230 beaches
Best Beaches for Sunset Beaches
For sunset over water in Maryland, you want the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay — any beach where you're looking west across open water. Matapeake Beach has dramatic Bay Bridge silhouettes at sunset. Point Lookout gives you the widest uninterrupted western horizon. Terrapin Beach puts the bridge right in the scene. Atlantic beaches (Assateague, Ocean City) face east, so sunset there is over the back bay or marshland, not the ocean — beautiful but different.
What to look for
West-facing shore, open water sightline (not behind trees), and a place to sit. Arrive 30 minutes before official sunset for the full show.
Ranked by Today's Conditions
Matapeake Beach & Dog Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Tolchester Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Rock Hall Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Oxford Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Cape Charles Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Smith Point Beach
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.
Cox's Point Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Quiet Waters Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Piney Point Lighthouse Museum & Historic Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Great Marsh Park (Gerry Boyle Park)
Ideal for a beach walk.
Roaring Point Waterfront 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.
Tyaskin Wharf
Ideal for a beach walk.
Cove Road Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Ocean View Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Fortescue
Ideal for a beach walk.
Gandy's 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.
Washington Park Beach (Michigan City)
Ideal for a beach walk.
Capitola Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Chic's Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Chic's Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Orient Beach State Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Marconi Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Ideal for a beach walk.
Hilton Head Island
Ideal for a beach walk.
Big Beach (Makena State Park)
Ideal for a beach walk.
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
Ideal for a beach walk.
Grand Isle State Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Pirates Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
West Dennis Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Mayflower Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Old Silver Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Sherwood Island State Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Compo Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Sunset Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Yokohama Bay (Keawaula Beach)
Ideal for a beach walk.
Kamaole Beach Park III
Ideal for a beach walk.
Maniniowali Beach (Kua Bay)
Ideal for a beach walk.
Anaehoomalu Bay (A-Bay)
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.
Cape May
Ideal for a beach walk.
Cape May Point State Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Villas
Ideal for a beach walk.
Jones Beach State Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Robert Moses State Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill
Ideal for a beach walk.
Smith Point County Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Polihale State Park
Great day for a beach walk.
Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach)
Ideal for photography.
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.
Ala Moana Beach Park
Great day for a beach walk.
Reeds Beach
Great day for a beach walk.
South Padre Island Beach
Great day for a beach walk.
Coney Island Beach & Boardwalk
Ideal for a beach walk.
Long Beach (Alamitos Beach)
Great day for a beach walk.
Sunken Meadow State Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Race Point Beach
Great day 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.
El Matador State Beach
Great day for a beach walk.
Leo Carrillo State Park
Great day for a beach walk.
Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur)
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.
Madaket 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.
Point Dume 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.
Padre Island National Seashore
Great day for a beach walk.
D.T. Fleming Beach Park
Great day for a beach walk.
Sandy Point State Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Elk Neck State Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Point Lookout State Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Terrapin Nature Area & Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Claiborne Landing
Ideal for a beach walk.
St. Michaels Waterfront Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Kiptopeke State Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Savage Neck Dunes Natural Area
Ideal for a beach walk.
Colonial Beach
Ideal for a beach walk.
Franklin Point State Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Solomons Island Riverwalk & Boat Ramp
Ideal for a beach walk.
Ferry Point Park
Ideal for a beach walk.
Haleiwa Alii Beach Park
Great day for a beach walk.
Magic Island Lagoon
Great day for a beach walk.
Carpinteria State Beach
Ideal for photography.
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.
Baker Beach (San Francisco)
Great day for photography.
Stinson Beach
Great day for photography.
Grand Haven State Park
Great day for photography.
Presque Isle Park (Marquette)
Great day for photography.
Glass Beach (Fort Bragg)
Great day for photography.
St. Clement's Island State Park
Great day for a beach walk.
Waikiki Beach
Great day for swimming.
Waimea Bay Beach Park
Great day for a beach walk.
Sunset Beach
Great day for a beach walk.
Hookipa Beach Park
Great day for a beach walk.
Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach)
Great day for photography.
Half Moon Bay State Beach
Ideal for photography.
Ocean Beach (San Francisco)
Great day 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.
Monterey State Beach
Great day for photography.
Hanalei Bay
Decent day for photography.
Heceta Head Beach (Devils Elbow)
Ideal for photography.
Cape Perpetua Scenic Area
Great day for photography.
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.
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
Great day for sunbathing.
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.
St. George Island
Great day for sunbathing.
Siesta Key Beach
Great day for sunbathing.
Gulfport Beach
Great day for sunbathing.
St. Pete Beach
Decent day for sunbathing.
Dauphin Island Public Beach
Great day for sunbathing.
La Jolla Cove
Great day for photography.
Carmel Beach
Ideal for photography.
Poipu Beach Park
Decent day for photography.
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.
Longboat Key Beach (Bayfront Park Access)
Great day for sunbathing.
Lido Beach
Great day for sunbathing.
Captiva Island Beach (Alison Hagerup Beach Park)
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.
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.
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.
Ecola State Park
Ideal for photography.
Manzanita Beach
Ideal for photography.
Rockaway Beach
Ideal for photography.
Nehalem Bay State Park
Ideal for photography.
Cape Lookout State Park
Ideal for photography.
Hug Point State Recreation Site
Ideal for photography.
Yachats State Recreation Area
Ideal for photography.
Bandon Beach (Face Rock)
Great day for photography.
Long Beach (Washington)
Great day for photography.
Cape Disappointment State Park
Great day for photography.
Haulover Beach Park
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.
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.
Vanderbilt Beach Park
Skip the beach today.
Naples Beach
Skip the beach today.
Third Beach (La Push)
Skip the beach today.
Shi Shi Beach
Skip the beach today.
Hobuck Beach
Skip the beach today.
Petoskey State Park
Skip the beach today.
Wilderness State Park
Skip the beach today.
Ocean Shores
Skip the beach today.
Pacific Beach State Park
Skip the beach today.
Kalaloch Beach
Skip the beach today.
Ruby Beach
Skip the beach today.
Rialto Beach
Skip the beach today.
First Beach (La Push)
Skip the beach today.
Second Beach (La Push)
Skip the beach today.
Westport Light State Park
Skip the beach today.
Selkirk Shores State Park
Skip the beach today.
Presque Isle State Park
Skip the beach today.
Port Crescent State Park
Skip the beach today.
Sandy Island Beach State Park (Sandy Pond)
Skip the beach today.