Ask someone to picture America’s best beach and they’ll probably conjure up resorts, boardwalks, and a row of beach bars. But are those really the shorelines worth traveling for, or do the most memorable beaches lie somewhere quieter?
As part of its new Most Relaxed States Index, crypto casino SlotsLV set out to answer that by finding where travelers can discover the most beautiful and best-reviewed natural beaches across the U.S.
Drawing on the study’s ten states with the most natural beaches, one standout beach from each has been picked out based on TripAdvisor reviews. So do these make the cut as America’s top beaches?
Here’s the case for each.
The States with the Highest Number of Natural Beaches
| Rank | State | Number of Natural Beaches | Best Natural Beach | TripAdvisor Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 2,342 | Coast Guard Beach | 4.7 out of 5 from 650 reviews |
| 2 | Florida | 1,880 | Playalinda Beach | 4.5 out of 5 from 376 reviews |
| 3 | New York | 1,605 | Cooper’s Beach | 4.6 out of 5 from 361 reviews |
| 4 | California | 1,536 | Limantour Beach | 4.6 out of 5 from 131 reviews |
| 5 | Michigan | 1,241 | Oval Beach | 4.5 out of 5 from 1,119 reviews |
| 6 | Washington | 1,104 | Shi Shi Beach | 4.5 out of 5 from 123 reviews |
| 7 | Maine | 885 | Sand Beach | 4.5 out of 5 from 947 reviews |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 737 | Schoolhouse Beach | 4.6 out of 5 from 458 reviews |
| 9 | Ohio | 650 | Headlands Beach | 4.2 out of 5 from 408 reviews |
| 10 | Minnesota | 510 | Iona’s Beach | 4.6 out of 5 from 87 reviews |
1. Massachusetts: Coast Guard Beach
TripAdvisor rating: 4.7 out of 5 from 650 reviews
Massachusetts leads the way with a huge 2,342 natural beaches, and Cape Cod holds some of the state’s most striking stretches of shoreline. With the highest rating on this list, Coast Guard Beach has a real claim to the top spot.
From the beach at Eastham, more than 20 miles of sand run north, framed by dunes, beach grass, and open coastal scenery.
Coast Guard Beach is located at 2 Ocean View Drive, Eastham, MA 02642.
TripAdvisor reviews include: “Stunning beach that’s part of the National Seashore. We went off season, so there was no admission fee, and we were the only people on the beach that afternoon.”
2. Florida: Playalinda Beach
TripAdvisor rating: 4.5 out of 5 from 376 reviews
Florida comes in second with 1,880 natural beaches. Though the state tends to bring busy resort towns to mind, Playalinda Beach makes the argument that its quieter, less developed coastline is the side worth seeking out.
Sitting in Brevard County on the Space Coast, Playalinda forms part of Canaveral National Seashore, a protected barrier-island landscape of dunes, lagoons, coastal plants, and wildlife habitat.
Playalinda Beach is located at Beach Lane, Titusville, FL 32780.
TripAdvisor reviews include: “This was my first experience at a natural beach and it was amazing. Just you and nature.”
3. New York: Cooper’s Beach
TripAdvisor rating: 4.6 out of 5 from 361 reviews
New York takes third place with 1,605 natural beaches. The state is more often tied to skyscrapers and crowded city streets, so does a beach belong on its list of highlights? Long Island’s South Fork suggests it does, with broad Atlantic beaches shaped by waves, wind, and shifting coastal sand.
Cooper’s Beach pairs classic coastal scenery with handy visitor facilities, including lifeguards, restrooms, showers, and concessions. Its wide shoreline is backed by large dunes covered in beach grass, with views out across the Atlantic Ocean.
Cooper’s Beach is located at 268 Meadow Lane, Southampton, NY 11968.
TripAdvisor reviews include: “This is a very clean beach and is very relaxing. The water feels really good to swim through and would say is pretty quiet. Great for family or even a group of friends.”
4. California: Limantour Beach
TripAdvisor rating: 4.6 out of 5 from 131 reviews
California ranks fourth with 1,536 natural beaches. With hundreds of miles of Pacific coastline to choose from, the state offers everything from lively urban beaches to quiet coves. Limantour Beach earns its place with a blend of wild scenery and easy access that’s hard to beat.
Limantour Beach is located on Limantour Spit, Inverness Park, CA, about a 20-minute drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center near Point Reyes Station.
TripAdvisor reviews include: “Had the beach entirely to ourselves. Great place to get in the fresh air and disconnect.”
5. Michigan: Oval Beach
TripAdvisor rating: 4.5 out of 5 from 1,119 reviews
Michigan claims fifth place with 1,241 natural beaches. And with more reviews than anywhere else on this list, Oval Beach has plenty of visitors ready to vouch for it.
Oval Beach sits in Saugatuck on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, nestled among tall sand dunes close to the point where the winding Kalamazoo River meets the lake — making it one of the most scenically distinctive freshwater beaches in the country.
