An entrance to Cooper's Beach in Southampton, New York—which was named the best beach in the U.S. in a new report. What are the best beaches in the U.S.? Just in time for the kickoff to summer—Memorial Day Weekend—Stephen Leatherman, a.k.a. Dr. Beach, has released his annual list of the
top 10 beaches in America . Leatherman, a professor in the department of Earth & Environment at Florida International University, has been ranking America’s best beaches since 1991. He got his nickname when he was teaching a course on waves and beaches at the University of Maryland, where his students started calling him “Dr. Beach.” Each year, Leatherman evaluates beaches across the country using
50 criteria , including sand softness, water quality, safety, amenities, environmental management and more. “I give extra credit to beaches that have no smoking policies,” Leatherman told me in an interview.
The Best Beach In The U.S.
This year’s winner is Coopers Beach in Southampton, New York. What makes this spot at the east end of Long Island the top beach in America? “It’s got clean air out there. It’s got clean water. It’s safe. It just seems like another world—it’s such a dreamy place,” says Leatherman. Another factor that helped Coopers Beach grab the top spot: “It is warm enough to swim in the summer, particularly starting July because it's shielded from the Labrador current,” says Leatherman. “Another thing I like about the Hamptons in summertime—it doesn’t get so bloody hot.” But don’t count on seeing Coopers Beach on the list next year. Each year, Leatherman retires the winning beach and adds it to a hall of fame list to make room for new beaches. Past winners include Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Oahu, Hawaii (which won in
2024 ), St. George Island State Park in the Florida Panhandle (the
2023 winner), Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach in the Outer Banks of North Carolina (
2022 ) and Hawaii’s Hapuna Beach State Park (
2021 ). Florida's St. Andrews State Park, a newcomer to the best beaches list.
Best Beaches: What’s In, What’s Out
While some of the beaches on this year’s list have appeared in past reports, Leatherman has stringent standards and doesn’t let a beach rest on its laurels. Three beaches from last year’s list were dropped due to erosion and environmental issues, including Coronado Beach in California (which is suffering from pollution from the Tijuana River), Caladesi Island in Florida (which had storm damage), and Lighthouse Beach in North Carolina (where erosion has uncovered hazardous infrastructure). In their place are three new entries—each offering something different, from secluded wildlife-rich shores to postcard-perfect tropical escapes. And while they’re newcomers to the top 10, Leatherman says all three have long been contenders in his broader rankings. The three new entries are St. Andrews State Park in Florida, Hawaii’s Kaunaoa Beach and Lanikai Beach on Oahu. So what are the best beaches in America? Read on for Dr. Beach’s picks, from New York to Hawaii to Florida. A view of Coopers Beach in Southampton, New York with mansions in the distance.
1. Coopers Beach - Southampton, New York
Why it made the list: “It's a big white beach—hundreds of yards wide—and backed by large sand dunes covered by American beach grass interspersed with extravagant mansions,” says Leatherman.
A tip: “Parking is expensive so the best deal is the ‘Hamptons Free Ride,’” says Leatherman. Another way to get there: “I ride on my bike,” he says. Wailea Beach on the south shore of Maui, Hawaii.
2. Wailea Beach - Maui, Hawaii
Why it made the list: “Wailea actually is five beaches—pocket beaches. You’ve got all this beautiful tropical vegetation and flowers and everything,” says Leatherman. “People often rate Maui as the most wonderful vacation island in the world. And it’s true—I can’t think of a single thing negative about Wailea beaches.”
A tip: The Wailea beaches are public, and though there are hotels lining the beaches, don’t be afraid to park. “They have to allow you to park there,” says Leatherman. “If somebody doesn’t know the rules and tries to stop you, you have the rights to park at that beach.” Poipu Beach on Kauai.
3. Poipu Beach - Kauai, Hawaii
Why it made the list: “Poipu is on the dry side of the island. It is what’s called a ‘tombolo’—it traps the sand but also makes a place where you don’t get big waves,” says Leatherman. “So if you got children, you’ve got a nice place where it’s protected.”
A tip: “It’s got something for everybody. Just depends on what you want. You want big waves and surfing? You want no waves? You want moderate size waves? You,” says Leatherman. “I think it’s pretty unique.” Boardwalk across the white sand beach of Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples, Florida.
4. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park - Naples, Florida
Why it made the list: “This beach is crystal quartz sand, so it’s even whiter than coral sand. It’s a very big beach and there’s plenty of room for everybody,” says Leatherman. “You also find a good number of seashells there, plus great warm water. But don’t bring your surfboard. There’s no surf there—it’s perfect for swimming.”
A tip: “Shuffle your feet in the water to make sure there’s no stingrays out there. It’ll scare them away,” says Leatherman. The deck of the public pavilion at Main Beach in East Hampton, Long Island.
5. Main Beach - East Hampton, New York
Why it made the list: “The sand is a little more grainy than Coopers Beach, but it’s still a great beach,” says Leatherman. “It feels wild and natural in some ways, yet it’s got facilities and a place to get food and drinks.”
A tip: “Main Beach is a great place for star-spotting—many actors and actresses frequently visit this beach,” says Leatherman. Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
6. Beachwalker Park - Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Why it made the list: “This island south of Charleston has become a new Gold Coast. A lot of it is private, but the south end, before you get to the gate, is a really large public beach. You’ve got good parking, trees, shade and everything. This is also where I've seen the most birds of my life.”
A tip: “I would suggest you bring a bicycle because the sand is so fine you can ride a regular bicycle the whole 10 miles.” Walking at sunset along the pristine shore of St. Andrew State Park in Panama City Beach, Florida.
7. St. Andrews State Park - Panama City, Florida
Why it made the list: “I like to take the ferry across the inlet to Shell Island. You’re going to find lots of shells, lots of birds and beautiful water. You feel like you’ve really gotten away from it all,” says Leatherman. “St. Andrews also has camping if you want to stay overnight.”
A tip: “If you want, you can go on the bay side. The water’s not as clear there, but there’s good fishing and shelling and birding. And they’ve got lots of trails.” Kaunaoa beach on the island of Hawaii.
8. Kaunaoa - The Island Of Hawaii
Why it made the list: “This island has active volcanoes, but they're not active in this area. Kaunaoa is a beautiful little pocket beach—about a thousand feet wide. It’s peaceful and has beautiful tropical vegetation,” says Leatherman. “It’s an oasis.”
A tip: “You have to pay for parking, so some people take Uber or Lyft to get there,” says Leatherman. A view of the twin islands of Na Mokulua from Hawaii's Lanikai Beach.
9. Lanikai Beach - Oahu, Hawaii
Why it made the list: “This is a little getaway beach that’s tranquil and has very shallow water, so it’s very safe,” says Leatherman. “You don’t have any restaurants, you don’t have any hotels, you don’t have any bathrooms, but it couldn’t be any better from a scenery point of view, and the water quality is amazing.”
A tip: “There’s not good parking here. It’s a neighborhood beach, basically. You can park on the streets, if there’s room, but what I usually do is I park in Kailua and walk,” says Leatherman. A sandy path leading to Coast Guard Beach on Cape Cod.
10. Coast Guard Beach - Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Why it made the list: “This is where the high cliffs meet the barrier beaches. It’s named after the famous former Coast Guard station—a big white station that sits up on the hill,” says Leatherman. “It’s an idyllic spot.”
A tip: “They’ve got a free shuttle that takes you there. Or what I like to do is park at the Salt Pond Visitor Center and take a trail down to the beach with a bicycle.”
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