The best Gulf Coast beaches for the perfect getaway

Soft white sands and rich blue waters greet visitors at this beach known for its watersports like windsurfing and parasailing. Stand-up paddleboarding is also popular because the waters can be relatively calm some days. The beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico and warm sun draw visitors out of their hotel rooms and onto the beach for the day. Just off the beach are some fantastic dining options, most of which are within walking distance of the sandy shore. Visitors are encouraged to grab a bucket at the beach entrance to pick up trash; plastics can heat the sand to a degree that it threatens the eggs of sea turtles who nest in it.

Beautiful Anna Maria Island offers the white sand and turquoise water that you expect from a Gulf Coast beach, as well as a historic fishing scene. Visit the still-active Cortez Historic Fishing Village, founded circa 1880 by fishers from North Carolina, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The island is also known for its Floribbean cuisine, merging Floridian and Caribbean ingredients. The Chiles Hospitality Group focuses on sustainability in the culinary world, with a bakery, three waterfront restaurants—Sandbar Seafood & Spirits, Beach House Waterfront Restaurant, and Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub—and a 26-acre organic farm producing vegetables, fruit and flowers to brighten the table.

While Alabama might be known for its college teams, notably the Crimson Tide of the University of Alabama, there’s another tide in Gulf Shores. The beautiful beach town is known for its state park of the same name, where stretches of beaches boast white sand and bright blue and green waters. This is a great location for friends who are traveling together since there’s ample nightlife and entertainment in the city after the sun goes down at the beach.

Along the shoreline of Mississippi, travelers will run into Gulfport, which is the second-largest city in the state. The beach here is bright and clean, with a large fishing pier that goes out into the ocean. While at the beach, you’ll likely see people jet skiing or swimming, but the beach has a very relaxed vibe that also lends itself to having a quiet picnic or lounging in a chair. Just a short drive away are the casinos of Biloxi, which are a fun way to spend an evening.

When it comes to major tourist beaches, Panama City Beach is second only to Daytona. Families have been traveling to the area for decades to walk along Pier Park, which is the main shopping hub in the city. There are two nature preserves in the area that allow visitors to take in the natural wonders of Florida, including wildlife and of course the beach. March and April are the most popular time at Panama City Beach because of Spring Break, so if you don’t want to be surrounded by college students, plan to visit the 27 miles of beach at almost any other time of year.

Seagrove Beach is a beautiful two-mile stretch of beach. Because of its large size and the area’s underdevelopment, it's easily one of the least crowded beaches in the area. This makes Seagrove Beach one of the best places to enjoy a quiet day with family and friends. The area is known for its magnolia and live oak tree groves that can be found just past the shoreline, and offer plenty of shade for the times you’re not at the beach.

Padre Island National Seashore is known for being the longest stretch of an undeveloped barrier island in the world, which makes its beaches pristine and desirable for folks visiting the area. Just about any type of activity goes here, from kayaking along the shore to windsurfing or just looking for shells. This is also a popular spot for nesting sea turtles, so if you’re lucky you may even see some hatchlings pop out of their nests and make their way to the ocean.

Compared to the party vibe of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach in Alabama offers a more laid-back beach vibe. Here you can do everything from lounging around to casting a line into the ocean for a little fishing. Be sure to visit the wharf at Orange Beach, which is where shops, restaurants, games, mini-golf, and more can be found just steps from the shore. For a more thoughtful visit, you can explore Native American history and fishing history at the Orange Beach Indian & Sea Museum with free admission.

Along the east end of the barrier island of Grand Isle is Grand Isle State Park. The park has sandy beaches and a 400-ft long fishing pier that draws people in throughout the year. One thing that makes this beach unique is that you can enjoy overnight camping under the stars. Grand Isle is a breakwater between the Gulf and the inland channels leading to bayou tributaries of the Mississippi River, and awesome deep-sea fishing happens here. Unfortunately, damage from Hurricane Ida has temporarily closed the park; check the website for updates if you are planning to visit.

No list of beautiful Gulf Coast beaches can fail to include Clearwater Beach, which in 2018 and 2019 was named the best beach in America, awarded by TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards. Here you have excitement on the main strip but plenty of space to relax at a slower pace, such as the set-back expanse of the newly opened JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa. Enjoy a day at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where you can see dolphins and sea turtles...or try to catch a glimpse of them in the wild at this beautiful stretch of beach. The sand here isn’t made of seashell dust; it’s quartz from the Appalachian Mountains, explaining its incredible powdery quality.

Part of 26-mile-long South Walton, where more than 40 percent of the area land is set aside for preservation, Grayton Beach is one of the 16 beach neighborhoods claiming their own traditions and style. Off Grayton Beach's coast, check out the country’s first permanent underwater museum, the Underwater Museum of Art. At this eco-tourism site, underwater sculptures over time become a living reef supporting sea life. You’ll also want to explore the rare coastal dune lakes; these only appear in a handful of places around the world: New Zealand, Madagascar, Australia...and South Walton! These shallow (5 feet), constantly changing lakes have varying levels of saltwater and support a wide variety of underwater life. You can fish, paddleboard or hike the shores to enjoy their uniqueness. Finally, Grayton Beach is the only place in the country where charter fishing trips depart directly from the beach, getting you to your fishing spot super quickly.