395 beaches
Best Family Beaches
A good family beach is a specific thing: lifeguards on duty, a protected swim area, gradual wading depth, bathroom and shower access, snacks within walking distance, and enough shade for an all-day setup. Not all Maryland beaches check all those boxes. The best family beaches tend to be state park facilities — they're better maintained, have reliable lifeguard coverage, and enforce no-alcohol policies that keep the vibe kid-appropriate. For toddlers, Breezy Point's netted lagoon is unbeatable because it blocks jellyfish.
What to look for
Lifeguards, bathhouse with real bathrooms and showers, playground for kids, picnic areas for the cooler, and ideally a calm-water beach (not open Bay chop).
Ranked by Today's Conditions
Bonita Beach (incl. Bonita Beach Dog Beach)
Ideal for family
Naples Beach
Ideal for family
Vanderbilt Beach Park
Ideal for family
Fort Myers Beach (Lynn Hall Memorial Park)
Ideal for family
Lido Beach
Ideal for family
Lovers Key State Park
Ideal for family
Siesta Key Beach
Ideal for family
Sanibel Island Beach
Ideal for family
Destin Beach
Ideal for family
Marco Island Beach
Ideal for family
Gulf Shores Public Beach
Ideal for family
Henderson Beach State Park
Ideal for family
Navarre Beach
Ideal for family
Orange Beach
Ideal for family
Pensacola Beach
Ideal for family
Perdido Key State Park
Ideal for family
Anne's Beach
Ideal for family
New Smyrna Beach
Ideal for family
Bahia Honda State Park
Ideal for family
Dauphin Island Public Beach
Ideal for family
Sombrero Beach
Ideal for family
Capitola Beach
Ideal for family
Cardiff State Beach
Ideal for family
Carpinteria State Beach
Ideal for family
Cocoa Beach
Ideal for family
Moonlight Beach (Encinitas)
Ideal for family
Oceanside Beach
Ideal for family
Refugio State Beach
Ideal for family
Santa Cruz Main Beach
Ideal for family
Biloxi Beach
Great for family
Manatee Public Beach (Anna Maria Island)
Great for family
St. George Island
Great for family
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
Great for family
Crandon Park Beach
Great for family
Leadbetter Beach
Great for family
Smathers Beach
Great for family
St. Augustine Beach
Great for family
Bathtub Reef Beach (Hutchinson Island)
Great for family
Coquina Beach
Great for family
Natural Bridges State Beach
Great for family
Panama City Beach
Great for family
Clearwater Beach
Great for family
Grand Isle State Park
Great for family
St. Simons Island Beach
Great for family
Caladesi Island State Park
Great for family
Grayton Beach State Park
Great for family
Isle of Palms
Great for family
Jekyll Island Beach
Great for family
Pass Christian Beach
Great for family
Rosemary Beach (30A)
Great for family
Seaside Beach (30A)
Great for family
St. Pete Beach
Great for family
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Great for family
Gulfport Beach
Great for family
Honeymoon Island State Park
Great for family
Miramar Beach
Great for family
Padre Island National Seashore
Great for family
South Beach (Miami Beach)
Great for family
West Ship Island
Great for family
12th Street Beach (Chicago)
Great for family
Bay St. Louis Beach
Great for family
Galveston Seawall
Great for family
Hampton Beach
Great for family
Jamaica Beach
Great for family
Pacific City Beach (Cape Kiwanda)
Great for family
Stewart Beach
Great for family
Surfside Beach (TX)
Great for family
Crystal Beach (Bolivar Peninsula)
Great for family
East Beach (Galveston)
Great for family
Hilton Head Island
Great for family
Hollywood Beach
Great for family
Edisto Beach State Park
Great for family
Fort Lauderdale Beach
Great for family
Jupiter Beach
Great for family
Ocean Reef Park (Singer Island)
Great for family
Delray Beach
Great for family
Oceanfront Park Beach (Boynton Beach)
Great for family
South Padre Island Beach
Great for family
Folly Beach
Great for family
North Myrtle Beach
Great for family
Garden City Beach
Great for family
Pawleys Island
Great for family
Smith Point County Park
Great for family
Tybee Island Beach
Great for family
Litchfield Beach
Good for family
Compo Beach
Good for family
Sherwood Island State Park
Good for family
Mustang Island State Park
Good for family
Petoskey State Park
Good for family
Sunset Beach (North Carolina)
Good for family
Emerald Isle Beach
Good for family
Lakeport State Park
Good for family
Salt Pond Beach Park
Good for family
Bolsa Chica State Beach
Good for family
Jean S. Roberts Memorial Park
Good for family
Kalapaki Beach
Good for family
Kings Landing Park
Good for family
Calf Pasture Beach
Good for family
Elms Beach Park
Good for family
Holden Beach
Good for family
Mariner Point Park
Good for family
Miami Beach Park
Good for family
Newport Beach
Good for family
North East Community Park
Good for family
Oak Island Beach
Good for family
Betterton Beach
Good for family
Brownies Beach (Bayfront Park)
Good for family
Carolina Beach
Good for family
Del Mar Beach
Good for family
Havre de Grace Promenade & Tydings Park
Good for family
Louisa Lane Park (Charlestown Beach)
Good for family
North Beach
Good for family
Perryville Community Park
Good for family
Quiet Waters Park
Good for family
Westmoreland State Park
Good for family
Bellevue Landing
Good for family
Daytona Beach
Good for family
Greenwell State Park
Good for family
Huntington Beach (Surf City USA)
Good for family
Oxford Beach
Good for family
Port Aransas Beach
Good for family
Port Crescent State Park
Good for family
Rolph's Wharf
Good for family
Topsail Beach
Good for family
Trap Pond State Park
Good for family
Crystal Cove State Park
Good for family
Great Marsh Park (Gerry Boyle Park)
Good for family
Killens Pond State Park
Good for family
Laguna Main Beach
Good for family
North Topsail Beach
Good for family
Snow Hill Farm Park
Good for family
Atlantic Beach
Good for family
Atlantic Beach (NC)
Good for family
Cape Canaveral Beach
Good for family
Gifford Pinchot State Park
Good for family
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
Good for family
Indian Beach
Good for family
Jacksonville Beach
Good for family
Kaunaoa Beach (Mauna Kea Beach)
Good for family
Melbourne Beach (Spessard Holland South)
Good for family
Neptune Beach
Good for family
San Clemente State Beach
Good for family
Santa Monica State Beach
Good for family
Seal Beach
Good for family
Amelia Island Beach
Fair for family
Carlsbad State Beach
Fair for family
Doheny State Beach
Fair for family
Downs Park
Fair for family
Imperial Beach
Fair for family
Pacific Beach
Fair for family
Piney Point Lighthouse Museum & Historic Park
Fair for family
Rocky Neck State Park
Fair for family
Venice Beach
Fair for family
Will Rogers State Beach
Fair for family
31st Street Beach (Margaret T. Burroughs Beach)
Fair for family
57th Street Beach (Hyde Park)
Fair for family
63rd Street Beach (Chicago)
Fair for family
Anaehoomalu Bay (A-Bay)
Fair for family
Fort Smallwood Park
Fair for family
Foster Avenue Beach (Chicago)
Fair for family
Hammerman Beach (Gunpowder Falls)
Fair for family
Kure Beach
Fair for family
La Jolla Shores
Fair for family
Long Beach (Alamitos Beach)
Fair for family
Maumee Bay State Park
Fair for family
Mission Beach
Fair for family
Montrose Beach (Chicago)
Fair for family
North Avenue Beach (Chicago)
Fair for family
Oak Street Beach (Chicago)
Fair for family
Ohio Street Beach (Chicago)
Fair for family
Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Fair for family
Surf City Beach
Fair for family
Torrey Pines State Beach
Fair for family
Warren Dunes State Park
Fair for family
Washington Park Beach (Michigan City)
Fair for family
Wrightsville Beach
Fair for family
Augustine Beach
Fair for family
Bowers Beach
Fair for family
Haleiwa Alii Beach Park
Fair for family
Indiana Dunes National Park
Fair for family
Marquette Park Beach (Gary, Miller Beach)
Fair for family
Ocracoke Beach
Fair for family
Tuscarora State Park
Fair for family
Vero Beach
Fair for family
Alki Beach Park
Fair for family
Cowans Gap State Park
Fair for family
Ferry Park (Rock Hall)
Fair for family
Jennings Randolph Lake — Shaw Beach
Fair for family
Ocean Beach (San Diego)
Fair for family
Redondo Beach
Fair for family
Ala Moana Beach Park
Fair for family
Cunningham Falls State Park (Hunting Creek Lake)
Fair for family
Hermosa Beach
Fair for family
Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park
Fair for family
Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach)
Fair for family
Sebastian Inlet State Park
Fair for family
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Fair for family
Stuart Beach (Hutchinson Island)
Fair for family
Broadford Lake Park
Fair for family
Greenbrier State Park
Fair for family
Kirk Park Beach
Fair for family
Avila Beach
Fair for family
Golden Gardens Park
Fair for family
Mexico Beach
Fair for family
Anderson Park
Fair for family
Locust Lake State Park
Fair for family
Pompano Beach
Fair for family
Tawas Point State Park
Fair for family
Deerfield Beach
Fair for family
Nags Head Beach
Fair for family
West Dennis Beach
Fair for family
Corolla Beach
Fair for family
Craigville Beach
Fair for family
Hanalei Bay
Fair for family
Hilton Pier Park
Fair for family
Poipu Beach Park
Fair for family
Buckroe Beach
Fair for family
Cacapon Resort State Park
Fair for family
Coast Guard Beach
Fair for family
Lake Worth Beach
Fair for family
Magic Island Lagoon
Fair for family
Ocean View Beach
Fair for family
Old Silver Beach
Fair for family
Sandbridge Beach
Fair for family
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Fair for family
Cedar Point Beach
Fair for family
Harris Beach State Park
Fair for family
Kill Devil Hills Beach
Fair for family
Lantana Municipal Beach
Fair for family
Mayflower Beach
Fair for family
Pismo Beach
Fair for family
Waikiki Beach
Fair for family
Chic's Beach
Fair for family
First Landing State Park
Fair for family
Nauset Beach
Fair for family
Surfside Beach (Nantucket)
Fair for family
Anini Beach Park
Fair for family
H.A. Baldwin Beach Park
Fair for family
Herrington Manor State Park
Fair for family
Orient Beach State Park
Fair for family
Deception Pass State Park
Fair for family
Kiptopeke State Park
Fair for family
Leo Carrillo State Park
Fair for family
Main Beach
Fair for family
Zuma Beach
Fair for family
Cape Charles Beach
Fair for family
Ocean City Beach
Fair for family
Salisbury Beach State Reservation
Fair for family
Bradford Beach (Milwaukee)
Fair for family
Coronado Beach
Fair for family
Deep Creek Lake State Park
Fair for family
Empire Beach (Lake Michigan Beach Park)
Fair for family
Holland State Park Beach
Fair for family
Narragansett Town Beach
Fair for family
Rehoboth Beach
Fair for family
D.T. Fleming Beach Park
Fair for family
Kapalua Bay Beach
Fair for family
Larrabee State Park
Fair for family
Rocky Gap State Park
Fair for family
Scarborough State Beach
Fair for family
Birch Bay State Park
Tough for family today
Jones Beach State Park
Tough for family today
Orchard Beach and Promenade
Tough for family today
Sunken Meadow State Park
Tough for family today
Grand Haven State Park
Tough for family today
Ludington State Park
Tough for family today
Silver Lake State Park
Tough for family today
Gold Beach (South Beach Park)
Tough for family today
Goose Rocks Beach
Tough for family today
Heceta Head Beach (Devils Elbow)
Tough for family today
Long Beach (NY)
Tough for family today
Brighton Beach
Tough for family today
Flying Point Park
Tough for family today
Manhattan Beach Park
Tough for family today
Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach)
Tough for family today
Breezy Point Beach
Tough for family today
Elk Neck State Park
Tough for family today
Kamaole Beach Park III
Tough for family today
New Germany State Park
Tough for family today
Raystown Lake — Seven Points Beach
Tough for family today
Revere Beach
Tough for family today
Colonial Beach
Tough for family today
St. Michaels Waterfront Beach
Tough for family today
Wailea Beach
Tough for family today
Edgewater Beach (Cleveland)
Tough for family today
Solomons Island Riverwalk & Boat Ramp
Tough for family today
Laurel Hill State Park
Tough for family today
Rocky Point Beach & Park
Tough for family today
Sandy Point State Park
Tough for family today
Cape San Blas (Salinas Park)
Tough for family today
Dares Beach Park
Tough for family today
T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
Tough for family today
Whipple Dam State Park
Tough for family today
Myrtle Beach
Tough for family today
Point Lookout State Park
Tough for family today
Ferry Beach State Park
Tough for family today
Headlands Beach State Park
Tough for family today
Shawnee State Park
Tough for family today
Surfside Beach (SC)
Tough for family today
North Hampton State Beach
Tough for family today
Cayucos State Beach
Tough for family today
Good Harbor Beach
Tough for family today
Wallis Sands State Beach
Tough for family today
Wingaersheek Beach
Tough for family today
Lewes Beach
Tough for family today
Kaanapali Beach
Tough for family today
Sandy Neck Beach Park
Tough for family today
Bethany Beach
Tough for family today
Half Moon Bay State Beach
Tough for family today
Monterey State Beach
Tough for family today
South Bethany Beach
Tough for family today
Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Tough for family today
Bellows Field Beach Park
Tough for family today
Hanauma Bay
Tough for family today
Presque Isle State Park
Tough for family today
Wells Beach
Tough for family today
Duck Beach
Tough for family today
Margate City
Tough for family today
Prince Gallitzin State Park
Tough for family today
Ventnor City
Tough for family today
Yellow Creek State Park
Tough for family today
Assateague State Park
Tough for family today
Marconi Beach
Tough for family today
Long Sands Beach
Tough for family today
Pacifica State Beach
Tough for family today
Parker Dam State Park
Tough for family today
Dewey Beach
Tough for family today
Misquamicut State Beach
Tough for family today
Ogunquit Beach
Tough for family today
Old Orchard Beach
Tough for family today
Playland Beach
Tough for family today
Ponquogue Beach
Tough for family today
Stinson Beach
Tough for family today
East Matunuck State Beach
Tough for family today
Kailua Beach Park
Tough for family today
Kitty Hawk Beach
Tough for family today
Robert Moses State Park
Tough for family today
Salty Brine State Beach
Tough for family today
Cape Henlopen State Park
Tough for family today
Delaware Seashore State Park
Tough for family today
Hamlin Beach State Park
Tough for family today
Island Beach State Park
Tough for family today
Roger W. Wheeler State Beach
Tough for family today
Hammonasset Beach State Park
Tough for family today
Asbury Park
Tough for family today
Atlantic City
Tough for family today
Avalon
Tough for family today
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
Tough for family today
Beach Haven (LBI)
Tough for family today
Belmar
Tough for family today
Brigantine
Tough for family today
Cannon Beach (Haystack Rock)
Tough for family today
Cape May
Tough for family today
Coney Island Beach & Boardwalk
Tough for family today
Coopers Beach
Tough for family today
Crane Beach
Tough for family today
Crescent Beach State Park
Tough for family today
Dash Point State Park
Tough for family today
Double Bluff Beach
Tough for family today
First Beach (La Push)
Tough for family today
Fort Worden State Park
Tough for family today
Hobuck Beach
Tough for family today
Hug Point State Recreation Site
Tough for family today
Kalaloch Beach
Tough for family today
Long Beach (Washington)
Tough for family today
Manasquan
Tough for family today
Manzanita Beach
Tough for family today
Nehalem Bay State Park
Tough for family today
North Wildwood
Tough for family today
Nye Beach (Newport, OR)
Tough for family today
Ocean City NJ
Tough for family today
Ocean Shores
Tough for family today
Owen Beach (Point Defiance)
Tough for family today
Pemaquid Beach Park
Tough for family today
Point Pleasant Beach
Tough for family today
Popham Beach State Park
Tough for family today
Presque Isle Park (Marquette)
Tough for family today
Reid State Park
Tough for family today
Rockaway Beach
Tough for family today
Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk
Tough for family today
Ruby Beach
Tough for family today
Saltwater State Park
Tough for family today
Sand Beach (Acadia National Park)
Tough for family today
Sandy Hook (Gateway NRA)
Tough for family today
Sea Isle City
Tough for family today
Seaside Beach (Oregon)
Tough for family today
Seaside Heights
Tough for family today
Seaside Park
Tough for family today
Selkirk Shores State Park
Tough for family today
Spring Lake
Tough for family today
Stone Harbor
Tough for family today
Twin Harbors State Park
Tough for family today
Westport Light State Park
Tough for family today
Wildwood
Tough for family today
Wildwood Crest
Tough for family today