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