America's Best Beaches, 2017

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff
Best Beach in America

The following table lists the top ten best beaches to visit in the United States for 2017, according to Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, author of America's Best Beaches. In addition, find a list of the previous top-rated beaches in America below.

Rank

Beach

Location

1

Kapalua Bay Beach

Maui, Hawaii

 

2

Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach

Outer Banks, North Carolina

 

3

Grayton Beach State Park

Florida panhandle

 

4

Coopers Beach

Southampton, New York

 

5

Coast Guard Beach

Cape Cod, Massachusetts
 

6

Lighthouse Beach

Buxton, North Carolina

 

7

Caladesi Island State Park

Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida

 

8

Hapuna Beach

Big Island, Hawaii

 

9

Coronado Beach

Coronado, California

 

10

Beachwalker Park

Kiawah Island, South Carolina

 
Released since 1991, 650 major public recreational beaches in the U.S. are rated according to 50 criteria. Source: Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman (aka Dr. Beach), author of America's Best Beaches and professor of environmental studies at Florida International University.

Previous Winners of the Best American Beach Award

Year Name Location
2015 Waimanalo Bay Beach Park Oahu, Hawaii
2014 Duke Kahanamoku Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii
2013 Main Beach East Hampton, New York
2012 Coronado Beach San Diego, California
2011 Siesta Beach Sarasota, Florida
2010 Coopers Beach Southampton, New York
2009 Hanalei Bay Kauai, Hawaii
2008 Caladesi Island State Park Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
2007 Ocracoke Lifeguard Beach Outer Banks, North Carolina
2006 Fleming Beach Park Maui, Hawaii
2005 Fort DeSoto Park North Beach, Florida
 
Travel Statistics
 
Sources +