12 Best Beaches to Visit in November—And Why It’s the Perfect Month to Go

November often provides a balance of fewer crowds and mild weather that makes for the perfect beach escape. Beachgoers seeking solace without the hustle and bustle of daily life will find it much easier to enjoy a tranquil retreat. Plus, it can be more affordable, provided you avoid the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in the U.S. As an off-peak travel season, airfare is often cheaper, and many hotels and resorts offer more affordable rates. 

Whether you’re looking for a remote beach along a rugged coastline with tidepools to search through, or something tropical with warm turquoise waters, you’ve got plenty of options for a beach getaway. From the Northern California coast to Florida, the Caribbean, and well beyond, these are some of the best beaches to visit in November.

The Mendocino Coast isn’t usually the place to go for sunbathing in November, but it is the perfect destination to enjoy a more peaceful time at the beach with summer visitors long gone. The skies are often bright blue, and the air crisp, with high temperatures around 60 degrees. 

At Greenwood State Beach, also known as Elk Beach, you’ll find an especially relaxed beach experience, accessed via a short trail opposite the Elk Store. Pick up picnic supplies to enjoy lunch on one of the large pieces of driftwood, providing the perfect natural seating. Plus, the sunsets here are particularly stunning this time of year. If you want to get more active, there are many scenic hiking trails that wind through majestic redwoods and along the coast. Or, take advantage of this kayaker’s paradise, with kayaking outfitters open year-round for tours and rentals.

It will be a bit warmer further south along California’s coast when November temperatures are closer to 70 degrees. Coronado Beach on Coronado Island is connected to the city of San Diego by the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. It’s a legendary stretch of sand that sparkles like gold beneath the frequent sunny skies, thanks to a mineral called mica. Visitors enjoy sandcastle building, beachcombing, sunbathing, swimming, paddleboarding, and more. At low tide, there are also tidepools with marine creatures like sea anemones, starfish, and hermit crabs to look through.

Of course, you’ll find plenty to do beyond the beach on the island as well, including walking and biking paths, catching a show at Lamb’s Players Theatre, taking gondola rides, and shopping in unique venues. Plus, you’ll be within easy reach of many of the city’s famous attractions, from the world-renowned San Diego Zoo to numerous theme parks.

Although Florida is subject to hurricanes and the official season runs through November, the chance of encountering a storm decreases significantly this month. Temperatures are pleasant with an average high of 79 degrees, while the humidity is lower, and there will be fewer crowds. Siesta Key Beach is an ideal destination to take advantage of it. Located along the Gulf of Mexico near Sarasota, it’s often ranked as the most beautiful beach in the country.

Enjoy three miles of powder sugar-like white sands, made up of 99 percent crushed quartz, lapped by brilliant turquoise water. Just walking barefoot here is enjoyable with the ultra-soft sand, but you can also swim, snorkel, parasail, or set out on a dolphin-watching tour. There are also many fun beach bars for sipping tropical cocktails and enjoying island-inspired cuisine with live music. It’s fun and easy to access the wealth of shopping and dining venues, thanks to the free trolley.

Like Siesta Key, the risk for storms in Key West decreases significantly in November, while the average high temperature is about 81 degrees. It’s perfect for swimming and snorkeling among abundant marine life like parrotfish and schools of yellowtail snapper.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Beach was recently named among the country’s best for those seeking a tranquil beach experience. Plus, visitors can snorkel right from the shore. Or, bring a pole and catch your dinner from the west rock jetty. There are facilities for renting snorkeling gear, umbrellas, and loungers, while picnic tables and grills can be found between the beach and a Civil War fort. The fort is perfect for history enthusiasts who want to explore. Be sure to stick around to watch a colorful sunset, as this beach is one of the area’s best vantage points.

Orange Beach enjoys average temperatures in the low 70s during November, with its nine miles of sparkling white sands similar to Siesta Key’s, primarily made up of quartz. The beach is part of the larger Gulf State Park, extending from Gulf Shores into Orange Beach and framed by bluer than blue waters. You can cast a line, beachcomb, or simply relax while soaking up the scenery, keeping an eye out for dolphins. 

For those who like dolphins, this is one of the best destinations for dolphin-watching, with the animals sometimes seen right from shore, playing in the surf. As they’re a native species, they can be spotted throughout the year, and boat tours are available in every season. Nearby Gulf State Park is a great spot for walking or biking the paved trails, while The Wharf on the bay side offers shopping, dining, and entertainment. It includes a Ferris wheel, arcade, an evening laser light show, and more.

Anywhere on Maui is a good place to be in November, especially the first half of the month. This is a shoulder season, which means hotels and resorts often offer great deals, making this typically pricey island more affordable. It’s also possible to enjoy a more serene experience without the big tourist crowds. Honokowai Beach Park is one of my favorite beaches as it’s more of a local’s beach, located between Napili and Kaanapali. There are many vacation rentals nearby, and Kaanapali is known for its high-end resorts as well as its beach, although much busier than Honokowai.

Pick up supplies for a picnic from the farmers’ market right across the road and enjoy a day here sunbathing, relaxing in the shade, picnicking, and more. There’s a shallow pool between rocky ledges of the reef that’s ideal for the little ones to splash around, and while some might tell you to skip the snorkeling, it’s actually worth bringing a snorkel and mask, with sea turtles commonly spotted in the area. There’s also a playground here, making Honokowai especially good for families. 

You might have read that October is the perfect time to visit Baja California Sur, with temperatures dropping around the start of fall, but that’s simply not true. The humidity and the temperatures don’t take a significant dip until late October, with November marking the official start of the dry season. This is when the weather is often perfect or close to it, with average temperatures hovering around the upper 70s to low 80s, and skies are almost always bright blue. It’s the perfect time for a vacation to La Paz, with Playa Balandra, often named as the most beautiful beach in Mexico, just a short drive away. 

Balandra Beach, with its soft white sands, is tucked around Balandra Bay, looking like a big natural swimming pool with shallow, strikingly clear turquoise water. Its symbol is a unique rock formation that looks like a mushroom. You can swim to it, or even walk across the sandy bottom of the bay to capture a photo, as the water is typically no more than waist high. Paddleboards and kayaks are available for rent, and occasionally, there’s a vendor here selling some food and drink. In general, facilities are limited. As it is so popular, the number of visitors is limited as well, with two entry slots available, from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. You might arrive early and then head over to nearby Playa Tecolote, where you’ll find multiple beach bars and restaurants as well as a long stretch of sand and swimmable waters.

Playa Norte (North Beach) is another stretch often named among Mexico’s best beaches. Located along the northern coast of Isla Mujeres, a 30-minute ferry ride from Cancun, the beaches are as soft as powder sugar and chalk-white, while contrasted by stunning, calm aquamarine water. November is the perfect time to enjoy it, with temperatures in the mid-80s, minus the crowds of the peak season, which runs from mid-December through April. 

The beach is most popular for relaxing, with umbrellas and loungers available for rent. But you can always bring a towel or blanket to toss down and sunbathe, or enjoy the shade of a palm tree. Numerous watersports are available around the area and throughout the island, including outstanding snorkeling at nearby reefs like El Farito. Right at North Beach, you’ll find plenty of food and drink, including bars, restaurants, and vendors that sell fresh, homemade coconut ice cream. 

Tamarindo Beach, with its vast stretch of golden sands, is located on the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica‘s Guanacaste province. November is a transition time between the wet and dry seasons, which means there won’t be as many visitors, yet temperatures are idyllic, averaging about 84 degrees. Typically, the month sees only occasional, brief rain showers in between plentiful sunshine. It’s a good balance of lush green landscapes, the chance to observe nesting sea turtles, a more tranquil setting, and potentially lower accommodation prices.

If you’re looking for outstanding surf with consistently high-quality waves, that’s reason enough alone to spend time at Tamarindo. It’s a top spot for surfing, with conditions for beginners (lessons available) toward the south end. The more advanced can hit the waves closer to the mouth of the river. An array of bars, seafood shacks, restaurants, and clubs can be enjoyed right here as well. If you want to see some of the country’s wildlife, take a boat or kayak trip through the mangrove forest where howler monkeys are often spotted and heard from a long distance.

While the hurricane season in Barbados officially runs through November, like much of the Caribbean, the odds are very low this month, with rainfall and humidity dropping while temperatures average around 74 degrees. With the peak season not starting until mid-December, this is the perfect time to enjoy beautiful beaches like Crane, with stretches of pale pink sands, remarkably clear cobalt water, and a stunning backdrop of dramatic cliffs. It’s a public beach, but the easiest access can be enjoyed by staying in one of the individual vacation rentals at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club or at The Craine Resort. 

Once named by “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous” among the top 10 beaches in the world, Crane Beach is truly a postcard-perfect setting for relaxation and more. Even during the busy season, it’s less crowded here, so in November, you can enjoy an even more peaceful atmosphere. As it’s on the Atlantic side, the surf is more powerful, making it popular for bodyboarding. But you can always just set up a rented umbrella for a quiet afternoon while enjoying the views and perhaps a good book.

Aruba is home to some incredible beaches like Eagle Beach with a long stretch of glistening, fine white sands and calm, crystal-clear sky-blue water. As one of the “ABC” islands, outside of the hurricane belt (and an island ranked among the safest in the Caribbean), it’s another perfect choice for a November beach escape. Eagle Beach is ideal for snorkeling, SUP, and a variety of other water sports, as well as being home to the island’s most photographed Fofoti Tree. It’s also a popular nesting spot for sea turtles. Plus, there are beachfront dining venues and hotels, making it an especially enjoyable base for any Aruba vacation.

November is the last full month of spring in Australia, making it the perfect time to visit the Gold Coast before the summer crowds arrive. The days are often warm and sunny with temperatures around 79 degrees, while nights are mild, dipping to about 63. This shoreline stretches for 25 miles along southeastern Queensland, and while it’s hard to go wrong with any beach on the Gold Coast, Burleigh Heads is a great pick. It offers sections with calm water for swimming, and around the headland, consistent surfing waves. If you want to learn to ride, you can take lessons through the Ocean Surf School.

At Burleigh Heads, you’ll also find parkland with playgrounds and spaces ideal for picnics, while the Burleigh Head National Park offers trails like the Ocean View Lookout Track for scenic views and the chance to spot wildlife. Watch for everything from koalas and echidnas to sea eagles and rainbow lorikeets.