Best Party Beaches in the United States

Panama City Beach is a stunning vacation destination that combines tranquil, island paradise with bustling city life. A strip of skyscrapers sits along the golden sand, creating the paradoxical aesthetic that is unique to this Floridian beach. If you're looking for a beach with plenty of thrills and adventures, Panama City Beach is the destination for you.

This beach is the ultimate beach-palooza, with a myriad of watersports, including boating, fishing, parasailing, diving, and more. Take advantage of the opportunity to explore the turquoise waters of the Gulf Mexico by swimming with dolphins, deep-sea fishing on a charter boat, scuba diving through sunken ships and colorful reefs, and more. Scuba diving is especially popular among the artificial reefs of historic shipwrecks, including the Black Bart, World War II Liberty Ship, and Empire Mica. Further your underwater adventures with Panama City Dive Center, which offers diving lessons and the chance to become scuba-certified.

Jet-skiing on a Yamaha Waverunner is another popular beach activity. Enjoy your beach day by slicing through the bright blue waters at incredible speeds. Stand-up paddleboarding is another fun pastime on the beach or on nearby lagoons and rivers -- you can even fish or do yoga on your board! Parasailing is an adrenaline-filled experience above sparkling, blue coastline that many beachgoers go for during the summer months. At the end of the day, head to Saltwater Grill for amazing seafood and cocktails, or to Firefly for a romantic dinner under twinkling lights. It's clear that Panama City Beach is a legendary sandy paradise, complete with water activities, gorgeous views, and great food. Is Panama City Beach the beach for you? Come to Florida's northern coast yourself to find out.

Home to the famous Daytona International Speedway and Motorsports Hall of Fame, Daytona Beach isn't limited by its racing tracks. Above all else, it's a tropical playground and a stunning beach.

Located less than an hour from Orlando, Daytona Beach is easily accessible. Although it can get crowded during the summer and NASCAR races, park on the beach’s side streets to dodge the traffic and congestion. Once you’re at Daytona however, you’ll find that it is truly worth it. With 23 miles of pristine beachfront, it’s the epitome of tropical paradise. With vibrant turquoise waters, glistening golden sand, vibrant sunsets, and sky-scraping palm trees, Daytona Beach looks like it belongs on a postcard. It’s the perfect place to lounge on the sand, tan, and bask in incredible views of the Atlantic.

While Daytona’s a great beach for lounging, it’s also an ideal place for adventurers. Temperate waters during low tide make the beach ideal for snorkeling, swimming, paddle boarding, fishing, and kayaking. And with large waves during high tide, it’s perfect for surfers and boogie boarders looking to catch only the Atlantic’s most exhilarating waves.

For beachgoers seeking a change of pace after a day of fun in the sun, Daytona Beach has plenty to do. Looking for a day of shopping? Visit the Tanger Outlets Daytona, a local outlet mall offering incredible deals on coveted brands such as Hugo Boss, Armani, Coach, Joie, Rag & Bone, Lululemon, Michael Kors, Theory, Tory Burch, True Religion, Vince, Polo Ralph Lauren, Adidas, and Nike. Prefer a nourishing spa day? Visit Ocean Waters Spa, a well-reviewed local spa known for its excellent facials, manicures, pedicures, and massages.

At Daytona Beach, hungry beachgoers are in luck. With a number of top-notch local restaurants offering unique dining experiences, Daytona is the perfect place to grab a bite. For authentic old-school Italian comfort food, visit Don Vito’s Italian Restaurant, a family-run local spot loved by locals for its eggplant parmigiana, lasagna, and stromboli. Prefer a romantic and adventurous night of fine dining? Dine at The Cellar, an upscale chef-driven hotspot known for its homemade pastas and excellent osso buco. For beachgoers spending the night in Daytona, the Plaza Resort and Spa and the Holiday Inn Daytona Beach on the Ocean offer guests spacious oceanfront rooms and excellent service.

Located in Miami, the historic Virginia Key Beach was once known as the only beach in Miami that gave access to African-Americans. But now, things have changed for the better and the beach is one of many that have opened its heart to everyone. Virginia Key Beach is located off the Rickenbacker Causeway, just a few minutes away from downtown Miami and several popular tourist destinations. The beautiful stretch of Virginia Key Beach is an ideal location for barbecuing and picnics. The white shores of this beach is a pleasant haven that makes anyone forget their worries and feel spiritually awakened. One of the most scenic beaches in Miami, Virginia Key Beach has an antique Allan Herschel carousel in addition to a pavilion, event meadow, and a dance floor. It also has a playground, ample parking, restroom, tables, and more. With several shelters available for use, it is considered and often used as an event destination.

Virginia Key Beach is one of the last unscathed natural places in Miami and is surrounded by dense vegetation. You will find some of the oldest surviving plants and flowers here. To truly experience the ecological treasure living amidst us, you must either take a paddleboard tour or rent a kayak and tour the water nearby. Additionally, you can visit the Miami Seaquarium, Crandon Park, Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center, and several other tourist attractions located nearby. The beach is also a well-known destination for hiking, swimming, surfing, and speedboats. There are bike paths that offer ample foot access and makes riding and skating a pleasant activity. The historic Virginia Key Beach Park located in the Biscayne Bay has a fascinating history dating back to 1896. The rich history of the beach and the endless amenities make Virginia Key Beach a beach-lover's paradise.

If you get hungry, there several great places to eat nearby. The Pink's Hot Dogs inside the Miami Seaquarium serves the best chili and chili cheese hotdogs in Miami. The SALT Waterfront restaurant offers American eats, draft beer, and a scenic view from their waterfront patio. INTIMO is a little distance away, but if you can curb your hunger a little longer, you can enjoy the most romantic dinner with food that will blow you away.

Looking for a place to stay? There are several great hotels close by that offer a pleasant stay at a reasonable rate such as the Conrad Miami, Broadway Suites, and SLS Lux Brickell. The Four Seasons is an upscale hotel that overlooks Biscayne Bay. They offer several amenities that include a poolside bar, an outdoor pool area with cabanas, and more. The Hilton Homewood Suites also offers a view of the Biscayne Bay from their casual Studios. The Mandarin Oriental offers sophisticated rooms with balconies and several amenities. You can also hire a personal chef if you are willing to spend a little more on your room.

Located in the city of Venice in Southern California, Venice Beach – also known as Venice City Beach - is an extremely popular three-mile long beach that has light brown sand and rocky breakwaters. This beach is very large – approximately 238 acres in size. The southern portion of Venice Beach is known as Venice Pier Beach- this portion received this name because it has a 1,300-feet long pier named the Venice Pier that is also known as Venice Fishing Pier. Venice Beach has been named the 3rd Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world's foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach.” (Please note that Venice Beach in California should not be confused with another popular beach in the United States named Venice Public Beach, which is also known as Venice Beach) that is located in Sarasota County in Florida.) 

Venice Beach hosts many sporting events, and two of them – skateboarding and 3x3 basketball – will be held there during the 2028 Summer Olympics. Venice Beach has lifeguards from 8 am to sunset (that usually occurs around 6 pm) - during summers, lifeguards here are posted from 7 am till sunset (that occurs around 8:30 pm). In addition to lifeguards, Venice Beach and the area around it offer many other amenities including picnic areas, restrooms, showers, bike rental facilities, a bike path, grassy recreational areas, paddle tennis courts, basketball courts, skateboarding, volleyball courts, handball courts, walking paths, nearby watersports equipment rental facilities, and a kids’ play area. Dogs are not allowed on Venice Beach.  

Santa Monica Beach, located in the city of Santa Monica, is a highly popular 3.5-mile-long beach with light brown sand. This beach, also known as Santa Monica State Beach, is divided into three main sections: Santa Monica Beach - North Beach (which is also known as Santa Monica - North Beach and Santa Monica North Beach), Santa Monica Beach - Pier Beach (which is also called Santa Monica - Pier Beach and Santa Monica Pier Beach), and Santa Monica Beach - South Beach ( which is also called Santa Monica – South Beach, Santa Monica South Beach, and Ocean Park Beach). 

Santa Monica Beach—North Beach is quieter, offering a more peaceful experience, while Pier Beach is at the center and features the iconic Santa Monica Pier. Santa Monica Beach - South Beach, also referred to as Ocean Park Beach, is situated to the south of the pier.

Santa Monica Pier, stretching 1,650 feet, is a well-known landmark and draws millions of visitors annually. It is an iconic pier that was initially opened in 1909 and has been designated as a Santa Monica Historic Landmark - this pier offers a large variety of things to do including a popular amusement park named Pacific Park that has the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel, fun rides for kids (including a 1920s carousel), an arcade, an aquarium at the end of the pier named Heal The Bay Aquarium, and interesting concessions and shops. If you are planning to fish from the Santa Monica Pier or from any part of Santa Monica State Beach, please follow the local fishing regulations that can be found on the website of California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

Santa Monica Beach is also frequented by snorkelers and scuba divers, and visitors may spot wildlife such as seals, sea lions, and migrating whales at certain times of the year. If you’re into biking or skating, the Ocean Front Walk (also called the Santa Monica Boardwalk) offers a scenic path with oceanfront views and passes by various restaurants and shops. The North Beach Trail section includes unique artwork inspired by local plant and animal life. A portion of another famous biking trail named the Marvin Braude Bike Trail (also known as The Strand) is also located along Santa Monica State Beach - this popular 22-mile oceanfront biking, jogging, and roller-skating trail mostly runs parallel to the coastline of the Santa Monica Bay.

Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale Beach is a large beach with white sand and palm trees and is next to a beautiful background of oceanfront high-rise buildings. Fort Lauderdale Beach sees fewer visitors than other more popular Florida beaches and this makes the beach have a calm atmosphere. A recreational park named Fort Lauderdale Beach Park is also present near this beach. As an interesting fact, the 1960 movie Where The Boys Are was filmed around Fort Lauderdale Beach. 

Fort Lauderdale Beach has been named the 35th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world's foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach.”

Located in the resort town of Ocean City, Ocean City Beach – also known as OC Beach – is a 10-mile-long and large beach with light brown sand with a rocky jetty near its southern end.  Ocean City Beach was named the 24th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.  This beach was listed as the 10th best beach in the United States by TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice award in 2017 and it was also listed as one of the 16 best beaches in Maryland by Travel+Leisure magazine.

Connecting South Beach and North Beach is Mid-Beach, which is considered by many to be Miami’s beach neighborhood of the moment. Located near a number of large parking garages, Mid-Beach is easily accessible and convenient. Covering Collins Avenue from the 25th to 50th Streets, Mid-Beach, with its stunning beachfront and views, vibrant atmosphere, diverse amenities, is a destination for Miami beachgoers looking for the liveliness of South Beach with a more upscale and traditional twist.

Separated from bustling Collins Avenue by a raised boardwalk, Mid-Beach is pristine and has kept its natural beauty in the face of massive urban development. It has vibrant turquoise water, glistening white sand, and is lined with lush greenery and tall trees. Its walking paths lead to benches and trails with panoramic views of the Miami Skyline, the Florida coastline, and Fisher Island.

If you’re looking to do more than just lie on the sand during your beach day, Mid-Beach has you covered. Mid-Beach has bike paths, fishing areas, volleyball courts, and a variety of water sports such as sailing, jet-skiing, snorkeling, and paddle-boarding, which promise to keep adrenaline junkies entertained. And, if you’re with kids, take them to the Indian Beach Park Tot Lot located at 46 and Collins Ave. There you will find swings, slides, climbers, canopies, and other fun play areas where the little ones can roam freely.

And while Mid-Beach is already a destination during the day, it absolutely comes alive at night. After the sun sets, Mid-Beach offers world-class nightlife and dining. Looking to party at one of the world’s most popular and exclusive nightclubs? Go to Club LIV at the Fontainebleau Hotel, a celebrity favorite hotspot that offers the ambiance of an ultra-exclusive lounge with the energy of a nightclub. Want the best handcrafted cocktails in Miami? Go to the Broken Shaker, an award-winning bar known for its incredible drinks. If you’re looking for a fun night without the hangover, go to Malibu Farm, a California-style eatery with possibly the best panoramic ocean views in Miami. When you’re ready to call it a night, head over to the Fontainebleau Hotel and get your beauty sleep at one of the city’s most iconic hotels.

Located in Honolulu, Waikiki Beach is a beautiful and extremely popular beach  with light brown sand and nearby palm trees. This beach is located in the popular touristy neighborhood of Waikiki. The beach’s name in Hawaiian means "spouting water" - the beach received this name because in the past multiple springs and rivers used to flow around this beach – as another fun fact Waikiki Beach was used by Hawaiian nobility for surfing. Waikiki Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the United State and was named the 4th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach.” It is important to note that Waikiki Beach is a part of a larger beach area that stetches for almost two miles that is also called Waikiki Beach – in addition to Waikiki Beach, this larger beach area is composed of seven other beaches including Duke Kahanamoku Beach (also called Kahanamoku Beach and Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Beach Park), Fort DeRussy Beach (also known asFort DeRussy Beach Park, Gray’s Beach (also known as Grays Beach, Halekulani Beach, Kawehewehe, and Grey’s Beach), Royal Hawaiian Beach (also known as Waikiki Beach Center and Royal Moana Beach), Kuhio Beach (also known as "The Ponds", Kuhio Ponds, and Kūhiō Beach), Queen’s Beach (also known as Queen Kapiolani Beach , Queen’s Surf Beach, and Kapiolani Beach Park), and Kaimana Beach (also known as also known as Kaimana Beach Park, Kaimana’s Beach, Waikiki at San Souci Beach, Sans Souci Beach, and San Souci Beach).

Waikiki Beach is constantly threatened by erosion – some of Waikiki Beach’s parts have been significantly reduced in size due to erosion. There are multiple rocky jetties and seawalls near Waikiki Beach – the beach’s southwestern portion particularly has many rocky seawalls near it. Although most of the portions of Waikiki Beach have lifeguards, there are some portions that do not have lifeguard deployment – these portions are located near 2055 Kalia Road, in front a hotel named the Halekulani Hotel, and adjacent to another hotel named Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort.  In addition to lifeguards,

Located in the city of Boca Raton, South Beach is a long, wide, and very popular beach that is a part of South Beach Park. Also known as Boca Beach, South Beach is backed by tall palm trees, beautiful houses, Lake Boca Raton, and Boca Raton Golf Club. South Beach is situated three-minute south of Red Reef Park that is spread across 67 acres and is a perfect spot for golfing and photography.  South Beach is an awesome spot for snorkeling and surf fishing as you will find many creatures including eels, snooks, barracudas, and thousands of other types of fish in the waters here.  South Beach offers many amenities including lifeguards, restrooms, showers, barbecues, picnic tables, playgrounds, and a grass park. There are many fun activities at South Beach including swimming, surf fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, and photography. Getting to South Beach is very easy – the beach’s paid parking lot is situated at 400 North State Road A1A and it charges $16 on weekdays and $18 on weekends. Visitors can use the metered street parking spots available on nearby streets which costs $2 per hour and $3per hour on weekdays and weekends respectively.

Located in the city of Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach State Park is a 312-acre state park that has a wide white sand beach which is approximately a mile long. A maritime forest and sand dunes are present near the beach. The beach also has a pier named Myrtle Beach State Park Pier. A creek also flows through the beach into the Atlantic Ocean. Myrtle Beach State Park was the first South Carolina State Park, and has been named the 14th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach." Myrtle Beach State Park has lifeguards in its northern portion between mid-May and mid-September.  

Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach Oceanfront - also known as Oceanfront Beach - is a large and extremely popular beach area that has light brown sand. Virginia Beach Oceanfront has a marvelous background of waterfront high-rise buildings. An approximately three-mile long boardwalk named Virginia Beach Boardwalk is present near the beach - this boardwalk was listed by CNN as one of the 19 best boardwalks in the United States. Additionally, Virginia Beach was named the 48th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world's foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach.” A rocky jetty is also present near the southern end of the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, along with an aquatic inlet named Ruddy Inlet. 

Located south of the Mission Bay channel entrance you’ll find Ocean Beach, a small town with a laid-back atmosphere that is home to the lively main Ocean Beach. Visitors have access to many amenities including lifeguards, public restrooms, outdoor showers, and free public parking lots located throughout the city of Ocean Beach. You can also find free street parking along Newport Avenue as well as in surrounding residential neighborhoods.

This one-mile stretch of golden sand provides plenty of space for all beach activities including walking, running, and playing spike ball. On the north end of Ocean Beach, you’ll find sand volleyball courts that are always popular with athletes. The ocean at this beach is divided into two zones - surfing and swimming so be sure to stay in the designated areas. If you’re looking for a break from the sand, check out Ocean Beach Municipal Pier located at the south end of the beach. This pier is one of the longest in Southern California and is one of the few places you can fish without a valid California fishing license. If you want to hang with the locals, the Ocean Beach Farmer’s Market takes place every Wednesday from 4 PM-8 PM in downtown Ocean Beach and offers handcrafted goods, fresh food, and live music.

If you get hungry, you’ll find many options just a short walk from the beach in downtown Ocean Beach. We like Ocean Beach Pier Café, a small restaurant that’s located at the end of the pier and provides fresh seafood and gorgeous ocean views. Another local favorite is Hodad’s, one of San Diego’s most celebrated burger joints – this small restaurant was visited by Guy Fieri on his show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives in 2007 and 2013. We also recommend Mike’s Taco Club, a small taco shop that is always crowded with beachgoers because of its phenomenal Mexican food.

If you’re looking for a place to stay, check out Ocean Beach Hotel located directly on the beach that's within walking distance of many restaurants, surf shops, and other commercial establishments. You can also take a 6-minute drive to The Inn and Sunset Cliffs, a waterfront hotel with a relaxing atmosphere, a swimming pool, and the largest deck on the entire United States western coastline. Further north you’ll find The Dana on Mission Bay, a large waterfront resort with two outdoor pools, two luxury spas, and on-site water sport and bicycle rentals.