Photos show the most beautiful beaches across the US

Elana KleinMay 28, 2023, 21:04 IST

Beaches in New Hampshire and Washington.DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images; Deb Snelson/Getty Images

Some states like Florida, California, and Hawaii are known for their beautiful beaches.
Others have lesser known — but equally breathtaking — beaches, including Michigan and New Hampshire.

Surrounded by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Great Lakes, more than half of states in the US lie on at least one of the country's gorgeous coasts.

With close to 100,000 miles of shoreline, not every noteworthy beach in the US gets the recognition it deserves. While California's and Florida's beaches attract tourists from across the world, many other states are home to beaches that provide visitors with stunning views and ample opportunities for waterfront relaxation.

Here are some of the most beautiful beaches on America's coastlines.

Sand Beach at Acadia National Park in Maine is surrounded by breathtaking greenery.

Sand Beach at Acadia National Park, Maine.dkm725/Getty Images

Not only does Shackleford Banks have some of the clearest water in North Carolina, but majestic wild horses freely graze on the beach's grass.

Shackleford Banks, Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina.Frank Staub/Getty Images

Marconi Beach, which lies along the Cape Cod National Seashore, is one of Massachusetts' best beaches, according to Touropia Travel Guides.

Marconi Beach in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.Ronald Wilson Photography/Getty Images

Travel + Leisure named Crandon Park in Key Biscayne Beach one of Florida's best beaches in 2022.

Crandon Park in Florida.Artur Debat/Getty Images

According to US News & World Report, Cape May is home to New Jersey's best beaches, in part due to its stunning 19th-century architecture that lines the seashore.

Cape May Beach in New Jersey.Richard T. Nowitz/Getty Images

The remote Sandbridge Beach in Virginia is one of the state's most gorgeous beaches and popular among locals.

Sandbridge Beach in Virginia.Tim Pennington/Getty Images

US News & World Report called Kiawah Island "the closest you'll come to paradise in South Carolina."

Kiawah Island in South Carolina.KathyKafka/Getty Images

Weathered trees can be found along Georgia's unique Driftwood Beach, which has been featured in "The Walking Dead" and "X-Men: First Class."

Driftwood Beach in Jekyll Island in Georgia.Daniela Duncan/Getty Images

Travel + Leisure calls Sandy Point State Park one of Maryland's best beaches because of the gorgeous views of the bay.

Sandy Point State Mark in Maryland.Shackleford-Photography/Getty Images

Hammonasset Beach State Park in Connecticut is the No. 1 beach in the state, according to TripAdvisor.

Hammonasset Beach State Park in Connecticut.Bob Gundersen/Getty Images

California's Laguna Beach is full of beautiful cove beaches — one of the reasons US News & World Report named it the state's best beach.

Laguna Beach in California.TraceRouda/Getty Images

Biloxi Beach is a great place to cool down in Mississippi during the hot summer months.

Biloxi Beach in Mississippi.DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Washington's Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park is home to unique rock formations.

Ruby Beach in Washington.Deb Snelson/Getty Images

Rotary Beach "offers visitors a chance to experience Southeast Alaska at its best," according to Alaska.org.

Rotary Beach in Alaska.Carlos Rojas/Getty Images

Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware is home to pine forests and more than 6 miles of coastline.

Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware.ymn/Getty Images

Mohegan Bluffs in Rhode Island provides stunning views from 150-foot cliffs that line the shore.

Mohegan Bluffs in Rhode Island.j76n/Getty Images

Park Point, which is home to beautiful views of Lake Superior, is Minnesota's No. 1 beach, according to TripAdvisor.

Park Point Beach in Minnesota.John_Brueske/Getty Images

A visit to New Hampshire's Weirs Beach will bring you "some of the most beautiful lake views you've ever seen," NewEngland.com wrote.

Weirs Beach in New Hampshire.DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Kohler-Andrae State Park in Wisconsin has sand dunes, clear blue water, and more than 2 miles of sandy beaches.

Kohler-Andrae State Park in Wisconsin.Drake Fleege/Getty Images

US News & World Report called Gulf Shores one of Alabama's most popular coastal getaways.

Gulf Shores in Alabama.larrybraunphotography.com/Getty Images

Hawaii's "postcard perfect" Kā'anapali Beach is the "crème de la crème of beaches," according to Hawaii Magazine, which named it the state's No. 1 beach.

Kā‘anapali Beach in Hawaii.ejs9/Getty Images

Michigan City Beach in Indiana is home to 2 miles of beach, a lighthouse, and peaceful waters.

Michigan City Beach in Indiana.Jeffrey K Collins/Getty Images

South Padre Island in Texas is "beloved by generations of spring breakers," Travel + Leisure reported.

South Padre Beach in Texas.Hundley_Photography/Getty Images

Thrillist described Grand Haven state park in Michigan as "arguably the grandest Michigan beach town of all."

Grand Haven State Park in Michigan.Leene/Shutterstock

Visitors to Ohio's Huntington Beach can take a swim in the vast, beautiful Lake Erie.

Huntington Beach in Ohio.Jeff Greenberg/Getty Images

Presque Isle State Park in Pennsylvania offers gorgeous views of Lake Erie.

Presque Isle State Park in Pennsylvania.Thaddeus OConnell/Getty Images

Its soft sand and "rugged beauty" are just a couple of reasons that TripAdvisor ranked Cannon Beach as Oregon's No. 1 beach.

Cannon Beach in Oregon.Francesco Vaninetti Photo/Getty Images

Jones Beach State Park is one of New York's best beaches thanks to its gorgeous sandy shoreline and variety of facilities.

Jones Beach State Park in New York.Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Getty Images

A "perfect getaway for camping, picnicking, and surfing," Louisiana's Grand Isle offers beautiful views over the Gulf of Mexico, according to Travel + Leisure.

Grand Isle in Louisiana.Cavan Images/Getty Images

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