228 beaches
Best Sunset Beaches
For sunset over water in Maryland, you want the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay — any beach where you're looking west across open water. Matapeake Beach has dramatic Bay Bridge silhouettes at sunset. Point Lookout gives you the widest uninterrupted western horizon. Terrapin Beach puts the bridge right in the scene. Atlantic beaches (Assateague, Ocean City) face east, so sunset there is over the back bay or marshland, not the ocean — beautiful but different.
What to look for
West-facing shore, open water sightline (not behind trees), and a place to sit. Arrive 30 minutes before official sunset for the full show.
Ranked by Today's Conditions
Avila Beach
Ideal for sunset
Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach)
Ideal for sunset
Cayucos State Beach
Ideal for sunset
Capitola Beach
Ideal for sunset
Elk Neck State Park
Ideal for sunset
Refugio State Beach
Ideal for sunset
Santa Cruz Main Beach
Ideal for sunset
Natural Bridges State Beach
Ideal for sunset
Rolph's Wharf
Ideal for sunset
Carmel Beach
Great for sunset
Cox's Point Park
Great for sunset
Ferry Point Park
Great for sunset
Compo Beach
Great for sunset
Hamlin Beach State Park
Great for sunset
Mayflower Beach
Great for sunset
Orient Beach State Park
Great for sunset
Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur)
Great for sunset
Port Crescent State Park
Great for sunset
Sherwood Island State Park
Great for sunset
Sunken Meadow State Park
Great for sunset
Tolchester Beach
Great for sunset
West Dennis Beach
Great for sunset
Coney Island Beach & Boardwalk
Great for sunset
Empire Beach (Lake Michigan Beach Park)
Great for sunset
Ferry Park (Rock Hall)
Great for sunset
Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill
Great for sunset
Fortescue
Great for sunset
Gandy's Beach
Great for sunset
Half Moon Bay State Beach
Great for sunset
Holland State Park Beach
Great for sunset
Indiana Dunes National Park
Great for sunset
Jones Beach State Park
Great for sunset
Long Beach (NY)
Great for sunset
Louisa Lane Park (Charlestown Beach)
Great for sunset
Ludington State Park
Great for sunset
Madaket Beach
Great for sunset
Marconi Beach
Great for sunset
Marquette Park Beach (Gary, Miller Beach)
Great for sunset
North East Community Park
Great for sunset
Old Silver Beach
Great for sunset
Robert Moses State Park
Great for sunset
Rock Hall Beach
Great for sunset
Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk
Great for sunset
Selkirk Shores State Park
Great for sunset
Silver Lake State Park
Great for sunset
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Great for sunset
Smith Point County Park
Great for sunset
Warren Dunes State Park
Great for sunset
Washington Park Beach (Michigan City)
Great for sunset
Big Beach (Makena State Park)
Great for sunset
Carlsbad State Beach
Great for sunset
Del Mar Beach
Great for sunset
Grand Haven State Park
Great for sunset
Kamaole Beach Park III
Great for sunset
Perryville Community Park
Great for sunset
Petoskey State Park
Great for sunset
Polihale State Park
Great for sunset
Presque Isle State Park
Great for sunset
Race Point Beach
Great for sunset
Sandy Island Beach State Park (Sandy Pond)
Great for sunset
Anne's Beach
Great for sunset
Bolsa Chica State Beach
Great for sunset
Cape May Point State Park
Great for sunset
Doheny State Beach
Great for sunset
Huntington Beach (Surf City USA)
Great for sunset
Laguna Main Beach
Great for sunset
Mission Beach
Great for sunset
Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach)
Great for sunset
San Clemente State Beach
Great for sunset
Sombrero Beach
Great for sunset
Stinson Beach
Great for sunset
Wailea Beach
Great for sunset
Wilderness State Park
Great for sunset
Bahia Honda State Park
Great for sunset
Captiva Island Beach (Alison Hagerup Beach Park)
Great for sunset
Cardiff State Beach
Great for sunset
Coquina Beach
Great for sunset
Crystal Cove State Park
Great for sunset
Lido Beach
Great for sunset
Maniniowali Beach (Kua Bay)
Great for sunset
Moonlight Beach (Encinitas)
Great for sunset
Baker Beach (San Francisco)
Great for sunset
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
Great for sunset
Bonita Beach (incl. Bonita Beach Dog Beach)
Great for sunset
Caladesi Island State Park
Great for sunset
Cape May
Great for sunset
Coronado Beach
Great for sunset
Honeymoon Island State Park
Great for sunset
La Jolla Cove
Great for sunset
La Jolla Shores
Great for sunset
Leadbetter Beach
Great for sunset
Long Beach (Alamitos Beach)
Great for sunset
Longboat Key Beach (Bayfront Park Access)
Great for sunset
Lovers Key State Park
Great for sunset
Oceanside Beach
Great for sunset
Pacific Beach
Great for sunset
Point Dume State Beach
Great for sunset
Sanibel Island Beach
Great for sunset
Seal Beach
Great for sunset
Siesta Key Beach
Great for sunset
St. Pete Beach
Great for sunset
Ala Moana Beach Park
Great for sunset
Bay St. Louis Beach
Great for sunset
Carpinteria State Beach
Great for sunset
Edgewater Beach (Cleveland)
Great for sunset
El Matador State Beach
Great for sunset
Haulover Beach Park
Great for sunset
Imperial Beach
Great for sunset
Leo Carrillo State Park
Great for sunset
Manatee Public Beach (Anna Maria Island)
Great for sunset
Monterey State Beach
Great for sunset
Ocean Beach (San Diego)
Great for sunset
Pacific City Beach (Cape Kiwanda)
Great for sunset
Pismo Beach
Great for sunset
Redondo Beach
Great for sunset
Reeds Beach
Great for sunset
Santa Monica State Beach
Great for sunset
Smathers Beach
Great for sunset
South Padre Island Beach
Great for sunset
St. Clement's Island State Park
Great for sunset
Vanderbilt Beach Park
Great for sunset
Villas
Great for sunset
Zuma Beach
Great for sunset
Clearwater Beach
Great for sunset
Fort Myers Beach (Lynn Hall Memorial Park)
Great for sunset
Naples Beach
Great for sunset
Newport Beach
Great for sunset
Ocean Beach (San Francisco)
Great for sunset
St. Michaels Waterfront Beach
Great for sunset
Venice Beach
Great for sunset
Glass Beach (Fort Bragg)
Great for sunset
Gold Beach (South Beach Park)
Great for sunset
Hermosa Beach
Great for sunset
Marco Island Beach
Great for sunset
Pacifica State Beach
Great for sunset
Sandy Point State Park
Great for sunset
Will Rogers State Beach
Great for sunset
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
Great for sunset
Matapeake Beach & Dog Park
Great for sunset
Padre Island National Seashore
Great for sunset
Terrapin Nature Area & Beach
Great for sunset
Third Beach (La Push)
Great for sunset
Anaehoomalu Bay (A-Bay)
Great for sunset
Cannon Beach (Haystack Rock)
Great for sunset
Haleiwa Alii Beach Park
Great for sunset
Hobuck Beach
Great for sunset
Long Beach (Washington)
Great for sunset
Ocean Shores
Great for sunset
Seaside Beach (Oregon)
Great for sunset
Pacific Beach State Park
Great for sunset
Shi Shi Beach
Great for sunset
Cape Disappointment State Park
Great for sunset
Cape Perpetua Scenic Area
Great for sunset
Harris Beach State Park
Great for sunset
Heceta Head Beach (Devils Elbow)
Great for sunset
Rialto Beach
Great for sunset
Yokohama Bay (Keawaula Beach)
Great for sunset
Ecola State Park
Great for sunset
Kaanapali Beach
Great for sunset
Magic Island Lagoon
Great for sunset
Nehalem Bay State Park
Great for sunset
First Beach (La Push)
Good for sunset
Hug Point State Recreation Site
Good for sunset
Manzanita Beach
Good for sunset
Rockaway Beach
Good for sunset
Ruby Beach
Good for sunset
Yachats State Recreation Area
Good for sunset
Kalaloch Beach
Good for sunset
Second Beach (La Push)
Good for sunset
Waikiki Beach
Good for sunset
Westport Light State Park
Good for sunset
D.T. Fleming Beach Park
Good for sunset
Nye Beach (Newport, OR)
Good for sunset
Bandon Beach (Face Rock)
Good for sunset
Waimea Bay Beach Park
Good for sunset
Cape Lookout State Park
Good for sunset
Hanalei Bay
Good for sunset
Poipu Beach Park
Good for sunset
Hookipa Beach Park
Good for sunset
Sunset Beach
Good for sunset
Claiborne Landing
Fair for sunset
Oxford Beach
Fair for sunset
Bellevue Landing
Tough for sunset today
Quiet Waters Park
Tough for sunset today
Tyaskin Wharf
Tough for sunset today
Cove Road Beach
Tough for sunset today
Franklin Point State Park
Tough for sunset today
Great Marsh Park (Gerry Boyle Park)
Tough for sunset today
Presque Isle Park (Marquette)
Tough for sunset today
Roaring Point Waterfront Park
Tough for sunset today
Solomons Island Riverwalk & Boat Ramp
Tough for sunset today
Sunset Beach
Tough for sunset today
Piney Point Lighthouse Museum & Historic Park
Tough for sunset today
Rosemary Beach (30A)
Tough for sunset today
Cape San Blas (Salinas Park)
Tough for sunset today
Mexico Beach
Tough for sunset today
Pirates Beach
Tough for sunset today
Smith Point Beach
Tough for sunset today
T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
Tough for sunset today
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
Tough for sunset today
Dauphin Island Public Beach
Tough for sunset today
Panama City Beach
Tough for sunset today
Point Lookout State Park
Tough for sunset today
Seaside Beach (30A)
Tough for sunset today
Colonial Beach
Tough for sunset today
Destin Beach
Tough for sunset today
Grayton Beach State Park
Tough for sunset today
Henderson Beach State Park
Tough for sunset today
Kiptopeke State Park
Tough for sunset today
Navarre Beach
Tough for sunset today
Pensacola Beach
Tough for sunset today
Savage Neck Dunes Natural Area
Tough for sunset today
St. George Island
Tough for sunset today
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Tough for sunset today
Cape Charles Beach
Tough for sunset today
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Tough for sunset today
Chic's Beach
Tough for sunset today
Gulf Shores Public Beach
Tough for sunset today
Orange Beach
Tough for sunset today
Perdido Key State Park
Tough for sunset today
Hilton Head Island
Tough for sunset today
Ocean View Beach
Tough for sunset today
Ocracoke Beach
Tough for sunset today
Biloxi Beach
Tough for sunset today
Grand Isle State Park
Tough for sunset today
Miramar Beach
Tough for sunset today
Pass Christian Beach
Tough for sunset today
Gulfport Beach
Tough for sunset today