The East Coast’s Most Charming Beach Towns, From Maine to Florida

The East Coast offers a wonderfully diverse range of beaches and beach towns. In the north, you have the rugged, rocky, dramatic coasts of New England. The further south you go, the more the beaches even out and turn to soft, supple sands with nary a rock in sight. The beaches in New Jersey have their own culture from the beaches in the Carolinas from the beaches in Florida.

In short, if you have a particular type of beach or beach experience that you prefer, you can probably find it on the East Coast. Here are 12 East Coast beach towns to consider visiting for your next getaway. 

A quintessential New England beach town, it’s easy to see why Kennebunkport has become a favorite with discerning travelers over the decades. The town offers multiple beaches to choose from (Colony Beach is a favorite) and plenty to do when you’re not soaking up the sun. Explore the area’s colonial history, eat plenty of seafood (lobster, anyone?), and definitely check out the Goat Island Lighthouse.

Not too far away, you’ll find Bar Harbor, Maine. While Bar Harbor doesn’t have a traditional beach on full display, right in the center of everything, like you might find in some beach towns on the East Coast, that hasn’t stopped it from becoming one of the premier beach destinations in the region (and, arguably, the country).

Bar Harbor offers so much for travelers to love, and really something for everyone (I know, I know—that’s a bit of a cliché, but in this case, it’s true!). If you’re into outdoor adventure, you’re right on the doorstep of Acadia National Park. If you like adventure without the need for hiking boots (or sweat, for that matter), you can go on a whale watching tour. For those who like something a little calmer, the walkable town is filled with options for shopping, dining, and drinking, plus historic homes worth a look.

Massachusetts’ beaches are wildly popular in the summer, be warned. However, if you can plan your beach vacay for a shoulder season, you’ll be well rewarded. Even in September, the crowds have lessened enough to make getting around comfortable, without sacrificing warm temperatures.

The perfect place to have a very Nancy Meyers-esque vacation, Nantucket offers scenic views, local farms (yep, the island is big enough to have its own farms!), multiple lighthouses, and museums. Favorite beaches include Madaket and Surfside. Add the Nantucket Whaling Museum and the Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum to your itinerary.

Additionally, make some time to simply just walk around, exploring on foot (or on bike, if that’s more your speed), and seeing where things take you. You may just serendipitously uncover a few favorite spots all your own.

At the end of Long Island, Montauk offers a bevy of historic sites, great beaches, and some luxury, if you’re looking to plan a vacation that fully takes advantage of the Hamptons’ reputation for upscale everything. (That said, if you’re not really keen on rubbing elbows with the social media influencers that make their way to this hamlet, you’ll still find a fair share of more low-key locals and travelers here, too.)

Surfers appreciate Montauk for its rough waves, particularly at Ditch Plains Beach, so make tracks for that spot of sand if you’re traveling with your board. The Montauk Point Lighthouse is a must-visit for anyone, as it’s the oldest lighthouse in the state, dating back to the 1700s.

While Montauk may not be known as a foodie hub, it does still offer great fresh seafood and local produce from Long Island farms.

As is the case in Bar Harbor, the beach isn’t the main focus in Newport, but this city is still a perfect fit if you want to combine seaside explorations with historic, luxury appeal.

The real gem of Newport is, of course, all of its Gilded Age mansions (many of which you can easily visit). Make sure that you take a stroll along the Cliff Walk and make a point to try the local eats and drinks with visits to nearby vineyards and farms.

When you do want to go to the beach, you have options, including First Beach, King Park Beach, Gooseberry Beach, and the Fort Adams State Park beach.

Travelers who grew up reading “Misty of Chincoteague” and especially horse lovers, will recognize this Virginia beach town/island. Given the island’s reputation then, you absolutely have to go visit the famed ponies over at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. While you’re there, you can enjoy the refuge’s beaches, which are popular for surf fishing. Also in the refuge, you’ll find the Assateague Lighthouse.

To get out on the water, book a fishing charter or boat tour. Some of the boat tours are specifically geared around pony watching.

For cultural attractions, the destination offers the Museum of Chincoteague Island, the Captain Timothy Hill House, and the NASA Wallops Flight Facility.

Whatever you end up doing here, though, make a point to go to Robert Reed Waterfront Park and snap a photo with the statue of Misty, of “Misty of Chincoteague.”

This town on Martha’s Vineyard is accessible via ferry and is easy enough to reach that you don’t even need to be staying on the island if you want to check it out. The town is known for its colorful architecture (dubbed the Gingerbread Houses).

Explore on foot or by bike, making your way past restaurants, shops, and art galleries. Take a ride on one of the country’s oldest carousels, the Flying Horses Carousel, which dates to the 1800s.

As for beaches, try Long Point Beach, Katama Beach, Inkwell Beach or Joseph Sylvia State Beach (which is located near the town’s Jaws Bridge, nicknamed so because it appeared in the movie and a popular spot to jump into the water—even though the nearby signage will tell you not to).

If you’ve ever had a pastry from the chain Duck Donuts, then you may already know about this Outer Banks beach town. If not, a trip to Duck, North Carolina, will most definitely need to include a stop at the OG location.

Once you’ve properly filled your belly with donuts, it’s time to hit the beach. Water activities including parasailing, kayaking, and paddleboarding are also on offer. Take in the scenery at the Duck Town Park Boardwalk, too, and get in some local shopping.

If you have a longer stay, like more than a weekend, and you’re not content to just wile away each and every day on the beach (like I am), then you’re also within close drives of other, popular nearby attractions, such as the North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoke Island and Kitty Hawk, with its aviation history.

For those who live in the Mid-Atlantic, there’s no resort town quite like Ocean City. Bustling, busy, and very popular with families, if you want that classic beach experience complete with a boardwalk outfitted with all the rides and games, this is where you go.

Beyond spending far too much money on saltwater taffy and amusement rides, you can also visit the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum, go fishing at the pier, try your hand at surfing or kayaking, or go shopping. During one of your meals, make sure to order the blue crab.

In a similar vein, Myrtle Beach is a busy resort town with tons to do—tons. The boardwalk is the heart of all the action, where you’ll find a ferris wheel, arcades, and more. You can also find attractions in the vicinity that are akin to what you might find in family resort locales like Gatlinburg, Tennessee, or Branson, Missouri. Think a Ripley’s Aquarium, mini golf, go-karting, etc.

The surrounding area also boasts quite a few notable golf courses, making Myrtle Beach a destination equally popular with avid golfers. 

With its ample history and haunts, loads of cultural attractions and, of course, the beach, St. Augustine delights as an East Coast Florida locale. Top things you have to do while you’re there include, of course, a visit to likely the most prominent landmark of all, Castillo de San Marcos, but also head to the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, Lightner Museum and Ximenez-Fatio House Museum, all of which will school you on the various facets of this town’s intriguing history.

Lastly, take a trip that’s part-educational, part-relaxing, all-fun, to Cape Canaveral. Enjoy visits to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Cape Canaveral Lighthouse and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Jetty Park provides the area’s best beach, where you can also fish from the pier and, if you’re lucky, even watch a rocket launch. The Canaveral National Seashore is also an option, for 24 miles of undeveloped beach.