Best beach towns on the East Coast

Published 7:15 pm Friday, June 16, 2023

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

Best beach towns on the East Coast

Summer vacation has already begun for some across the U.S., and if Memorial Day is any indication, travelers should expect a busy summer season in 2023.

That holiday weekend, largely considered the unofficial start of summer, the Transportation Security Administration screened 9.79 million people, surpassing pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. And half of Americans said they would take a trip this summer, according to a survey from Deloitte, up from 46% in 2022. Trips abroad are gaining popularity, as people try to make up for time lost during pandemic-era travel restrictions. However, as inflation makes travel more expensive, budget-conscious travelers are opting to cut costs by driving to their destinations and choosing to stay stateside. AAA expected 2 million more travelers on the road on Memorial Day weekend in 2023 than on that weekend in 2022.

Beach destinations are popular this year, according to a survey from vacation-rental platform Vacasa, and outdoor recreation remains a top priority. Not only are beaches a great place to unwind and create family bonding moments, but they also boost people’s mental health.

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So what makes a good beach town? Access to a beach, of course, but also plenty of indoor and outdoor activities to keep kids entertained, warm weather, and a long beach season. So perhaps it’s not surprising that Florida cities dominated the list of best beach towns on the East Coast. But besides the Sunshine State, beachgoers can enjoy the sand and surf in places off the beaten path in the Carolinas and New York’s Long Island shore.

Stacker crunched the numbers to find the best beach towns on the East Coast. To be considered a beach town, each city needed at least one beach on the Environmental Protection Agency’s National List of Beaches. The EPA list includes only beaches that are used recreationally and open to the public for free or for a fee; it has more than 6,000 beaches on the United States’ Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts and on the Great Lakes identified by states and tribes in response to the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000. The act requires states to report water quality monitoring to an EPA database.

Rankings were determined by a number of factors weighted by importance in the following order from most to least important: number of beaches monitored through the BEACH Act, the total shoreline of those beaches, access to beach-related businesses based on Census Bureau County Business Patterns, and Zillow median home prices.

Read on to get some inspiration for planning your next vacation.

A boardwalk hiking trail extends over the marsh .

Ryan McGurl // Shutterstock

#50. Swansboro, North Carolina

– Number of beaches: 8
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 20.5
– Average swim season length: 214 days
– Average county summer temperature: 80 degrees
– Median home price: $558,603

Surfer on Wrightsville Beach.

Fernando Cruz // Shutterstock

#49. Carolina Beach, North Carolina

– Number of beaches: 2
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 15.7
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 83 degrees
– Median home price: $807,673

Cherry Grove Pier and beach.

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#48. North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

– Number of beaches: 3
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 1.8
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 84 degrees
– Median home price: $784,190

Rocks on Flagler Beach.

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#47. Flagler Beach, Florida

– Number of beaches: 5
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 9.5
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82 degrees
– Median home price: $471,503

Dunes on the beach at Bald Head Island.

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#46. Southport, North Carolina

– Number of beaches: 2
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 7.2
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 83 degrees
– Median home price: $457,263

Tourists at the visitor center for the Cape Hatteras Light Station.

Stephen B. Goodwin // Shutterstock

#45. Buxton, North Carolina

– Number of beaches: 5
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 3.9
– Average swim season length: 213 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82 degrees
– Median home price: $586,806

People enjoying the sun on Dania Beach.

Angela N Perryman // Shutterstock

#44. Dania Beach, Florida

– Number of beaches: 10
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 1.7
– Average swim season length: 214 days
– Average county summer temperature: 79 degrees
– Median home price: $366,193

Long Island gold coast aerial view.

Jose F. Donneys // Shutterstock

#43. Bay Shore, New York

– Number of beaches: 6
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 6.2
– Average swim season length: 214 days
– Average county summer temperature: 80 degrees
– Median home price: $710,732

Jupiter Inlet Light at dawn.

Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

#42. Jupiter, Florida

– Number of beaches: 4
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 4.8
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 83 degrees
– Median home price: $282,266

Aerial view of peninsula with beach and buildings.

iofoto // Shutterstock

#41. Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

– Number of beaches: 4
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 3.6
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 84 degrees
– Median home price: $385,570

Daytona Beach from Port Orange.

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#40. Port Orange, Florida

– Number of beaches: 4
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 15.4
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82 degrees
– Median home price: $407,733

Aerial view of Atlantic City beaches and skyline.

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#39. Atlantic City, New Jersey

– Number of beaches: 6
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 2.4
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82 degrees
– Median home price: $461,941

Aerial view of Boca Raton and golf course.

FloridaStock // Shutterstock

#38. Boca Raton, Florida

– Number of beaches: 10
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 31.5
– Average swim season length: 214 days
– Average county summer temperature: 79 degrees
– Median home price: $364,587

Fishing pier and sunset at Ormond Beach.

Melissa M Janssens // Shutterstock

#37. Ormond Beach, Florida

– Number of beaches: 4
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 1.6
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 84 degrees
– Median home price: $355,482

Sign display for Big Kill Devil Hill with a granite memorial.

Sherry V Smith // Shutterstock

#36. Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

– Number of beaches: 5
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 32.0
– Average swim season length: 214 days
– Average county summer temperature: 79 degrees
– Median home price: $406,115

Key Biscayne aerial view.

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#35. Key Biscayne, Florida

– Number of beaches: 8
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 5.7
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82 degrees
– Median home price: $589,552

North Miami Beach buildings and water.

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#34. North Miami Beach, Florida

– Number of beaches: 10
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 7.4
– Average swim season length: 136 days
– Average county summer temperature: 78 degrees
– Median home price: $275,898

Red and white striped lighthouse and boats in marina at sunrise.

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#33. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

– Number of beaches: 6
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 11.8
– Average swim season length: 214 days
– Average county summer temperature: 79 degrees
– Median home price: $322,102

Sunrise at pier in Kitty Hawk.

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#32. Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

– Number of beaches: 3
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 14.4
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82 degrees
– Median home price: $738,216

Aerial view of Delray Beach.

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#31. Delray Beach, Florida

– Number of beaches: 5
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 4.0
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82 degrees
– Median home price: $455,660

Wild horses graze in Corolla.

aceshot1 // Shutterstock

#30. Corolla, North Carolina

– Number of beaches: 2
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 7.0
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 84 degrees
– Median home price: $874,422

Aerial view of Ocean Isle Beach.

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#29. Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

– Number of beaches: 12
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 5.9
– Average swim season length: 214 days
– Average county summer temperature: 80 degrees
– Median home price: $1,322,625

Aerial view of Ponte Verde Beach.

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#28. Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

– Number of beaches: 1
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 3.8
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82 degrees
– Median home price: $261,205

Saint Augustine lighthouse and homes.

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#27. Saint Augustine, Florida

– Number of beaches: 5
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 26.4
– Average swim season length: 214 days
– Average county summer temperature: 79 degrees
– Median home price: $579,070

St. Simons Island lighthouse.

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#26. Saint Simons Island, Georgia

– Number of beaches: 4
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 25.4
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82 degrees
– Median home price: $632,517

Harbour in Beaufort.

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#25. Beaufort, North Carolina

– Number of beaches: 1
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 4.0
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 83 degrees
– Median home price: $498,629

Sunrise at Kure Beach.

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#24. Kure Beach, North Carolina

– Number of beaches: 6
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 9.7
– Average swim season length: 208 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82 degrees
– Median home price: $603,876

Aeria view of jetty at Fort Pierce.

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#23. Fort Pierce, Florida

– Number of beaches: 5
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 11.5
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82 degrees
– Median home price: $928,755

Fishing boats in Sneads Ferry.

David Byron Keener // Shutterstock

#22. Sneads Ferry, North Carolina

– Number of beaches: 1
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 17.9
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 83 degrees
– Median home price: $473,262

Ocracoke Lighthouse in summer.

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#21. Ocracoke, North Carolina

– Number of beaches: 5
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 4.9
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 83 degrees
– Median home price: $514,087

Aerial view Fernandina Beach.

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#20. Fernandina Beach, Florida

– Number of beaches: 3
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 19.9
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 83 degrees
– Median home price: $514,421

Aerial view Norfolk.

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#19. Norfolk, Virginia

– Number of beaches: 5
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 11.7
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82 degrees
– Median home price: $393,761

Egret on wetland area.

Wildnerdpix // Shutterstock

#18. Holly Ridge, North Carolina

– Number of beaches: 7
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 9.3
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82 degrees
– Median home price: $250,153

Sunset over Wrightsville Beach.

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#17. Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

– Number of beaches: 7
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 19.6
– Average swim season length: 153 days
– Average county summer temperature: 79 degrees
– Median home price: $302,188

Boardwalk through sand and coastal shrubs in Salvo.

Cvandyke // Shutterstock

#16. Salvo, North Carolina

– Number of beaches: 3
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 11.3
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 83 degrees
– Median home price: $351,510

Sunst on the Tybee Island Lighthouse.

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#15. Tybee Island, Georgia

– Number of beaches: 7
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 37.1
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82 degrees
– Median home price: $470,271

Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse in New Smyrna Beach.

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#14. New Smyrna Beach, Florida

– Number of beaches: 2
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 13.9
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82 degrees
– Median home price: $365,863

Street view along Ocean Drive in Miami Beach.

travelview // Shutterstock

#13. Miami Beach, Florida

– Number of beaches: 9
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 6.9
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82 degrees
– Median home price: $369,768

Seafront beach promenade in Fort Lauderdale.

mariakray // Shutterstock

#12. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

– Number of beaches: 10
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 17.0
– Average swim season length: 214 days
– Average county summer temperature: 79 degrees
– Median home price: $660,718

Pier in Myrtle Beach.

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#11. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

– Number of beaches: 4
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 15.0
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 83 degrees
– Median home price: $432,034

Aerial view Pompano Beach.

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#10. Pompano Beach, Florida

– Number of beaches: 15
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 20.7
– Average swim season length: 214 days
– Average county summer temperature: 79 degrees
– Median home price: $646,313

Aerial view Vero Beach homes.

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#9. Vero Beach, Florida

– Number of beaches: 5
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 14.0
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 79 degrees
– Median home price: $491,863

An aerial view of homes and beaches on Emerald Isle.

Lewis Directed Films // Shutterstock

#8. Emerald Isle, North Carolina

– Number of beaches: 3
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 11.1
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 83 degrees
– Median home price: $400,028

Hollywood coastal scene.

Felix Mizioznikov // Shutterstock

#7. Hollywood, Florida

– Number of beaches: 14
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 13.0
– Average swim season length: 214 days
– Average county summer temperature: 79 degrees
– Median home price: $476,892

Sandy path to Coquina Beach.

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#6. Nags Head, North Carolina

– Number of beaches: 6
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 7.9
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 83 degrees
– Median home price: $264,681

Aerial view of populated waterfront.

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#5. Jensen Beach, Florida

– Number of beaches: 7
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 9.5
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 83 degrees
– Median home price: $581,150

Oceanana Pier in Atlantic Beach.

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#4. Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

– Number of beaches: 22
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 24.0
– Average swim season length: 141 days
– Average county summer temperature: 78 degrees
– Median home price: $370,003

Oceanfront buildings at Daytona Beach.

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#3. Daytona Beach, Florida

– Number of beaches: 6
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 9.3
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 83 degrees
– Median home price: $335,295

People walk along the oceanfront boardwalk and resort area in Virginia Beach.

Sherry V Smith // Shutterstock

#2. Virginia Beach, Virginia

– Number of beaches: 5
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 7.7
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 83 degrees
– Median home price: $385,022

Aerial view of Stuart and boats in harbor.

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#1. Stuart, Florida

– Number of beaches: 6
– Miles of monitored shoreline: 22.7
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82 degrees
– Median home price: $268,370

Data reporting by Elena Cox. Story editing by Jeff Inglis. Copy editing by Paris Close.