Memorial Day weekend is finally here, and millions of Americans will be heading to the beach to enjoy it. While sometimes any stretch of sand and water will do, not all beaches are created equal. So, which ones are best? Dr. Beach’s annual ranking is here to tell us.
- Coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman, better known as Dr. Beach, has just come out with his latest list of the Best Beaches in the U.S.
- He’s been doing it since 1991 and uses 50 different factors to come up with his picks, focusing on safety and cleanliness.
- According to this expert, the number one beach this year is Cooper’s Beach in Southampton on the eastern end of Long Island.
- It was number two on last year’s list, but Dr. Beach bumped the swanky Hamptons destination up this year, thanks to its large sand dunes and pristine location.
- “It’s a big, beautiful beach,” Leatherman says, adding that the only problem with it is the traffic people are likely to have to deal with to get there, and the cost of parking. But you can avoid that by taking a free shuttle from downtown Southampton.
- Florida and New York are home to two of the top 10 beaches, while Hawaii wins with four. And California didn’t get a single beach on this year’s list.
Dr. Beach’s Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. for 2025
- Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
- Wailea Beach, Maui, Hawaii
- Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii
- Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, Naples, Florida
- Main Beach, East Hampton, New York
- Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina
- St. Andrews State Park, Panama City, Florida
- Kaunaoa, Big Island, Hawaii
- Lanikai Beach, Oahu, Hawaii
- Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
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