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