Best Family Beaches in the USA
The United States is home to some of the best family-friendly beaches in the world, with soft sands, gentle waves, and plenty of activities for kids and parents alike. Having explored beaches across the country, I’ve found that certain spots stand out for their welcoming atmosphere, safe swimming areas, and nearby attractions that make family trips easy and fun.
I discovered lively boardwalks with games and treats, quiet coves perfect for young swimmers, and wide stretches of sand where families can spread out and relax over the last 30 years as a beach fan. From classic East Coast getaways to laid-back Gulf shores and stunning Pacific coastlines, the USA offers a beach for every kind of family adventure. Here are the ones I recommend, and I think you’ll enjoy them too.
1. Orange Beach, Alabama
Orange Beach is a laid-back Gulf Coast town and I think it's one of the most dazzling beach escapes in Alabama. Why? I love the sugar-white sand stretching for miles, turquoise waters, quiet back bays, and the protected dunes of Gulf State Park!
Just a short drive across the Perdido Pass Bridge brought me into the heart of Orange Beach, where I checked into Holiday Inn Express Orange Beach for two nights in June. The vibe was both relaxed, with that classic Southern coastal charm.
I spent my days pedaling along the 28 miles of Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail through maritime forests and wetlands, spotting herons and egrets among the reeds, lounging on wide-open beaches with endless horizon views, and cruising the calm bay waters at sunset where dolphins leapt alongside the boat.
- Location: Map & Directions
- Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail website
- Check prices at 3-star Holiday Inn Express Orange Beach
The evenings brought fresh Gulf seafood at harbor-side restaurants and live music drifting from beach bars, my personal highlight.
2. Coronado Municipal Beach, San Diego
When I visited Coronado Municipal Beach this month, I thought this sparkling Pacific coastline was one of the most glamorous beaches in California, with its wide golden sands shimmering with mica flecks, gentle surf, and the historic backdrop of the iconic Hotel del Coronado rising above the palm-lined boardwalk.
Just a quick drive across the soaring San Diego–Coronado Bridge delivered me to the island’s sun-drenched shores, where the atmosphere felt effortlessly elegant yet family-friendly. The blend of coastal chic and classic SoCal charm made it feel like a world apart from the bustle of downtown San Diego.
I spent my days strolling the vast sandy expanse, dipping into calm waves perfect for swimming and body-surfing, watching sandcastle artists craft towering masterpieces, and soaking up panoramic sunsets that painted the horizon in fiery hues. The nearby village offered boutique shops and fresh seafood eateries.
- Check prices at 4-star Hotel del Coronado
- Location: Map & Directions
3. East Beach, Santa Barbara
I thought this sun-kissed shoreline was one of the most quintessentially Californian beaches, with its golden sands stretching along the Pacific, palm trees swaying against the Santa Ynez Mountains backdrop, and a lively yet laid-back atmosphere that captured the essence of Santa Barbara’s coastal charm.
Just a short stroll from downtown and the Funk Zone’s trendy wine bars brought me to East Beach, where the beachy vibe felt both vibrant and easygoing. Locals gathered for morning volleyball games, cyclists cruised the oceanfront path, and families picnicked beneath the palms—everything framed by sparkling ocean views.
I spent my days renting a cruiser bike to explore Cabrillo Boulevard, basking on the wide sandy expanse, and watching surfers. The nearby Stearns Wharf has an old pier, seafood shacks, and salty sea breezes.
- Location: Map & Directions
4. Van Damme Beach, Mendocino Coast
I thought this secluded cove was one of the most enchanting spots on California’s rugged north coast, with its crescent of soft gray sand framed by rocky headlands, misty forests, and the ever-changing drama of Pacific waves rolling ashore.
Just a few minutes south of Mendocino village brought me into Van Damme State Park, where the cozy beach opened into a sheltered bay that felt both intimate and wild. The setting was quiet and restorative, with redwoods just inland and tide pools scattered along the rocky edges that completely won me over.
I spent my days beachcombing, wading into the calm shallows, and hiking the nearby Fern Canyon Trail. At sunset, the fog often drifted in, creating a mysterious and moody backdrop that felt pure Mendocino magic.
- Location: Map & Directions
- Van Damme State Park website
5. Santa Cruz Beach
I thought this lively stretch of sand was one of California’s most playful beaches, where the vibrant Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk meets the wide golden shoreline, creating a mix of nostalgic seaside fun and natural coastal beauty.
Just steps from downtown Santa Cruz, the beach opened to a classic scene of surfers carving waves beyond the pier, families spreading picnic blankets on the sand, and thrill-seekers queuing for the historic wooden Giant Dipper roller coaster.
6. Clearwater Beach
I thought this Gulf Coast gem was one of Florida’s most dazzling beaches, with its powdery white sand as soft as sugar, aquamarine waters, and a laid-back holiday vibe.
I spent my days basking on the wide, inviting sands, and wandering out to Pier 60 where street performers and artisans brought the evenings to life. Each sunset became a celebration, with fiery skies reflecting on the turquoise sea and the pier buzzing with music, laughter, and families gathering to watch day melt into night.
- Location: Map & Directions
7. St. Pete Beach
Just a short drive from downtown St. Petersburg brought me to this breezy barrier island, where the vibe was casual yet polished. The pastel-colored motels, open-air tiki bars, and the iconic pink Don CeSar Hotel rising like a seaside palace gave the beach both nostalgic character and timeless elegance.
I spent my days lounging on wide sandy stretches, paddleboarding in the gentle Gulf waves, and walking the shoreline until the sand turned golden in the late afternoon light. Evenings brought live music drifting from beachside bars, fresh-caught grouper sandwiches, and that nightly Gulf Coast ritual—gathering at the water’s edge to watch the sun slip away in brilliant color.
- Location: Map & Directions
8. Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Florida
Just across the bridge from Sarasota, Siesta Beach unfolded with wide, inviting stretches of sand where families, sunseekers, and volleyball players all found their place. The vibe was equal parts laid-back and lively, with the charming Siesta Village nearby adding a dose of island character with its beachy cafés and tiki bars.
- Location: Map & Directions
9. Sea Camp Beach, Cumberland Island, Georgia
After arriving by ferry from the mainland, a short walk through moss-draped live oaks and palmetto groves brought me to Sea Camp Beach, where the Atlantic opened wide before me. With no cars, shops, or crowds, it felt like stepping back into another world—one where wild horses grazed in the dunes and ghost crabs darted across the sand.
- Location: Map & Directions
10. Kapalua Beach, Maui
I thought this crescent-shaped bay was one of the most serene and beautiful beaches in Hawai‘i, with its golden sands curving between lava rock outcroppings, swaying palms, and the crystal-clear waters of the Pacific shimmering in shades of turquoise and cobalt. The calm, sheltered setting made it feel like a natural sanctuary tucked away on Maui’s northwest coast.
I spent my days snorkeling among coral reefs teeming with tropical fish and sea turtles, lounging under palms with the trade winds rustling above, and paddling along the calm waters where the bay met the open sea. In the evenings, I strolled the Kapalua Coastal Trail, watching the sun melt into the Pacific as the sky turned lavender and rose.
- Location: Map & Directions
11. Hapuna Beach, Hawaii
Just off the Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway, Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area offered easy access yet still felt untamed, with rugged lava fields giving way to one of the most perfect swimming beaches I’d ever seen. The atmosphere shifted throughout the day—calm mornings ideal for snorkeling, afternoons alive with boogie boarders riding the shore break, and evenings touched with breathtaking island sunsets.
12. Coast Guard Beach, MA
Just outside the town of Eastham, Coast Guard Beach sits within the Cape Cod National Seashore, reached by a shuttle from the Salt Pond Visitor Center in summer. The historic Coast Guard Station overlooking the bluff set the scene with a touch of maritime history, while the panoramic views of dunes and sea made it easy to understand why Henry David Thoreau once called this “the Great Beach.”
- Location: Map & Directions
- Coast Guard Beach website
13. Ocean City Beach, MD
Just a drive over the Route 50 bridge brought me into Ocean City Beach, where the beach stretched for 10 miles alongside a city alive with shops, arcades, and seafood spots. The vibe was vibrant and family-friendly, with kite flyers, volleyball players, and surfers all sharing the sand and waves under the wide open sky.
- Location: Map & Directions
- Ocean City Beach website
14. South Ocean Beach
I thought this wild Atlantic shoreline was one of the most untamed beaches on the East Coast, where rolling dunes met the surf and herds of wild ponies wandered freely across the sand. The blend of rugged natural beauty and the sight of these iconic horses made South Ocean Beach feel like a living postcard of coastal wilderness.
Just a short drive from Ocean City brought me over the Verrazano Bridge and into Assateague Island National Seashore, where the beach stretched endlessly in both directions, protected from development. The vibe was raw and elemental—wind in the dunes, waves pounding the shore, and ponies grazing among the sea oats as if time stood still.
- Location: Map & Directions
- South Ocean Beach website
15. Martha’s Vineyard, MA
I thought this storied island was one of New England’s most enchanting coastal escapes, with its rolling dunes, sweeping sandy beaches, weathered lighthouses, and a timeless blend of small-town charm and seaside elegance. Each corner of the island seemed to hold a different personality—wild, windswept shores in one direction and calm, family-friendly coves in another.
Arriving by ferry across Vineyard Sound, the island felt like a step into another world, with shingled cottages, winding country roads, and salt air carried on ocean breezes. From the bustling harbor of Oak Bluffs with its colorful gingerbread cottages to the serene stretches of Aquinnah Cliffs, the Vineyard offered both vibrancy and solitude in equal measure.
- Location: Map & Directions
16. Nags Head Beach
Just south of Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head Beach stretched wide and welcoming, dotted with weathered piers, historic cottages, and the towering Jockey’s Ridge State Park—the largest natural sand dune system on the East Coast. The vibe was easygoing and unhurried, the kind of place where fishing poles, kites, and beach chairs defined the day.
- Location: Map & Directions
- Nags Head Beach website
17. The Cove Beach, Cape May
Just at the southern tip of New Jersey, The Cove sat at the very end of Cape May’s promenade, where the Atlantic met the Delaware Bay. The vibe was quieter than the busier boardwalk beaches, a place where couples strolled hand in hand at sunset, families picnicked by the dunes, and birdwatchers gathered to see seasonal migrations.
- Location: Map & Directions
18. Cooper's Beach, Long Island
Just outside the charming village of Southampton, Cooper's Beach has wide, pristine sands and gentle surf. The vibe felt upscale yet relaxed—families setting up umbrellas for the day, couples strolling along the waterline, and locals arriving with beach chairs in tow. Lifeguard stands dotted the shore, adding that classic East Coast seaside look.
- Location: Map & Directions
- Cooper's Beach website
19. Islanders Beach, Hilton Head
Just off William Hilton Parkway, Islanders Beach offered a quieter alternative to the island’s busier resorts. The vibe was laid-back and community-oriented—families gathering under picnic shelters, cyclists parking at the nearby paths, and children playing where the tide gently rolled in.
- Location: Map & Directions
- Islanders Beach website
20. Kiawah Beachwalker Park
Just about 25 miles southwest of Charleston, Kiawah Beachwalker Park offered public access to a barrier island otherwise known for its private communities and world-class golf courses. The vibe was tranquil and nature-rich—families setting up for the day, birdwatchers with binoculars, and kayakers paddling through the backwater creeks.
21. Malaquite Beach, Padre Island National Seashore
Just southeast of Corpus Christi, Malaquite Beach is the main visitor area of Padre Island National Seashore, the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world. The vibe here was peaceful and natural—families setting up by the visitor center boardwalk, birdwatchers scanning the skies, and campers finding quiet spots along the endless shore.
- Location: Map & Directions
- Malaquite Beach website
22. Kalaloch and Ruby Beach
Just off Highway 101 along Olympic National Park’s western edge, Kalaloch offered easy access with a lodge perched above the bluffs, while Ruby Beach—just a few miles north—felt more remote and otherworldly. The vibe was raw and elemental: pounding surf, towering Sitka spruce and Douglas fir forests meeting the ocean, and tidepools alive with starfish and anemones.
- Location: Map & Directions
- Kalaloch website
Conclusion
From the windswept Atlantic shores to the sunny Gulf Coast, the golden Pacific beaches, and the tropical havens of Hawai‘i, each of these destinations offers its own unique charm to families. Whether you’re seeking solitude, adventure, or simply a place to watch the sun sink into the horizon, America’s diverse coastlines promise unforgettable experiences by the sea.
Booking Checklist
1. Book Your Flight - I use Expedia because I like their mobile app with my itinerary. They've helped me re-book flights on many occasions. Once you reach their Gold tier, support is especially good.
2. Book Your Hotel - I use Booking.com or Expedia, depending on my destination.
3. Book Your Rental Car - I use Expedia.
4. Book your tours on Viator or Get Your Guide.
5. If you are planning to visit more than three national parks in the next 12 months, buy the America the Beautiful Pass.
