degrees
- Median home price: $272,200
#63. Jupiter Island, Florida
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 7.75 miles
- Average swim season length: 243 days
- Average county summer temperature: 83.5 degrees
- Median home price: $2,000,001
#62. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 12.64 miles
- Average swim season length: 153 days
- Average county summer temperature: 79.3 degrees
- Median home price: $298,900
#61. Hallandale Beach, Florida
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 2.81 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 83.5 degrees
- Median home price: $248,700
#60. Miramar Beach, Florida
- Number of beaches: 2
- Beach length: 10.15 miles
- Average swim season length: 244 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.0 degrees
- Median home price: $436,600
#59. Carolina Beach, North Carolina
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 5.13 miles
- Average swim season length: 214 days
- Average county summer temperature: 79.8 degrees
- Median home price: $409,400
#58. Norfolk, Virginia
- Number of beaches: 10
- Beach length: 7.37 miles
- Average swim season length: 136 days
- Average county summer temperature: 78.6 degrees
- Median home price: $227,100
#57. Kailua, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 6
- Beach length: 23.48 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $1,101,900
#56. Quintana, Texas
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 8.85 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 85.4 degrees
- Median home price: $250,300
#55. Biloxi, Mississippi
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 5.59 miles
- Average swim season length: 213 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.3 degrees
- Median home price: $180,800
#54. Portland, Texas
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 4.35 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 85.5 degrees
- Median home price: $190,600
#53. Wailea, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 13
- Beach length: 3.43 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $1,101,700
#52. Long Beach, Mississippi
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 9.13 miles
- Average swim season length: 213 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.3 degrees
- Median home price: $163,800
#51. Jacksonville, Florida
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 10.89 miles
- Average swim season length: 244 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.3 degrees
- Median home price: $215,700
#50. Makaha, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 6
- Beach length: 2.69 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $428,100
#49. Ormond-By-The-Sea, Florida
- Number of beaches: 2
- Beach length: 13.22 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.6 degrees
- Median home price: $261,400
#48. Lower Grand Lagoon, Florida
- Number of beaches: 2
- Beach length: 11.62 miles
- Average swim season length: 244 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.3 degrees
- Median home price: $272,600
#47. North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
- Number of beaches: 10
- Beach length: 13.38 miles
- Average swim season length: 214 days
- Average county summer temperature: 78.7 degrees
- Median home price: $384,700
#46. Kaneohe Base, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 22.03 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $722,500
#45. Waimea, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 4.16 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $470,000
#44. Avon, North Carolina
- Number of beaches: 2
- Beach length: 8.53 miles
- Average swim season length: 214 days
- Average county summer temperature: 78.9 degrees
- Median home price: $263,600
#43. Miami Beach, Florida
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 9.46 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 83.6 degrees
- Median home price: $449,200
#42. Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Number of beaches: 43
- Beach length: 4.30 miles
- Average swim season length: 107 days
- Average county summer temperature: 75.3 degrees
- Median home price: $136,900
#41. Beaufort, North Carolina
- Number of beaches: 7
- Beach length: 2.75 miles
- Average swim season length: 214 days
- Average county summer temperature: 78.9 degrees
- Median home price: $234,300
#40. Haena, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 3.88 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $892,900
#39. Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Number of beaches: 24
- Beach length: 33.49 miles
- Average swim season length: 144 days
- Average county summer temperature: 77.9 degrees
- Median home price: $294,100
#38. Lamar, Texas
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: .96 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 85.7 degrees
- Median home price: $173,500
#37. Princeville, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 6.52 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $778,400
#36. Waianae, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 3.88 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $433,500
#35. St. George Island, Florida
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 19.16 miles
- Average swim season length: 244 days
- Average county summer temperature: 81.6 degrees
- Median home price: $541,200
#34. Jekyll Island, Georgia
- Number of beaches: 8
- Beach length: 9.66 miles
- Average swim season length: 213 days
- Average county summer temperature: 81.8 degrees
- Median home price: $430,900
#33. Los Angeles, California
- Number of beaches: 9
- Beach length: 14.86 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 76.9 degrees
- Median home price: $711,900
#32. Hanalei, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 5.36 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $2,000,001
#31. Makena, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 7
- Beach length: 7.58 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $1,704,500
#30. Hilo, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 10
- Beach length: 3.80 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $370,100
#29. Port Aransas, Texas
- Number of beaches: 6
- Beach length: 12.17 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 86.1 degrees
- Median home price: $448,300
#28. Ocracoke, North Carolina
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 16.02 miles
- Average swim season length: 214 days
- Average county summer temperature: 78.7 degrees
- Median home price: $371,400
#27. Clearwater, Florida
- Number of beaches: 6
- Beach length: 6.83 miles
- Average swim season length: 182 days
- Average county summer temperature: 84.7 degrees
- Median home price: $248,100
#26. South Padre Island, Texas
- Number of beaches: 8
- Beach length: 9.75 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 86.3 degrees
- Median home price: $364,300
#25. Nags Head, North Carolina
- Number of beaches: 9
- Beach length: 13.93 miles
- Average swim season length: 214 days
- Average county summer temperature: 78.9 degrees
- Median home price: $336,900
#24. Maalaea, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 5.48 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $388,500
#23. East Honolulu, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 19
- Beach length: 16.11 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $976,900
#22. Lahaina, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 6
- Beach length: 6.27 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $741,100
#21. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Number of beaches: 7
- Beach length: 7.75 miles
- Average swim season length: 260 days
- Average county summer temperature: 83.5 degrees
- Median home price: $380,300
#20. Haleiwa, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 10
- Beach length: 14.12 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $902,700
#19. Surfside Beach, Texas
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 15.33 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 85.4 degrees
- Median home price: $198,300
#18. Oak Island, North Carolina
- Number of beaches: 14
- Beach length: 10.87 miles
- Average swim season length: 214 days
- Average county summer temperature: 79.3 degrees
- Median home price: $283,500
#17. San Diego, California
- Number of beaches: 28
- Beach length: 81.12 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 76.7 degrees
- Median home price: $666,100
#16. Emerald Isle, North Carolina
- Number of beaches: 10
- Beach length: 17.69 miles
- Average swim season length: 214 days
- Average county summer temperature: 78.9 degrees
- Median home price: $441,900
#15. Palacios, Texas
- Number of beaches: 6
- Beach length: 2.37 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 85.2 degrees
- Median home price: $161,800
#14. Napili-Honokowai, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 8
- Beach length: 5.56 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $696,300
#13. Hollywood, Florida
- Number of beaches: 8
- Beach length: 8.17 miles
- Average swim season length: 258 days
- Average county summer temperature: 83.5 degrees
- Median home price: $306,500
#12. Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 28
- Beach length: 18.48 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $734,200
#11. Gulfport, Mississippi
- Number of beaches: 6
- Beach length: 8.76 miles
- Average swim season length: 213 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.3 degrees
- Median home price: $140,700
#10. Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
- Number of beaches: 8
- Beach length: 7.76 miles
- Average swim season length: 214 days
- Average county summer temperature: 78.9 degrees
- Median home price: $271,200
#9. Kihei, Hawaii
- Number of beaches: 10
- Beach length: 8.36 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 80.9 degrees
- Median home price: $644,900
#8. Freeport, Texas
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 15.75 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 85.4 degrees
- Median home price: $143,600
#7. Daytona Beach, Florida
- Number of beaches: 6
- Beach length: 15.75 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 82.6 degrees
- Median home price: $194,200
#6. Texas City, Texas
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 8.85 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 85.4 degrees
- Median home price: $159,900
#5. Aransas Pass, Texas
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 5.50 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 86.1 degrees
- Median home price: $160,900
#4. Jamaica Beach, Texas
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 20.85 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 85.4 degrees
- Median home price: $280,400
#3. Bolivar Peninsula, Texas
- Number of beaches: 17
- Beach length: 27.21 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 85.4 degrees
- Median home price: $244,300
#2. Galveston, Texas
- Number of beaches: 17
- Beach length: 49.18 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 85.4 degrees
- Median home price: $250,800
#1. Corpus Christi, Texas
- Number of beaches: 40
- Beach length: 53.83 miles
- Average swim season length: 364 days
- Average county summer temperature: 86.6 degrees
- Median home price: $174,800
