The 13 Best Beaches on the East Coast: Explore Maine to Miami

If the perfect vacation is any time you head to the coast, set up an umbrella, spread out your favorite blanket and dig your toes into the sand, you’re probably already dreaming of the next time you have a few days off. Or if taking a dip in the ocean, going fishing or taking part in your favorite watersports is an itch you can never seem to fully scratch, make sure you keep the best beaches on the East Coast at the top of your list for future outings.

We’ve put together this guide of some of the best beaches in the U.S. to help you find the right place for your next vacation, no matter what you like to do or who you’re traveling with. From hidden gems where you can soak up the rays to the beaches with the potential to catch the best waves and fish, we know you’ll love these seaside locations.  

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Sand Beach is a part of Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor, one of the best beach towns in the U.S. It’s a relatively small beach located inside a cove and surrounded by cliffs and evergreen trees. The cozy vibe is perfect if you want a quiet day on the beach where you can relax and enjoy the sound of the waves coming in. It’s also a great choice if you want to go to a beach that isn’t teeming with visitors, making it perfect if you have small kids who do better in calm environments. 

If you and your family love spending time at the beach enjoying peace and quiet, Sand Beach is ideal for having a picnic, making sandcastles or catching up on reading. If you want to break up the relaxing with some fun outdoor activities, a network of trails in the area gives you the chance to hike. The Ocean Path, a beautiful trail, connects Sand Beach to Thunder Hole — a scenic spot where wind rushing into the inlet comes rushing out with a thundering sound. 

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Located less than half an hour from Portland, Old Orchard Beach is one of the best Maine beaches if you want to share the charm of an old-school beach vacation with your family or your special someone. Complete with a boardwalk, the beach offers swimming, paddleboarding and other outdoor activities along with an amusement park and great food on the boardwalk.

The laid-back atmosphere is sure to melt away your stress while also providing you with enough to do, so no one will get bored. Old Orchard Beach ensures there is always a fun event going on during the summer, including concerts, beach Olympics and car shows.

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At Hampton Beach, you and your family can enjoy over a mile of beautiful beach and a fun boardwalk with everything from tasty food to skee-ball and mini-golf. If you love the water, there is great deep-sea fishing, or you can even go surfing at the world-famous Wall (technically located at North Beach, but it’s close enough if you’re always searching for great waves). If you’re looking for a great venue to catch a concert from one of your favorite touring musicians or bands, head to the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom. 

The area is known for its free events, and the accommodations and food are affordable, making it a great vacation destination that won’t break the bank.

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When you visit the Cape Cod National Seashore, you’ll have 40 miles of beach to explore. Thanks to the variety of beaches, Cape Cod is one of the best family beach vacations in the country. Coast Guard, Mayflower and Nauset are a few of the most popular beaches in the area, because they have great swimming and lots of room. If you’re traveling with your family, check out Skaket Beach for calm waters and great low-tide exploring. The area is also a hotspot for fishing, so you might want to consider chartering a boat if you want a real adventure. 

Walking and biking trails are plentiful, which is perfect if you and your family want to do more than just soak up the sun. The National Seashore is also home to lighthouses, cranberry bogs and plenty of beautiful wildlife that you can spot from land or the water. 

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Located on Long Island, Cooper’s Beach is one of the beaches closest to New York City, making it a popular destination for anyone who wants to get out of the city and onto a beach quickly. Cooper’s Beach has everything you need to make the most of your time in the sun, including a bathhouse, umbrella and chair rentals and concessions. It’s a great spot for windsurfing, kayaking and surfing. 

If you want to explore the surrounding area, you’ll find gorgeous old mansions and cultural institutions like the Southampton Cultural Center and the Parrish Art Museum. You can also play a round of golf in the area or take a bike tour.  

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Cape May is one of the best East Coast beach towns because it brings together so many activities that every member of your family will find something to love. If you want to spend your time on a great beach where you can swim in warm waters, Cape May has it. If you want to see historical lighthouses, head to Cape May Point. If your kids have always wanted to see whales or dolphins, tour boats are ready to hit the water. For a romantic moment, make sure you catch the sunset at Sunset Beach — you won’t regret it.

Summertime in Cape May also means catching great music at the Summer Concert Series, seeing live theater or strolling along the Washington Street Mall for some cozy vibes and shopping. 

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The wide, sandy Bethany Beach has everything you could hope for in a summertime beach vacation. There’s plenty of room to claim a spot on the beach to work on your tan, the water is comfortable for swimming, paddleboarding and kayaking, and the boardwalk has live music, shopping and lots of great food. 

Just off the beach, you’ll find bike trails that lead you to some of the area’s most scenic spots, walking trails like the Prickly Pear Trail with open meadows and forests and two nearby state parks, Fenwick Island State Park, Delaware Seashore State Park.

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Ocean City is a true gem of East Coast beaches. With more than 10 miles of clean beach and a three-mile boardwalk, it is a quintessentially East Coast summer vacation destination for anyone who wants to rest and relax near the water. If you love the water, you can rent a kayak or take a tour boat to the nearby barrier island, Assateague Island, to see wild horses roaming the sandy beaches or set up camp for a few days. 

For families who want to take a fun stroll, the boardwalk has everything from shops to restaurants to Trimper’s Rides, an amusement park at the southern end of the boardwalk. On Sunday evenings, grab a bite to eat and then catch a concert and fireworks display at Northside Park. 

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Corolla Beach is one of the best East Coast beaches for couples who love quiet beaches and unique natural areas. Take a guided tour to see the wild horses of the Outer Banks and set up a picnic on the beach (24 miles of it to choose from) where you can watch the waves roll in with your significant other. 

The nearby towns are full of historic sites perfect for history and architecture buffs, and there are also great seafood restaurants spread across the area that will make any meal special, whether you’re with one person or your entire family. 

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Named for the incredible ancient driftwood monuments that have formed along the waterfront of this barrier island, Driftwood Beach isn’t one of those beaches where you spend a lot of time lying in the sun (go to Ocean View Beach or Great Dunes Beach). Instead, the stunning visuals of the driftwood are just one of the sights you should see while you’re on Jekyll Island, especially if you love taking pictures of unique places.

If your family loves nature, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center has programs where you can get up close and personal with sea turtles. There’s also golf and a water park on the island, plus great camping.   

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In Florida, East Coast beaches take on a new level of beauty and fun. At Fernandina Beach, on Amelia Island, you can dig your toes into pristine white sand and watch the crystal clear water. The island also has marshland for kayaking and other outdoor activities; you can take a river cruise to see more of the island (or a Twilight Tour if you want to have some drinks out on the water). 

For history buffs, Fort Clinch State Park lets you see what a centuries-old fort looks like, or you can take a historic tour of the rest of the island. If you’re looking for beautiful or high-end places to stay, there are many impressive hotels on Florida’s East Coast to check out, including great options on Amelia Island. 

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If you want an affordable beach vacation that doesn’t skimp on the fun, put St. Augustine at the top of your list. For anyone who loves the water, you’ll really be spoiled when you visit. There’s fishing, surfing, paddle boarding and sailing, along with beach biking and opportunities to swim with dolphins. Seasonal festivals like the Blue Crab Festival combine the freshest seafood with live music and activities.

Along with St. Augustine’s historic pedigree (it’s the oldest city in the United States), family-friendly attractions like the interactive exhibits and reenactors in the Colonial Quarter, ghost tours and the St. Augustine Shipwreck Museum will keep everyone smiling. 

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South Beach is one of those East Coast Beaches that everyone should experience at least once. It’s big, busy and boisterous. From the storied Art Deco architecture that comes to life at night to the ReefLine, an underwater sculpture park and artificial reef, there’s a lot to do for almost every kind of beach fanatic. 

While Miami’s infamous nightlife might be one of the biggest draws to the area, there are plenty of things to do if you visit with your family, including the boardwalk that stretches from Surfside to South Pointe Park, the beautiful beach and comfortable water and parks like Lummus Park and South Pointe Park.

Now that you know what the best beaches on the East Coast have to offer, it’s time to start planning your next vacation. Not sure where to start? AAA Travel is here to help. Our travel experts can help you make the most of your next trip by offering advice on where to stay and what to do while you’re at the beach. 

And if you’re a AAA member, you can save on rental cars, lodging and much more. So whether you’re looking for a fast, affordable vacation or a long, luxurious getaway, let AAA help.

Do you have more questions about these or other East Coast beaches? AAA has the answers.

While everyone has different tastes (and who can argue that all beaches aren’t beautiful in their own way), here are a few beaches that are known for their beauty, whether it’s because they’re the perfect place to watch a sunrise, the water sparkles a little more brilliantly or the surrounding scenery makes it special and unique:

No, there are not boardwalks at all East Coast beaches. If you want beaches with boardwalks, check out:

The water temperature is the biggest difference between East and West Coast beaches. The waters of the Atlantic are generally warmer than the Pacific thanks to the Gulf Stream. The East Coast, especially during the summer, is going to be warm and humid, while the West Coast is hot but dry. While California has some large beaches, there are more large beaches on the East Coast.