108 beaches

Best Beaches for Kayaking & Paddling Beaches

Maryland beach-launch kayaking is best on protected water — creeks, coves, and marsh areas where wind chop doesn't ruin the paddle. Assateague has the best kayak rental and launch setup, and the bayside paddling is genuinely world-class with pony sightings. On the Chesapeake, Hammerman Beach offers paddle boat rentals, and most Western Shore parks allow bring-your-own launches from their beaches. Skip the open-Bay paddling on windy days — the Chesapeake can produce 3-foot chop fast.

What to look for

Kayak rentals, launch-permitted beaches, calm water (not open Bay unless it's glass-flat), and trails or routes to follow.

Ranked by Today's Conditions

Belle Isle State Park

Lancaster County, VA
86

Ideal for swimming.

77°F water 87°F air 3 to 7 mph wind

Anderson Park

Newport News County, VA
86

Ideal for swimming.

78°F water 87°F air 7 mph wind

Hammerman Beach (Gunpowder Falls)

Baltimore County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

75°F water 85°F air 7 to 17 mph wind

Janes Island State Park

Somerset County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

78°F water 84°F air 7 to 12 mph wind

Martinak State Park

Caroline County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

78°F water 86°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Kings Landing Park

Calvert County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

77°F water 87°F air 5 to 12 mph wind

Deal Island Wildlife Management Area

Somerset County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

78°F water 83°F air 8 to 12 mph wind

Mariner Point Park

Harford County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

77°F water 85°F air 6 to 16 mph wind

Dundee Creek Marina (Gunpowder Falls SP)

Baltimore County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

77°F water 85°F air 6 to 16 mph wind

Miami Beach Park

Baltimore County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

75°F water 86°F air 5 to 16 mph wind

Quiet Waters Park

Anne Arundel County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

78°F water 84°F air 7 to 16 mph wind

Elms Beach Park

St. Mary's County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

77°F water 86°F air 7 to 14 mph wind

Myrtle Point Park

St. Mary's County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

77°F water 86°F air 6 to 14 mph wind

Greenwell State Park

St. Mary's County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

77°F water 86°F air 5 to 14 mph wind

Friendship Farm Park

Charles County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

78°F water 88°F air 6 to 12 mph wind

Great Marsh Park (Gerry Boyle Park)

Dorchester County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

78°F water 86°F air 6 to 10 mph wind

Roaring Point Waterfront Park

Wicomico County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

76°F water 83°F air 7 to 12 mph wind

Chapel Point State Park

Charles County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

78°F water 87°F air 5 to 13 mph wind

Snow Hill Farm Park

St. Mary's County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

77°F water 85°F air 5 to 13 mph wind

Rolph's Wharf

Queen Anne's County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

77°F water 87°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Tyaskin Wharf

Wicomico County, MD
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

76°F water 81°F air 7 to 12 mph wind

Pickering Beach

Kent County, DE
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

76°F water 81°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Bowers Beach

Kent County, DE
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

76°F water 82°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Woodland Beach Wildlife Area

Kent County, DE
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

76°F water 81°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Shawnee State Park

Bedford County, PA
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

82°F air 2 to 7 mph wind

Cowans Gap State Park

Fulton County, PA
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

83°F air 6 mph wind

Pine Grove Furnace State Park

Cumberland County, PA
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

85°F air 2 to 6 mph wind

First Landing State Park

Virginia Beach County, VA
85

Ideal for a beach walk.

78°F water 83°F air 5 to 15 mph wind

Deep Creek Lake State Park

Garrett County, MD
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

78°F air 6 to 10 mph wind

Herrington Manor State Park

Garrett County, MD
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

76°F air 8 mph wind

New Germany State Park

Garrett County, MD
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

77°F air 6 to 10 mph wind

Greenbrier State Park

Washington County, MD
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

86°F air 3 to 10 mph wind

Broadford Lake Park

Garrett County, MD
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

77°F air 5 to 9 mph wind

Augustine Beach

New Castle County, DE
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

85°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Trap Pond State Park

Sussex County, DE
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

85°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Killens Pond State Park

Kent County, DE
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

86°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Laurel Hill State Park

Somerset County, PA
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

79°F air 3 to 8 mph wind

Cacapon Resort State Park

Morgan County, WV
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

82°F air 3 to 8 mph wind

Jennings Randolph Lake — Shaw Beach

Mineral County, WV
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

83°F air 3 to 10 mph wind

Gifford Pinchot State Park

York County, PA
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

87°F air 2 to 9 mph wind

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Virginia Beach County, VA
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

82°F air 3 to 14 mph wind

False Cape State Park

Virginia Beach County, VA
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

82°F air 3 to 13 mph wind

Chic's Beach

Virginia Beach County, VA
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

82°F air 5 to 15 mph wind

Orient Beach State Park

Suffolk County, NY
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

75°F air 1 to 8 mph wind

Crane Beach

Essex County, MA
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

73°F air 2 to 8 mph wind

Hilton Head Island

Beaufort County, SC
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

87°F air 3 to 8 mph wind

Sea Rim State Park

Jefferson County, TX
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

87°F air 10 mph wind

Matagorda Beach

Matagorda County, TX
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

86°F air 15 mph wind

West Dennis Beach

Barnstable County, MA
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

76°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

North Topsail Beach

Onslow County, NC
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

87°F air 6 to 10 mph wind

Emerald Isle Beach

Carteret County, NC
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

80°F air 6 to 10 mph wind

Pawleys Island

Georgetown County, SC
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

85°F air 3 to 9 mph wind

Edisto Beach State Park

Colleton County, SC
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

85°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Anaehoomalu Bay (A-Bay)

Hawaii County, HI
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

87°F air 2 to 17 mph wind

Ohio Street Beach (Chicago)

Cook County, IL
84

Ideal for a beach walk.

73°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Assawoman State Wildlife Area

Worcester County, MD
82

Ideal for a beach walk.

70°F water 78°F air 5 to 13 mph wind

Broadkill Beach

Sussex County, DE
82

Ideal for a beach walk.

69°F water 83°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill

Suffolk County, NY
82

Ideal for a beach walk.

72°F water 74°F air 3 to 13 mph wind

Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach)

San Luis Obispo County, CA
78

Ideal for photography.

73°F air 0 to 10 mph wind

Hammonasset Beach State Park

Middlesex County, CT
77

Ideal for a beach walk.

66°F water 77°F air 1 to 6 mph wind

12th Street Beach (Chicago)

Cook County, IL
77

Great day for a beach walk.

Island Beach State Park

Ocean County, NJ
75

Ideal for a beach walk.

64°F water 75°F air 5 to 15 mph wind

Crystal Cove State Park

Orange County, CA
75

Great day for a beach walk.

69°F air 0 to 10 mph wind

Mustang Island State Park

Nueces County, TX
74

Great day for a beach walk.

86°F air 16 to 20 mph wind

Flying Point Park

Harford County, MD
73

Ideal for a beach walk.

77°F water 85°F air 5 to 14 mph wind

Solomons Island Riverwalk & Boat Ramp

Calvert County, MD
73

Ideal for a beach walk.

77°F water 86°F air 6 to 14 mph wind

Wells Beach

York County, ME
73

Ideal for a beach walk.

56°F water 81°F air 5 mph wind

Anini Beach Park

Kauai County, HI
72

Great day for a beach walk.

81°F air 14 mph wind

Reid State Park

Sagadahoc County, ME
71

Ideal for a beach walk.

56°F water 80°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

La Jolla Shores

San Diego County, CA
69

Great day for photography.

67°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Ludington State Park

Mason County, MI
69

Great day for photography.

68°F air 6 to 10 mph wind

La Jolla Shores

San Diego County, CA
69

Great day for photography.

67°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

St. Clement's Island State Park

St. Mary's County, MD
66

Great day for a beach walk.

77°F water

Lanikai Beach

Honolulu County, HI
63

Great day for a beach walk.

80°F air 15 to 18 mph wind

Kailua Beach Park

Honolulu County, HI
63

Great day for a beach walk.

80°F air 15 to 18 mph wind

Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach)

Door County, WI
63

Great day for photography.

71°F air 6 to 10 mph wind

Cave Point County Park

Door County, WI
63

Great day for photography.

67°F air 5 to 9 mph wind

Raystown Lake — Seven Points Beach

Huntingdon County, PA
61

Great day for sunbathing.

85°F air 2 to 6 mph wind

Locust Lake State Park

Schuylkill County, PA
61

Great day for sunbathing.

79°F air 6 mph wind

Tuscarora State Park

Schuylkill County, PA
61

Great day for sunbathing.

82°F air 1 to 6 mph wind

Monterey State Beach

Monterey County, CA
59

Great day for photography.

62°F water 64°F air 2 to 12 mph wind

Hanalei Bay

Kauai County, HI
58

Decent day for photography.

83°F air 6 to 10 mph wind

Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park

Lane County, OR
56

Ideal for photography.

62°F air 0 to 5 mph wind

Whipple Dam State Park

Huntingdon County, PA
54

Great day for sunbathing.

84°F air 2 to 6 mph wind

Cape San Blas (Salinas Park)

Gulf County, FL
53

Great day for sunbathing.

86°F water 86°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

Gulf County, FL
53

Great day for sunbathing.

86°F water 85°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Prince Gallitzin State Park

Cambria County, PA
52

Great day for sunbathing.

79°F air 5 to 9 mph wind

Yellow Creek State Park

Indiana County, PA
52

Great day for sunbathing.

80°F air 6 to 9 mph wind

Maumee Bay State Park

Lucas County, OH
52

Great day for sunbathing.

82°F air 14 mph wind

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

Miami-Dade County, FL
46

Great day for sunbathing.

89°F water 88°F air 10 mph wind

Anne's Beach

Monroe County, FL
46

Great day for sunbathing.

91°F water 88°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Smathers Beach

Monroe County, FL
44

Decent day for sunbathing.

91°F water 92°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Caladesi Island State Park

Pinellas County
44

Decent day for sunbathing.

90°F water 89°F air 6 to 12 mph wind

Bahia Honda State Park

Monroe County, FL
43

Decent day for sunbathing.

89°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Marco Island Beach

Collier County, FL
43

Decent day for sunbathing.

92°F air 6 to 9 mph wind

Cumberland Island National Seashore

Camden County, GA
43

Decent day for sunbathing.

89°F air 6 to 13 mph wind

Nehalem Bay State Park

Tillamook County, OR
41

Ideal for photography.

56°F air 0 to 6 mph wind

Parker Dam State Park

Clearfield County, PA
38

Mixed conditions today.

78°F air 5 to 9 mph wind

Crandon Park Beach

Miami-Dade County, FL
38

Decent day for sunbathing.

89°F water 89°F air 10 mph wind

Sombrero Beach

Monroe County, FL
38

Decent day for sunbathing.

91°F water 89°F air 5 to 10 mph wind

Grayton Beach State Park

Walton County, FL
38

Mixed conditions today.

86°F air 0 to 10 mph wind

Bonita Beach (incl. Bonita Beach Dog Beach)

Lee County, FL
38

Mixed conditions today.

88°F air 6 to 10 mph wind

Lovers Key State Park

Lee County, FL

Skip the beach today.

90°F water 88°F air 6 to 10 mph wind

Wilderness State Park

Emmet County, MI

Skip the beach today.

63°F air 10 to 15 mph wind

Twin Harbors State Park

Grays Harbor County, WA

Skip the beach today.

60°F air 5 to 8 mph wind

Presque Isle State Park

Erie County, PA

Skip the beach today.

72°F water 75°F air 10 mph wind

Port Crescent State Park

Huron County, MI

Skip the beach today.

70°F air 9 mph wind

Sandy Island Beach State Park (Sandy Pond)

Oswego County, NY

Skip the beach today.

68°F air 3 to 8 mph wind
esc

↑↓ navigate ↵ open · Browse all · View map