America’s Most Underrated Beaches

As spring enters its final leg and summer teases its warm return, you may find yourself thirsting for a beach escape. After all, who can resist its idyllic views, warm sands, refreshing air, and alluring sounds of lapping water that wash your worries away?

Apparently the answer is no one, at least judging by the throngs of people who converge on these sunny getaways each year, crowding every bit of sand with tropical-toned towels and stray sandals. Instead of squeezing through the masses and fighting for a spot to plant your umbrella, turn your attention away from the standard hot spots toward fresh possibilities. Among the best-kept secrets of our nation’s varied landscapes lie numerous lesser-crowded, lesser-known, and yet still-spectacular beaches—any of which could just become your new favorite summer escape.

Barnegat Light, New Jersey

When northeasterners plot beach vacations, they may think first of iconic locales like Atlantic City or Coney Island. But Barnegat Light on the northern tip of Long Beach Island presents a unique opportunity to unwind. Rather than the Jersey Shore’s notorious fairground rides, rowdy bars, or steaming concession stands, this beach boasts stunning views of the vast Atlantic Ocean stamped by historic nautical edifices like the emblematic Barnegat Lighthouse. Standing proud since 1859, this fixture is just one feature of the appropriately named Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, which offers a veritable tropical paradise with hiking trails through one of New Jersey’s only remaining maritime forests.

If you wish to head straight to the sand for a calm picnic with ample space to play, make your way to the Atlantic Ocean Beachfront access point, where striped bass and summer flounder dance in shallow waters and ospreys dart overhead. If you’re one for a little more activity, though, Barnegat has got you covered as well—you can go parasailing or boating on the water, browse the quaint shops in town, and indulge in fresh seafood and sweet treats at any of the local eateries galore.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan

The midwestern states may not bring to mind warm, sandy shores, but Sleeping Bear Dunes begs to differ. This thirty-five-mile expanse runs along Lake Michigan’s eastern shore, extending across the pinky nail of Michigan’s lower hand. Once voted the “Most Beautiful Place in America” by Good Morning America’s audience, this lake escape perfectly pairs beachy landscapes with midwestern flora, with towering dunes and pristine waters giving way to beech-and-maple forests.

Choose your own adventure in this national park, from secluded hideaways like Peterson Road Beach to refined waterfront resorts like the Homestead. If your ideal refuge is one immersed in summery scenery, glide across the lake to camp on North or South Manitou Island—practically uninhabited spaces known for their shrub-covered dunes and expansive views that could pass for endless ocean. Grab your kayak or fishing rod, join the piping plover birds scuttling along the beach, and revel in the serenity of a true escape into nature.

Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida and Mississippi

Two southern states tug at the rope to claim ownership of this pristine chain of sands, and it’s no great wonder why. Forming the keystone of the Gulf of Mexico’s beaches, the park’s white, almost snow-like dunes and verdant marshes constitute the longest stretch of federally protected beaches in America. Explore the jewel-toned gulf waters via a luxurious ferry ride tour launching from Pensacola, Florida, or dive straight in to snorkel alongside five species of sea turtles.

If your perfect vacation involves tranquil glimpses of unblemished ecosystems, then this is truly the destination for you. Gulf Islands promises solitary spots between sloping dunes and crashing waves for peaceful beach reading, bird-watching, or bonding time with your loved ones away from the hustle and bustle of crowded coastal cities.

Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado

Beaches aren’t just coastal delights; landlocked states far removed from the oceanside boast many worthwhile shores of their own. Case in point is Blue Mesa Reservoir, a lakefront luxury set in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. This vast, blue depository is the state’s largest body of water, spanning twenty miles between jagged hillsides and canyon walls that stand at attention.

Swimming and sunbathing are popular activities here, especially at the curiously named Bay of Chickens. However, leave room in your itinerary for the numerous other available diversions, including waterskiing, windsurfing, boat tours, hiking, and horseback riding. As the state’s tourism board advises, you’ll likely need several days to experience everything, so pitch a tent or reserve a room in the nearby town of Gunnison. The air up here may be thin, but your activity schedule will be thick with opportunities.

Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

If the anticipation of hot weather has you dreading the associated endless sweating and sluggishness, consider a pioneering beach trip into the heart of America’s icebox: the Alaskan wilderness. Glacier Bay National Park, situated in the enormous state’s southeast tail, is known for its three-mile-high mountains and dramatic ice formations, including some of the world’s greatest examples of tidewater glaciers. However, it’s the stone-spotted shores alongside turquoise Pacific waters and the bike-ready paths freshly cleared of winter’s snowy barriers that make this a surprisingly ideal summer beach destination.

Cruise ships may guide hundreds of thousands of visitors a year to these park grounds, but at 3.3 million acres, they are so vast that you’re more likely to encounter wildlife than hordes of human tourists. Glacier Bay is an animal paradise that’s home to several species of seals, whales, lynx, and mountain goats alongside over two hundred types of birds. Embrace your wild side and dip into the frigid tide, or hop on a watercraft like a kayak for intimate views of lush landscapes that seem almost too beautiful to be real. Surrounded by such natural luxury, you may find yourself struggling to return to civilization once your trip finally reaches its end.