Just about everyone enjoys the beach, but not everyone loves a crowded beach. It’s loud, it can be hard to find a good spot, trash blows around, etc.
There are plenty of beaches that aren;t crowded, though, sometimes because they’re harder to get to and sometimes because a lot of people just don’t know about them. If you crave a secluded beach, try one of these destinations. Some of these locations will surprise you!
Kauapea Beach, Hawaii
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The fact that this Kauai beach is nicknamed “the secret beach” tells you enough already. Knowing that a steep and unmarked trail is the only way to reach this pristine gem by foot tells you the rest.
Enderts Beach, California
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Found along the state’s Redwood Coast, this gem has somehow been overlooked by the masses, which is great for seclusion seekers. Dramatic cliffs, tide pools teeming with marine life, and pristine beaches await visitors here.
Point Reyes National Seashore, California
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There’s plenty of road access to beaches in this wild, windswept area near San Francisco. However, there are also miles of beaches, including ones with backcountry camping sites, that you can only reach by foot.
St. Mary Lake, Montana
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Not too many people dare swim in this cold lake on the eastern side of Glacier National Park. The nearly constant winds make it feel even colder. Nevertheless, numerous pullouts provide easy access to this huge mountain lake’s shores, and you’ll never find any of them crowded unless a bear is cavorting in the waters, in which case you’re better off seeing the beach than being on the beach, if you catch our drift.
Grand Canyon, Arizona
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Yes, there really are beaches in the Grand Canyon! In fact, if you do the popular South Kaibab-Bright Angel Loop, you’ll pass a lovely, but small, sandy beach right alongside the Colorado River. There’s a lot of trail traffic here, but it’s nowhere close to the tourist traffic nearly a mile above, and it’s a pretty cool place to work on your tan.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan
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It’s easy to forget that lakes have beaches, too. A lot of the Lake Superior coastline here has tall cliffs lining it, but there are exceptions. In some spots, you can race down steep sand dunes to reach pristine beaches along the shore.
Padre Island National Seashore, Texas
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The beach within walking area is usually mobbed spring through fall, but if you have a 4wd vehicle or can visit during the off-season, you can find so much solitude here if you just drive past “the madding crowds.” As you head farther south, you’ll find fewer and fewer people on this largest undeveloped barrier island in the world.
Carova Beach, North Carolina
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Much of the beautiful Outer Banks not set aside as wildlife refuges and national seashores has become overdeveloped and overcrowded, but that’s not the case with Carova Beach at the far northern end of the region. Development has been kept minimal, and access is only by boat, foot, or four-wheel-drive vehicle.
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, North Carolina
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Technically, Pea Island NWR is part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, but since it’s sandwiched between the busy towns of the Nags Head area and the expanses of CHNS to the south, a lot of people just drive on by. That’s their loss and your gain.
Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina
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You can only get here by ferry. There is a road on the western side. But you have miles and miles of pristine beaches if you’re willing to do a small amount of hiking to get away from the limited crowds.
Jekyll Island, Georgia
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A small self-governing community exists here on this barrier island, but most of the island is undeveloped and pristine. Historic landmarks, thriving and diverse wildlife, and lovely unspoiled beaches are among the highlights here.
Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia
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Only reachable by ferry, this largest and southernmost of Georgia’s barrier islands is entirely protected as a national seashore. It’s known for marshes that filter freshwater and seawater and provide crucial wildlife habitat, old-growth forests of live oaks, and, of course, beautiful, pristine beaches.
Caladesi Island State Park, Florida
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Yes, there are secluded beaches in Florida, and one of the best of them is at this state park. Ferries and private boats are how you get to this barrier island that sports scenic, uncrowded beaches on this island in the Gulf of Mexico. The area is rich in wildlife, especially birds, and sea turtles like to nest on the undisturbed sands here.
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