Best LGBTQ Beaches in United States

El Matador Beach, located in Los Angeles County, is one of three beaches that make up the Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach (the other two are El Pescador Beach and La Piedra Beach). Nestled along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway, El Matador Beach, or “El Mat,” is known for its picturesque rock formations, golden sands, and is located below dramatic oceanfront bluffs that are lined with very expensive multimillion-dollar homes that, in some cases, exceed $30 million.

The beach has been named as the 11th best beach in “Top 50 Beaches of the United States” list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as “Mr. Beach.” Managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, El Matador Beach is also celebrated by Lonely Planet as one of the top beaches in the U.S., and it’s often recognized as one of Los Angeles’s best beaches. Visitors can enjoy the beach daily from 8 am until sunset.

Located in the southeastern part of the island-city of Key West, Smathers Beach is a popular half-mile long narrow beach with white sand and rocky jetties.  This beach is one of the largest beaches in Key West – it was listed as one of the six best beaches in Key West by Southern Living magazine and it was also listed as one of the best beaches in Key West by Travel+Leisure magazine.

Sebastian Beach is one of the most popular beaches for gay beachgoers and recently named the “Hottest U.S. Gay Beach” by Out Traveler. Located across the Ritz Carlton and at the corner of Sebastian Street and A1A, Sebastian Street Beach is often frequented by gay men and is surrounded by guesthouses. Beachgoers rave about how clean the water and sand is. The waves aren’t calm, but the water is warm enough to enjoy a swim. There are lounge chairs and umbrellas for rent, and the presence of lifeguards makes for a relaxing atmosphere.

Located to the north of the village of Surfside, Haulover Beach - also known as Haulover Park Beach - is an immensely popular and large white-sand beach. This one-and-a-half-mile long beach is situated adjacent to a park named Haulover Park and Haulover Beach Park. 

Located in the southern part of Monterey County in Big Sur, Wreck Beach is a small beige sand beach with many rocky portions. Wreck Beach is situated to the east of Pfeiffer Rock and Pfeiffer Beach and offers Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean, especially during sunset. The beach is beneath private property on Los Padres National Forest lands, so avoid going too far inland to prevent trespassing. Wreck Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly. Dogs are not allowed on the beach, and it is open from sunrise until sunset. This beach is reminiscent of Pacific Spirit Regional Park near the University of British Columbia, known for its clothing-optional beach.

Located near the city of Savannah, Little Tybee Island is a 6,780-acre island that is also a nature preserve and it has multiple unnamed white-sand beaches.  Some of the beaches in Little Tybee Island are considerably large in size.  Multiple creeks flow through some of the beaches in Little Tybee Island.  Once these creeks pass the beaches, they flow into the Atlantic Ocean.   

Little Tybee Island should not be confused with a separate adjacent island with a similar name called Tybee Island. 

Located in the Westside region of Los Angeles County, Will Rogers State Beach - sometimes also known as Will Rogers Beach - is a large and three miles long beach with light brown sand, a few rocky breakwaters, and a few rocks. The approximate area of this beach is around 103 acres. This beach is located in the neighborhood of Pacific Palisades - it is important to note that despite this beach’s name, Will Rogers State Beach is actually managed by the County of Los Angeles. The southern portion of this beach is wide and sandy and the central portion of this beach has a series of short rocky breakwaters. The northern portion of this beach is significantly narrow and this portion is also rockier than other parts of Will Rogers State Beach. The northernmost portion of this beach is named Sunset Point Beach and it is also known as Sunset Beach. In addition, there is also another portion of Will Rogers State Beach that is known as Ginger Rogers Beach - this beach is located near the southernmost portion of Will Rogers State Beach. Ginger Rogers Beach is located just south of the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Entrada Drive - this beach is popular with the local LGBTQ+ community. Will Rogers State Beach is named after famous Hollywood actor and cowboy Will Rogers - Will Rogers initially owned a portion of this beach area and he also owned an estate nearby. After Rogers’ death in a plane crash in 1935, his wife Betty inherited his estate and properties. Betty in turn donated Rogers’ coastal land to the State of California. Will Rogers State Beach was dedicated to the public by the State of California in 1942. In 1975, the County of Los Angeles took over the management of this beach from the State of California. There is a rock on Will Rogers State Beach that has a bronze plaque commemorating Will Rogers. Will Rogers State Beach should not be confused with another separate state park named Will Rogers State Historic Park- this state park is located near Will Rogers State Beach. As an interesting fact, many movies and television shows have been shot on Will Rogers State Beach including the popular television show Baywatch, the 1954 movie Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the 1950Humphrey Bogartmovie In a Lonely Place. A creek named Rustic Creek flows in the southern portion of Will Rogers State Beach - once this creek passes the beach, it flows into the Pacific Ocean. Will Rogers State Beach has lifeguards - the lifeguards here are deployed from sunrise to sunset. In addition to lifeguards, Will Rogers State Beach also has many other amenities including picnic tables, a children’s playground, concession stands, restrooms, a walking path, showers, volleyball courts, and a biking path. Dogs are not allowed in Will Rogers State Beach. Beach wheelchairs for visitors with disabilities are available at Will Rogers State Beach on a first-come-first-serve basis. If you want a beach wheelchair, you can contact the lifeguards posted at Will Rogers State Beach for more information regarding the wheelchair booking process.

Please note that as a result of the Palisades Fire in January 2025, many of the businesses and homes near Will Rogers State Beach have been destroyed, and we recommend not visiting this beach due to unsafe water conditions and poor air quality.