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