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