Summer is almost here, and for much of America, that means one thing: heading to a beach.
But with so many of them available—ranging from isolated, unspoiled nature to crowded party venues—how can you choose where to spend those precious summer vacation days?
Fortunately, Dr. Beach—aka Stephen Leatherman, who has been reviewing beaches for three decades—has put out his annual ranking of America’s Best Beaches to help you decide.
Hawaii’s Poipu Beach, on the island of Kauai, tops Dr. Beach’s rankings for 2026. Still, it’s not the most expensive beach on the list, with homes there listing at a median price of $1.4 million in April, according to Realtor.com® data.
The costliest beach in the new rankings is ranked No. 7: Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island, SC, an area with a staggering median list price of $2.96 million.
No list of the best beaches would be complete without the Hamptons, where homes near No. 5-ranked Main Beach in East Hampton, NY, typically list for $2.8 million.
If you’re on the hunt for a more affordable beach house, then the Sunshine State is the place. So long as you avoid billionaire enclaves like Indian Creek or Manalapan, there are deals to be had.
In Panama City, with a median list price of $459,450 near the No. 2-ranked beach at St. Andrews State Park, you have the best chance of snapping up your own beach abode without busting the bank.
“The top beaches in the U.S. range from relatively affordable spots in the South to pricey destinations in Hawaii and the Northeast,” explains Realtor.com senior economist Hannah Jones.
“Florida beach towns benefit from ample inventory and lower prices, while buyers in the Northeast and Hawaii should expect to pay a significant premium. For buyers who want a top-ranked beach without the premium price tag, Florida is the obvious starting point.”
Considerations before buying a beach home
While beaches can be dreamy, there are some pitfalls you should be aware of.
“Beach properties come with a different set of considerations than inland homes,” Brittany Skotak of Douglas Elliman Naples tells Realtor.com. “Insurance, flood risk, building reserves, storm preparedness, deferred maintenance, and carrying costs. Buyers that are not accustomed to these expenses can have sticker shock.”
At the most unfortunate end, your beach frontage might erode to the point where your abode is practically worthless or even puts you in danger.
However, the risk may be worth it. Beach homes can appreciate higher and faster than inland properties. Realtor.com data shows that homes on the ocean are priced roughly 29% higher than landlocked homes in the same area.
After all, if they’re not making any more land, they are most definitely not making any more shoreline. Inventory is usually constrained.
In Eastham on Cape Cod, for instance, there are 899 properties for sale in the metro area, but a mere 23 in the area immediately surrounding the beach.
But there are ways to get around the price and competition: Skotak recommends going farther inland.
“Some buyers start their search thinking they need to be directly on the beach and then realize being five minutes away gives them more options and often a lot more value,” she says.
Provided you choose wisely and do your due diligence, owning a beach home can be not only fun and fabulous, but also a sound financial decision. Here are Dr. Beach’s top 10 beaches for 2026:
1. Poipu Beach, Kauai, HI
Median list price: $1.37 million
Properties for sale in the immediate ZIP code: 354
Poipu Beach on one of Hawaii’s most stunning islands, Kauai, is actually two beaches, explains Dr. Beach.
“A tombolo, which is a narrow sand spit that extends from the shore to an island, separates the two pocket beaches,” he writes.
This leaves a shallow bar area where small children can play, as well as larger waves for the more adventurous.
With the fourth-highest median list price, the area around the beach is pricey and inventory is constrained. However, many would find living near that palm tree–fringed paradise well worth the outlay.
2. St. Andrews State Park, Panama City, FL
Median list price: $459,450
Properties for sale in the immediate ZIP code: 1,564
Despite having the lowest median price tag on the list, as well as decent inventory, this beach still comes out tops, even beating out three Hawaiian beaches.
Dr. Beach gives the spot props for being a “strikingly white sandy beach great for shelling and bird watching.”
3. Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin, Clearwater, FL
Median list price: $895,050
Properties for sale in the immediate ZIP code: 329
Caladesi Island State Park, a protected nature preserve and barrier island 7 miles north of Clearwater, keeps the tourist crowd at bay by being accessible only by boat or ferry.
With pristine white sand and emerald waters, the beach also boasts canoe, paddleboat, and kayak trails, mangrove forests, and plenty of heron watching.
4. Wailea Beach, Maui, HI
Median list price: $999,000
Properties for sale in the immediate ZIP code: 1,442
Located along the southwestern tip of one of Hawaii’s most stunning islands, Maui, the golden shores of the crescent-shaped Wailea Beach also offer ritzy hotels such as the Four Seasons Resort, the Waldorf Astoria, and the Grand Wailea.
Hawaiian beaches can sometimes be beautiful but rough, with dangerous riptides. Wailea Beach is known for its tranquil, more swimmable waters.
5. Main Beach, East Hampton, NY
Median list price: $2,795,000
Properties for sale in the immediate ZIP code: 213
The Hamptons have plenty of ritzy, famous beaches to choose from, but Adam Hofer of Douglas Elliman isn’t at all surprised that Main Beach beat them all out.
“Main Beach is the spirit of East Hampton,” he tells Realtor.com. “Even though East Hampton Village is known for its incredible selection of designer stores and high-end restaurants, Main Beach still feels like a true retreat from the noise of town.”
He is currently repping a gorgeous 5,800-square-foot, six‑bedroom, six‑bath mansion in East Village Hampton South. If you want to experience Main Beach first-hand and have at least $100,000 to drop for a monthlong lease, this may be for you. (It’s also close to Georgica Pond, near where celebrities such as JAY Z and Beyoncé and Steven Spielberg have their mansions.)
He, like Dr. Beach, advises visitors to use a bike to get around town, and suggests grabbing breakfast at the historic Beach Hut on Main. He recommends the lobster rolls and smoothies, or having a drink while you catch the sunset.
6. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, Naples, FL
Median list price: $699,973
Properties for sale in the immediate ZIP code: 5,905
With the most inventory on the list, this area around Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is still in hot demand and commands a premium over the rest of Naples.
“Delnor-Wiggins is actually one of the beaches buyers ask about most when they’re looking in North Naples,” says Douglas Elliman’s Skotak. “It doesn’t feel as built-up and busy as some of the surrounding areas and popular beaches.
“It’s more peaceful and relaxed, plus the sand is beautiful and there is plenty of wildlife to see.”
7. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, SC
Median list price: $2,958,675
Properties for sale in the immediate ZIP code: 81
With the highest median price on the list and very scarce inventory, Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island is limited to those with plenty of funds.
“Kiawah is very pricey and exclusive,” Leslie Turner of Maison Real Estate tells Realtor.com. “It’s hard to get behind the gates” of the community.
Beachwalker Park is the island’s only public-access beach, and it is also a protected nesting ground for sea turtles.
Turner suggests accessing the public beach and then using a bike to view the rest of the exclusive, private beaches.
8. Kaunaoa, Big Island, HI
Median list price: $645,250
Properties for sale in the immediate ZIP code: 1,244
With decent inventory and a reasonable price tag for Hawaii, this beach’s “clear, turquoise water and white coral sand that contrasts with the black lava rock,” according to Dr. Beach.
9. Lanikai Beach, Oahu, HI
Median list price: $1,750,000
Properties for sale in the immediate ZIP code: 85
With only 85 homes for sale in the vicinity of the beach and a whopping $1.75 million median price tag, you’ll pay dearly for what Dr. Beach calls “arguably the most beautiful beach” in all of the Hawaiian Islands.
With teal blue waters, a seemingly endless shoreline, and usually gentle waves that make swimming more relaxing than in the northern surfing beaches, Lanikai Beach is a mesmerizing jewel of a beach for the whole family.
10. Coast Guard Beach, Eastham, MA
Median list price: $877,500
Properties for sale in the immediate ZIP code: 23
Cape Cod arguably has some of the most breathtaking beaches in the country, and with this many sublime beaches to choose from, Coast Guard Beach in Eastham is the one that makes the list.
“Coast Guard Beach is one of my favorite beaches not only on Cape Cod, but in the world,” says George Sarkis, co-founder of The Sarkis Team at Douglas Elliman. “It feels so preserved and untouched in the best way possible. We love watching the surfers, and sometimes you’ll catch a few seals popping in and out of the water.”
Surrounded by the Nauset Marsh trails and the historic Coast Guard station, he says, there’s a “nostalgic” feeling to the beach. But don’t get your hopes too high for snagging your own slice of Coast Guard Beach paradise.
“Real estate opportunities near Coast Guard Beach are incredibly rare due to the protected coastline,” he says. Only 23 properties are for sale here.
“Coast Guard Beach exists in a category entirely its own,” agrees Michael McCaffrey of Douglas Elliman. “The dunes that look exactly as they did a century ago, knowing that the National Seashore protects every inch of it makes it feel even more special to me.
“This isn’t a beach that can be taken away.”
