The Best Beach Towns in the U.S. for a Long Weekend Getaway

Few escapes can melt stress away while providing a reinvigorating experience as a long weekend in a great beach town. Time to simply breathe in the salty sea air, lounge on soft sands, enjoy leisurely barefoot strolls, and glorious sunrises or sunsets every day makes it easy to get into a more relaxed rhythm. The best beach towns in the U.S. offer picturesque waterfronts, opportunities for outdoor adventures from water sports to coastal biking trails, along with eateries serving fresh seafood and fun boutiques for browsing.

As a fan of charming beach towns, I’ve explored many from the rugged shores of New England to the Southern and Western coasts. These are some of the very best I’ve discovered for an unforgettable long weekend getaway of soaking up the sand and the surf.

Tucked between the Ogunquit River and the Atlantic, Ogunquit is renowned for its 3.5 miles of soft sands and dunes dotted with roses. Divided into North Beach, Main Beach, and Footbridge Beach, Main Beach is at its heart. It offers all the necessary amenities, including lifeguards, snack bars, and restaurants. Beachcombing, kite-flying, sandcastle building, splashing around in the surf, and sunset watching are all popular here. Many enjoy strolls along the Marginal Way cliff walk, offering spectacular coastal views and a lighthouse. There’s also a thriving arts and theater scene with many local galleries, a playhouse, and the Ogunquit Museum of American Art. When it comes to dining, fresh seafood, including lobster, is where it’s at.

Newport is one of New England’s most popular beach towns. It’s renowned for its sandy stretches along the Atlantic, such as Easton’s Beach (First Beach) and Sachuest Beach (Second Beach). Plus, from downtown, one can board a ferry and reach Block Island in less than an hour to enjoy its quieter beaches. 

Beyond the sand, many come to Newport to stroll the 3.5-mile-long cliffside walk with panoramic ocean views on one side, and views of magnificent Gilded Age mansions on the other. Visitors will also find a vibrant waterfront and one of New England’s prettiest harbors. The town has a rich sailing heritage; in fact, it’s even earned the title “Sailing Capital of the World” as the home of the America’s Cup for over 50 years, in addition to serving as a hub for international regattas.

Cape May is a Victorian-era resort town with an array of enticing beaches to choose from, including Sunset Beach. Located just a short walk from the Cape May Lighthouse in Cape May Point State Park, it’s one of the top spots for watching glorious sunsets and searching for quartz crystals known as “Cape May diamonds.” 

In town, take a horse-drawn carriage ride or trolley tour along the cobbled streets. This is also a shopper’s paradise, with unique boutiques, antique stores, designer shops, and art galleries. Plus, breweries, wineries, and distilleries offer tastings. Not surprisingly, you’ll find lots of fresh seafood on restaurant menus.

Often named among the world’s best surf towns, Wrightsville Beach offers a four-mile-long span of powdery sands complete with pro instructors for those who want to improve their skills or learn how to get up on a board. But there’s plenty beyond surfing too, including the usual beach activities like sandcastle building, sunbathing, swimming, and paddleboarding. If you want to get up close to sea turtles and other marine life, take a boat tour to Masnoboro Island Reserve. 

The small town itself offers an excellent food scene focused on North Carolina coastal fare, with multiple eateries on the pier for enjoying a view while dining on everything from shrimp and grits to soft-shell crab and Atlantic shrimp.

While it’s only about 35 miles north of Jacksonville, connected by two bridges, Amelia Island feels as if it’s a world away. The island offers 13 miles of sandy beach, from secluded to lively spans, with a wide range of facilities. The historic village of Fernandina Beach is an ideal base for enjoying it all, including paddleboarding, sailing, and horseback riding along the surf. 

Downtown Fernandina Beach is home to grand architecture, including Victorian-, Gothic-, Italianate-, and Queen Anne-style buildings, lovely to explore via a horse-and-carriage ride. There are also antique markets, quirky shops, seafood eateries, and venues for enjoying cocktails with live music, most notably the 1903 Palace Saloon, Florida’s oldest bar.

Orange Beach is home to nine miles of beautiful beaches. Mostly made of quartz, the sand sparkles under the rays of the sun and is lapped by brilliant blue waters, providing a spectacular contrast. SUP, parasailing, jet skiing, and swimming are all popular. Plus, dolphin sightings are common. You can get a closer look with guaranteed sightings by hopping aboard the Cold Mil Fleet for a dolphin cruise. 

There’s plenty of fun on land in Orange Beach too, with golf courses, scenic hiking and bike trails, Waterville with its 20-acre water park and amusement park, and The Wharf. The Wharf is the shopping, dining, and entertainment hub, with an amphitheater hosting well-known performers, an arcade, and a Ferris wheel.

For a beach getaway with a good dose of history, St. Augustine may be your perfect pick. It boasts one of the most unspoiled stretches of coastline, with many white sandy beaches that are often empty, including Crescent Beach. Vilana Beach offers plenty to do for those who want to get active, including activities like parasailing. 

Wander the cobbled streets to discover the town’s past and visit historic landmarks like the Castillo de San Marcos along the western shore of Matanzas Bay. The 1672 fort is the oldest of its kind in the continental U.S. Wildlife enthusiasts can visit the St. Augustine Wild Reserve to see rescued and exotic animals, including lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, and wolves.

South Padre Island has become renowned for its more affordable spring break vacations, but it can be enjoyed throughout the year, with plenty of things to see and do. Located at the tropical tip of Texas, it offers 60 miles of drivable beach along the Padre Island National Seashore. Many come to beachcomb, build sandcastles, wade in the water, fish, and watch for dolphins. 

Beyond the sand, visitors will find many attractions, from Sea Turtle, Inc., nature trails, and the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center to buzzing nightlife venues. 

About 30 miles south of San Francisco, Half Moon Bay is renowned for its surfing, famous Mavericks Beach is only four miles north. But there are many wide, sandy beaches right here, popular for everything from surfing and swimming to bodyboarding, fishing, and sunbathing. A paved path runs alongside the bluffs, ideal for walking, jogging, and biking. There are also outfitters for horseback riding if you want to clip-clop along the sand with the beautiful views. 

The town of Half Moon Bay also boasts a thriving art scene with many galleries to explore, along with unique boutiques, breweries, bakeries, and restaurants. At Pillar Point Harbor, you can join a whale-watching tour or fishing charter, as well as rent watercraft like SUPs.

Having gone to high school in the Santa Cruz area, with family still living there today, I’ve spent a significant amount of time here in Santa Cruz. One of the best beach towns in California, it gets very busy in the summer, but the season is ideal for those who want to enjoy all sorts of events, including concerts right on the main beach that fronts the Santa Cruz Beach & Boardwalk. The amusement park is a top attraction, home to one of the country’s oldest wooden roller coasters, dating back more than a century. But there are rides for the little ones too, along with a huge arcade and carnival-type games.

Just a short stroll from the Boardwalk, the pier offers oceanfront dining as well as being a popular spot to watch the many sea lions lounging on the rafters and splashing around in the water. 

About 45 minutes south of Santa Cruz along the Central California Coast, Monterey is home to many picturesque beaches with opportunities to enjoy a variety of water sports and some of the world’s best whale watching. There’s a wide range of cetaceans here, including dolphins, porpoises, gray whales, humpbacks, blue whales, and orcas. 

Monterey is also where you’ll find the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row, a popular venue ever since it was featured in the 1945 John Steinbeck novel. It’s located right in the heart of town, a hub for dining and nightlife with frequent food festivals and farmers’ markets. History enthusiasts shouldn’t miss Monterey State Historic Park with its heritage buildings and adobe cottages. The 1835 Larkin House is a highlight as the state’s first two-story home.

Laguna Beach offers seven miles of coastal cliffs, coves, and idyllic beaches like Main Beach, the perfect place for everything from surfing to sunbathing. In Main Beach Park, lying adjacent, you’ll find 20,000 acres of land for cycling and hiking. If you’re hoping to spot whales, head to Crescent Bay Point Bar, which is also the best vantage point for watching a colorful sunset. 

In the artsy town of Laguna Beach itself, you’ll find many galleries to explore and the Laguna Art Museum, which displays a permanent collection of over 3,000 works featuring California’s top artists.

The oceanfront is the heart of Virginia Beach. Its sandy beach is a Guinness World Record holder, stretching for some 35 miles. The famous three-mile-long boardwalk runs alongside it at the center and has a dedicated bike lane ideal for long strolls and pedaling while enjoying the many buskers and food vendors along the way on a pleasant day. Swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and surfing are all possible, with lifeguards patrolling from mid-May through mid-September. 

No matter what the weather, there are plenty of things to do here, from browsing the many enticing shops to enjoying a spectacular ocean view while dining on seafood, and exploring the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center.

If you’re looking for a beach town with lots of family-friendly attractions, Seaside is ideal. Nestled along the northern Oregon Coast, it offers nearly two miles of powdery sands and a promenade that runs even longer alongside it. Rent bikes and enjoy a scenic ride, build sandcastles, or fly a kite. The waves are popular for surfing, although too powerful for swimming. Of course, you can always dip your toes in. 

Among the wealth of attractions in town is the Funland Arcade with bumper cars, skee ball, and other amusements, the Captain Kid Amusement Park with mini-golf and go-karts, and the Seaside Aquarium. It’s especially popular for its harbor seals that visitors can feed. 

Cannon Beach is one of the country’s most romantic beach towns, although it’s a great destination for couples and families alike. Its iconic symbol, 235-foot- high Haystack Rock, is not only an outstanding photo op, but at low tide, there are tidepools with all sorts of colorful marine creatures one can see, from sea anemones and hermit crabs to starfish. The annual Sandcastle Contest, held in June over the weekend that falls closest to the start of summer, is worth planning a trip around just to see the magic that professionals and amateurs create. 

In town, you’ll find a community theater, art galleries, and a variety of shopping and dining venues. The Wayfarer is renowned for its Pacific Northwest fare that can be enjoyed with a direct view of the Pacific and Haystack Rock.