The United States has thousands and thousands of miles of coastline. The exact measure of that coastline is debatable and depends on a number of things including how the coastline is measured, whether or not islands count, and whether or not the beaches are in the continental US or not.
Also whether or not US territories count, how high the ocean tide is at any given time, and a variety of other things. No matter how one chooses to measure it, though, one thing is certain there’s a lot of it.
Fortunately for us, that means there are a lot of beaches for us to enjoy along it, too!
The ocean beaches in the US are spectacular and varied. There are rocky beaches and sandy beaches. There are beaches that have huge waves and others that are nearly still.
# Ogunquit Beach, Ogunquit, MaineOgunquit Beach is a popular vacation destination for people living in the northeast. It’s easy to get to in its southern Maine location; it’s about halfway between Portland and Boston.
The beach itself is on a long, quiet peninsula with grassy dunes and you can walk the nearby Marginal Way trail to visit rocky outcroppings with tidepools to explore.
The town is a picture-perfect example of a small New England fishing village. There’s plenty to see and do in and near Ogunquit, and it’s no wonder that many people come back year after year.
# Coast Guard Beach, Wareham, MassachusettsThe Cape Cod National Seashore is a big draw in New England and everyone in the nation should make a point to visit Cape Cod at least once in his or her lifetime.
Visitors love Coast Guard Beach because it’s a fine combination of the sandy beach that many people seek on the ocean side, but it’s also adjacent to a salty, marshy area that’s wonderful for watching sea birds do their thing.
# Napatree Point Beach, Westerly, Rhode IslandYou can swim at Napatree Point Beach in Westerly and many people do; however, more people visit this unique point to walk and enjoy nature.
This beach was created by a natural process called longshore drift – it is a long, skinny point with a tall dune in the middle and long narrow beaches on each side. Nearby, you can enjoy the ritzy and historic Watch Hill area. You may even bump into a movie star in town!
# Wildwood State Park Wading River, New YorkThere are a number of excellent beaches on Long Island making it difficult to choose just one for this post. However, the beach at Wildwood State Park stands out above the rest because it’s quite different from most of the others.
This state park on Long Island’s north shore includes 600 acres of undeveloped forest and that alone is reason enough to visit.
However, the beach itself, located on Long Island Sound rather than on the Atlantic Ocean, is striking; tall dunes tower above sunbathers and the water is often a nearly Caribbean blue. It’s easy to forget that you’re in New York when visiting Wildwood State Park on a summer day.
# Cape May Beach, Cape May, New JerseyBeach culture is a part of life in New Jersey – just ask the cast of Jersey Shore.
People from New Jersey and other surrounding states flock to The Garden State’s beaches in the summer and with good reason – there’s something for everyone there!
Although some people love Wildwood, some love Atlantic City, and some prefer Seaside or Brigantine, everybody can agree that Cape May is something extra special.
# Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes, DelawareFew people know about Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware, but those who do love it and consider it to be a hidden gem.
This park was one of the first official public lands in the (now) United States by declaration back in 1682, and it was an important strategic location for the US military in numerous wars, starting with the American Revolution.
This state park has a great campground, a quiet beach, lots of wildlife, a fishing pier, and World War II observation towers that you can climb during your visit. Don’t miss the park’s Seaside Nature Center to learn more about the ecology of the park.