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When most people dream about a beach vacation, they picture umbrellas, frozen drinks and bustling boardwalks. But if you prefer sand dunes to souvenir shops, a new study has narrowed down the best places in the U.S. for more tide pools and less wave pools.
Online gaming site SlotsLV analyzed the number of natural beaches in every state as part of its Most Relaxed States Index, then paired those results with Tripadvisor ratings to identify one standout beach in each of the 10 highest-ranking states.
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Massachusetts claimed the top spot with 2,342 natural beaches, thanks in part to Cape Cod National Seashore’s Coast Guard Beach in Eastham. Reviewers praised its expansive dunes, uncrowded shoreline and pristine scenery, earning it a 4.7-star rating on Tripadvisor.
Florida came in second with 1,880 natural beaches. Rather than spotlighting Miami or Clearwater, the study singled out Playalinda Beach, part of the protected Canaveral National Seashore on the Space Coast. The undeveloped barrier island is known for its wildlife, dunes and peaceful atmosphere.
New York ranked third, with Southampton’s Cooper’s Beach earning top honors. While the Hamptons beach offers amenities like lifeguards and concessions, it’s the broad Atlantic shoreline and grass-covered dunes that landed it a 4.6-star Tripadvisor rating.
California placed fourth, led by Limantour Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore. Located about 20 minutes from the Bear Valley Visitor Center, the beach is celebrated for its windswept scenery, wildlife and relatively easy access to one of the state’s most spectacular coastal landscapes.
The top 10 serve as a reminder that some of America’s most memorable beaches aren’t necessarily the easiest to reach or the most comfortable to lie on. Washington’s Shi Shi Beach requires a hike through a forest before visitors find the driftwood-strewn coastline, while Minnesota’s Iona’s Beach is famous for its pink rhyolite cobblestones, which “sing” as waves wash over them.
Here’s the full ranking below:
1. Massachusetts (2,342 natural beaches) — Coast Guard Beach
2. Florida (1,880) — Playalinda Beach
3. New York (1,605) — Cooper’s Beach
4. California (1,536) — Limantour Beach
5. Michigan (1,241) — Oval Beach
6. Washington (1,104) — Shi Shi Beach
7. Maine (885) — Sand Beach
8. Wisconsin (737) — Schoolhouse Beach
9. Ohio (650) — Headlands Beach
10. Minnesota (510) — Iona’s Beach
As with any ranking, it’s worth taking the methodology with a grain of sea salt. The study counted the number of natural beaches in each state and highlighted a single highly rated example based on Tripadvisor reviews rather than ranking individual beaches nationwide.