With nearly 100,000 miles of shoreline stretching across the U.S., there are probably quite a few beaches you’ve yet to visit. After all, certain coastal stretches get all the fame, but the underrated (and thus less crowded) locations are often more worth your time. Before you hit the sands at a same-old spot, consider one of these eight beach getaway destinations across the States.
1. Gulf State Park, Alabama
Alabama is possibly the most underrated state when it comes to beaches. The Alabama Gulf Coast has more than 30 miles of beachfront, and Gulf State Park has 3.5 miles of it reserved for relaxation and fishing. (It’s also home to Alabama’s only public pier in the Gulf of Mexico.) Freshwater adventures abound, too—head to the 900-acre Lake Shelby for some paddleboarding, swimming, or kayaking. Plus, the beach is surrounded by the accessible wilderness of the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail system, with 28 miles of paved trails in the 6,150-acre park.
Where to stay: Gulf State Park Campground
- Book now: Gulf State Park Campground
There are plenty of sites (around 500) for camping at Gulf State Park Campground, which is less than two miles from the beach. Amenities include 11 bathhouses, volleyball courts, and access to a camp store stocked with food, firewood, and bike rentals.
Walk along Seal Beach’s pier at sunset for a picturesque end to your day.
Photo by Lisha Riabinina/Unsplash
2. Seal Beach, California
California’s Pacific waters draw plenty of tourists each summer, aiming to ride the waves of Huntington Beach—dubbed Surf City USA—or tour places like L.A.’s Santa Monica pier. But you can find lots of good beaches sandwiched in the middle, with Seal Beach as a shining testament. This beach in the O.C. was named after seals that once basked on its shores, though nowadays you’ll more likely see people surfing, kitesurfing, or windsurfing. After exploring the beach town’s 1.5 miles of coast, hang out at a restaurant on Main Street or head to its pier, the second-longest wooden pier in California and a popular sunset spot.
Where to stay: Hotel Current
- Book now: Hotel Current
Ten minutes north of Seal Beach is the 99-room Hotel Current in Long Beach. The trendy hotel has guest rooms made with eco-friendly materials (like hemp and recycled plastic bottle fabric) and hand-painted pieces from local artists.
Sailing is a popular activity in Wrightsville Beach, including sunset cruises and afternoon charters.
Photo by Ian McRainey/Shutterstock
3. Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
With warm waters and a temperate climate, the Carolinas have a reputation for having some of the best beaches on the East Coast. Crowds are often torn between going to North Carolina for some fun at the Outer Banks or heading south to Myrtle Beach and the attractions along its 60 miles of coastline. Split the difference and head instead to Wrightsville Beach in southeast North Carolina. This laid-back summer destination vibrates with the energy of nearby college surfers and has plenty of scenic views on its four-mile stretch. Go sailing, swimming, or try your hand at stand-up paddleboarding on the Atlantic.
Where to stay: Trailborn Surf & Sound
- Book now: Trailborn Surf & Sound
The Blockade Runner Beach Resort, a local favorite since 1964, re-opened in April after a major facelift and a new name: The Trailborn Surf & Sound. Start the day with a yoga class or surf lesson before stretching out on one of the hotel’s beach loungers (two per room) beneath an umbrella. After sunset, relax around the bonfire, closing out the night with s’mores.
Related: The Best Beaches in North Carolina
Grayton Beach State Park is known for its towering sand dunes.
Photo by Scott Greer/Unsplash
4. Grayton Beach State Park, Florida
There’s plenty of beach to go around in Florida, each with a different appeal. Among the most popular are South Beach in Miami, with its art deco buildings, and the white sands of Clearwater Beach near Tampa. Yet Grayton Beach State Park remains an overlooked seaside getaway, located in the northern section of the state, hugging the Gulf of Mexico. The nearly 2,000-acre park has emerald green waters and sand dunes that offer high-quality beach time. Grayton Beach is a particularly notable destination for road-trip enthusiasts; its location along the 28-mile Scenic Highway 30a makes it a great stop en route to exploring the new urbanism architecture and restaurants in Florida’s Walton County.
Where to stay: WaterColor Inn & Resort
- Book now: WaterColor Inn & Resort
If you’d rather not camp at one of Grayton Beach’s 59 campsites, drive five minutes from the park to the WaterColor Inn on Santa Rosa Beach. The property has 60 beachfront rooms and sits between a dune-backed beach and one of Walton County’s dune lakes.
Related: 14 Best Places to Visit in Florida on Your Next Trip
Wild horses inhabit the protected beaches, pine forests, and salt marshes of Assateague Island, a 37-mile coastal split between Maryland and Virginia.
Photo by Stephen Bonk/Shutterstock
5. Assateague Island, Maryland
Instead of spending the weekend shoulder to shoulder with crowds, travel to Assateague Island and you can spend it among horses. The island, split between Maryland and Virginia, is home to about 250 of them. Their domesticated ancestors were brought over during the 17th century, and over time they’ve reverted back to their wild state. Besides hanging along the shoreline of this 37-mile-long island, you can further explore Assateague’s secluded coves and marshes via canoe or kayak. It’s important to remember that the ocean waters on this barrier island can be intense, so be aware of rip currents.
Where to stay: Assateague State Park
- Book now: Assateague State Park
The oceanfront Assateague State Park has two miles of shoreline to explore, whether you want to sunbathe, fish, or admire the horses. Its 342 sites offer plenty of places to camp by the seashore.
Harris Beach State Park is ideal for families and sunsets.
Photo by arboursabroad.com/Shutterstock
6. Harris Beach State Park, Oregon
Beaches in the Pacific Northwest are less about idyllic lulls in the sand and instead emphasize the dramatic landscapes that make the region so well-loved by nature enthusiasts. Case in point: sea stacks, the remnants of headlands that have eroded over time. While Oregon‘s most famous is the 235-foot Haystack Rock, head 80 miles south to enjoy the magnificent formations with fewer crowds at Harris Beach State Park. Wildlife watching is also a worthwhile activity here: The tufted puffin breeds on Bird Island offshore, and you might spot gray whales when they migrate in the spring and fall. For a fantastic sunset view, walk along the nearly mile-long stretch of South Beach.
Where to stay: Harris Beach State Park Campsites
- Book a campsite: Harris Beach State Park
Consider pulling over at the campsites of Harris Beach State Park in Brookings for a night or two. Located right off the 101, the grounds have 65 full-hookup sites, 59 tent sites, and six yurts.
In low season, you’ll have the beach all to yourself at Luquillo.
Photo by Thomas Isbister/Unsplash
7. Playa de Luquillo, Puerto Rico
Hugged year-round by warm waters, Puerto Rico’s main island has plenty of contenders vying for the “best beach” title. Sure, you can ride the surf-ready waves out west or hit the popular Flamenco Beach in Culebra. But if your ideal beach day is a quiet stay by calm waters and some local food, consider driving about 30 miles east of San Juan to Playa de Luquillo. This beach in Puerto Rico’s northeast section is one of several surrounding the small town of Luquillo. When you get hungry, stop by the Kioskos de Luquillo—along this strip of restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops, you can try dishes like alcapurrias and mofongo.
It can be tempting to go beach-hopping all week, but a 15-minute drive from here takes you to El Yunque National Forest, making Luquillo a convenient stopover option on your way to Puerto Rico’s mountains.
Where to stay: Rainforest Inn Bed & Breakfast
- Book now: Rainforest Inn Bed & Breakfast
Journey to the Rainforest Inn in El Yunque National Forest for a special ecoluxury experience, complete with locally sourced vegetarian breakfasts and freshwater collected by cisterns. Each of its villas features spacious terraces and vistas of the surrounding rainforest, while the coquís singsong-y croak offers the perfect lullaby at night.
South Manitou Island is known for its big sand dunes and its lighthouse, which dates to 1839.
John McCormick/Shutterstock
8. South Manitou Island, Michigan
South Manitou Island is a little underrated because you can’t just roll up in your car—which is exactly why you should go. To get here, cruise over on your own boat or take the ferry (1.5 hours) from Leland. South Manitou has pretty sand dunes (fragile and not to be climbed), 10 miles of pebble beaches, and old-growth white cedars that are more than 500 years old.
Where to stay: The Riverside Inn
- Book now: The Riverside Inn
There are two campgrounds on the island, but if you prefer to go for the day and enjoy a cozy room and a great meal, book at this 1902 historic house/tavern in Leland. There are just five rooms here, and it really feels as though you’re sleeping in someone’s very well-appointed lake house. Feast on seasonal New American food at the restaurant downstairs before retiring to your snug bed.
Bring a chair to sit comfortably on the pebbly beach at Yellow Bay on Flathead Lake.
Photo by tusharkoley / Shutterstock
9. Yellow Bay at Flathead Lake, Montana
We’ll still consider it a beach even if you’ll be sitting on pebbles instead of sand (a chair will be far more comfortable than a towel). With 185 miles of shoreline, Flathead Lake dwarfs every other lake west of the Mississippi in the lower 48 states. Yellow Bay, on the eastern shore of Flathead Lake, is known for its wide gravelly beach where locals like to fish for lake trout, water ski, swim, boat, and even camp. Campgrounds and rental cabins are scattered along the shore, and in the summer, roadside stands sell fresh cherries, plums, and other fruit.
Where to stay: Many Springs Resort
- Book now: Many Springs Resort
If you don’t want to camp, book a room at this 12-room vacation-rental-style hotel. The rooms have simple pine furniture, a king or two queens, kitchens, and balconies for enjoying sunset over the lake.
This article was originally published in 2024 and most recently updated on April 21, 2025, with current information. Sophie Friedman contributed to the reporting of this story.
