Ask someone to picture America’s best beach and they’ll probably conjure up resorts, boardwalks, and a row of beach bars. But are those really the shorelines worth traveling for, or do the most memorable beaches lie somewhere quieter?
As part of its new Most Relaxed States Index, crypto casino SlotsLV set out to answer that by finding where travelers can discover the most beautiful and best-reviewed natural beaches across the U.S.
Drawing on the study’s ten states with the most natural beaches, one standout beach from each has been picked out based on TripAdvisor reviews. So do these make the cut as America’s top beaches?
Here’s the case for each.
The states with the highest number of natural beaches are
| Rank | State | Number of natural beaches | Best Natural Beach | Tripadvisor Rating |
| 1 | Massachusetts | 2,342 | Coast Guard Beach | 4.7 out of 5 from 650 reviews |
| 2 | Florida | 1,880 | Playalinda Beach | 4.5 out of 5 from 376 reviews |
| 3 | New York | 1,605 | Cooper’s Beach | 4.6 out of 5 from 361 reviews |
| 4 | California | 1,536 | Limantour Beach | 4.6 out of 5 from 131 reviews |
| 5 | Michigan | 1,241 | Oval Beach | 4.5 out of 5 from 1,119 reviews |
| 6 | Washington | 1,104 | Shi Shi Beach | 4.5 out of 5 from 123 reviews |
| 7 | Maine | 885 | Sand Beach | 4.5 out of 5 from 947 reviews |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 737 | Schoolhouse Beach | 4.6 out of 5 from 458 reviews |
| 9 | Ohio | 650 | Headlands Beach | 4.2 out of 5 from 408 reviews |
| 10 | Minnesota | 510 | Iona’s Beach | 4.6 out of 5 from 87 reviews |
1. Massachusetts: Coast Guard Beach
TripAdvisor rating: 4.7 out of 5 from 650 reviews
Massachusetts leads the way with a huge 2,342 natural beaches, and Cape Cod holds some of the state’s most striking stretches of shoreline. With the highest rating on this list, Coast Guard Beach has a real claim to the top spot.
From the beach at Eastham, more than 20 miles of sand run north, framed by dunes, beach grass, and open coastal scenery.
Coast Guard Beach is located at 2 Ocean View Drive, Eastham, MA 02642.
TripAdvisor reviews include: “Stunning beach that’s part of the National Seashore. We went off season, so there was no admission fee, and we were the only people on the beach that afternoon.”
2. Florida: Playalinda Beach
TripAdvisor rating: 4.5 out of 5 from 376 reviews
Florida comes in second with 1,880 natural beaches. Though the state tends to bring busy resort towns to mind, Playalinda Beach makes the argument that its quieter, less developed coastline is the side worth seeking out.
Sitting in Brevard County on the Space Coast, Playalinda forms part of Canaveral National Seashore, a protected barrier-island landscape of dunes, lagoons, coastal plants, and wildlife habitat.
Playalinda Beach is located at Beach Lane, Titusville, FL 32780.
TripAdvisor reviews include: “This was my first experience at a natural beach and it was amazing. Just you and nature.”
3. New York: Cooper’s Beach
TripAdvisor rating: 4.6 out of 5 from 361 reviews
New York takes third place with 1,605 natural beaches. The state is more often tied to skyscrapers and crowded city streets, so does a beach belong on its list of highlights? Long Island’s South Fork suggests it does, with broad Atlantic beaches shaped by waves, wind, and shifting coastal sand.
Cooper’s Beach pairs classic coastal scenery with handy visitor facilities, including lifeguards, restrooms, showers, and concessions. Its wide shoreline is backed by large dunes covered in beach grass, with views out across the Atlantic Ocean.
Cooper’s Beach is located at 268 Meadow Lane, Southampton, NY 11968.
TripAdvisor reviews include: “This is a very clean beach and is very relaxing. The water feels really good to swim through and would say is pretty quiet. Great for family or even a group of friends.”
4. California: Limantour Beach
TripAdvisor rating: 4.6 out of 5 from 131 reviews
California ranks fourth with 1,536 natural beaches.
With hundreds of miles of Pacific coastline to choose from, the state offers everything from lively urban beaches to quiet coves. Limantour Beach earns its place with a blend of wild scenery and easy access that’s hard to beat.
Limantour Beach is located on Limantour Spit, Inverness Park, CA, about a 20-minute drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center near Point Reyes Station.
TripAdvisor reviews include: “Had the beach entirely to ourselves. Great place to get in the fresh air and disconnect.”
5. Michigan: Oval Beach
TripAdvisor rating: 4.5 out of 5 from 1,119 reviews
Michigan claims fifth place with 1,241 natural beaches. And with more reviews than anywhere else on this list, Oval Beach has plenty of visitors ready to vouch for it.
Oval Beach sits in Saugatuck on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. It sits among tall sand dunes, close to the point where the winding Kalamazoo River meets the lake.
Its broad sandy shoreline leaves plenty of room for swimming, walking, and watching the sunset over Lake Michigan. TripAdvisor reviewers regularly praise the soft sand, wide beach, clean surroundings, and shallow water, with families especially appreciating the space, facilities, and easy access.
Oval Beach is located on 690 Perryman St, Saugatuck, MI 49453.
TripAdvisor reviews include: “At sublime sunset I recommend. Only one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and by far.”
6. Washington: Shi Shi Beach
TripAdvisor rating: 4.5 out of 5 from 123 reviews
Washington sits sixth with 1,104 natural beaches. Whether Shi Shi Beach counts as one of America’s best may come down to how you feel about the effort required to reach it.
Shi Shi Beach combines forested headlands, tide pools, driftwood, and offshore sea stacks. It is one of Olympic National Park’s most memorable stretches of coast.
Getting to Shi Shi Beach means a hike. The trail starts on the Makah Reservation near Neah Bay, winds through coastal forest, and then drops down toward the beach.
A Makah Recreation Pass is required before using the trailhead. For an overnight stay, you will need an Olympic National Park wilderness permit, approved animal-resistant food storage, and a clear understanding of tide conditions.
Shi Shi Beach is located on Shi Shi Beach Rd, Waatch, WA.
TripAdvisor reviews include: “Both the trail and the beach are glorious! It is a great beach for walking with plenty of driftwood logs to sit for a bit.”
7. Maine: Sand Beach
TripAdvisor rating: 4.5 out of 5 from 947 reviews
Maine ranks seventh with 885 natural beaches. In a state best known for its rocky coastline, Sand Beach feels especially distinctive, which is exactly what earns it a spot in the conversation.
Tucked between forested cliffs on Mount Desert Island, it is the largest natural sandy beach in Acadia National Park.
Sand Beach is located on Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island, near Bar Harbor, ME 04609.
TripAdvisor reviews include: “A beautiful beach nestled between rocky promontories on the scenic Acadia coastline.”
8. Wisconsin: Schoolhouse Beach
TripAdvisor rating: 4.6 out of 5 from 458 reviews
Wisconsin takes eighth place with 737 natural beaches. Can a beach without sand still rank among the country’s best? Schoolhouse Beach makes a strong case.
Schoolhouse Beach lies on Washington Island in Door County. Rather than sand, its shoreline is made up of white limestone stones, one of Wisconsin’s most distinctive natural beach landscapes.
The clear water, wooded surroundings, and picnic area make it a popular spot for swimming or simply taking in the views across the lake.
Schoolhouse Beach is located on 1824 Washington Harbor Rd, Washington, WI 54246.
TripAdvisor reviews include: “Schoolhouse Beach is one of the most beautiful spots in this country. It is very unique with the beach made up of limestone stones.”
9. Ohio: Headlands Beach
TripAdvisor rating: 4.2 out of 5 from 408 reviews
Ohio comes in ninth with 650 natural beaches. With the lowest rating on this list, Headlands Beach is perhaps the one whose place is most open to debate.
Headlands Beach is the largest natural sand beach in Ohio, running roughly a mile long and covering 120 acres.
The state park also borders Headlands Dune State Nature Preserve, where walking trails cross a rare protected stretch of Lake Erie dunes.
Headlands Beach is located on 9601 Headlands Rd, Mentor, OH 44060.
TripAdvisor reviews include: “This state park is well kept with great trails for walking. It is clean and beautiful. Definitely worth a visit.”
10. Minnesota: Iona’s Beach
TripAdvisor rating: 4.6 out of 5 from 87 reviews
Minnesota rounds out the top 10 with 510 natural beaches. It may sit last on the list, but a beach that “sings” is a hard one to leave off.
Iona’s Beach is unlike most beaches on this list, with a shoreline made largely of pink rhyolite cobblestones. Iona’s Beach even reportedly “sings” when waves wash over the stones.
Swimming is permitted here, but there is no lifeguard, so extra care is important.
Iona’s Beach is located on 3534 Highway 61, Silver Creek, MN
TripAdvisor reviews include: “Our whole family enjoyed stopping at this unique beach! Great for skipping rocks. Definitely recommend stopping here on a drive up the MN north shore.”
So, are these America’s top beaches?
Every beach here earns its place through the numbers, from Massachusetts’ chart-topping 4.7 rating to the sheer weight of reviews behind Oval Beach. Whether they’re truly the best U.S travel destinations or simply its most quietly rewarding is a question worth settling with your own toes in the sand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a natural beach?
A natural beach is a shoreline shaped by wind, waves, and sediment rather than by development, so no boardwalks, seawalls, or resort frontage. Most of the beaches on this list sit inside national seashores, national parks, state parks, or nature preserves, which is what keeps them in that state.
Do these beaches charge an entrance fee?
Several sit inside protected areas where park fees apply. Sand Beach requires an Acadia National Park entrance pass, Playalinda Beach is part of Canaveral National Seashore, which charges a per-vehicle fee, and Coast Guard Beach charges for beach access in summer but is free off season. Beaches like Iona’s and Schoolhouse are free to visit.
When is the best time to visit these beaches?
Shoulder season, from May to early June and September to October, offers the emptiest sand. Reviewers who describe having a beach entirely to themselves almost always visited outside peak summer. At popular park beaches such as Sand Beach, summer parking lots regularly fill before 9am, so arrive early or use shuttle services where available.
Is it safe to swim at natural beaches?
It depends on the beach. Cooper’s Beach and Sand Beach have seasonal lifeguards, while Iona’s Beach, Shi Shi Beach, and Limantour Beach do not. Water temperatures also run cold at several of them; the ocean at Sand Beach stays between roughly 50 and 60°F even in summer.
What should you bring to a natural beach?
Plan for minimal services. Outside of staffed spots like Cooper’s Beach and Oval Beach, expect few or no restrooms, no concessions, and limited cell coverage, so bring water, food, and sun protection. Pack out everything you bring in, since most of these shorelines are protected habitat.
Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.
