The 10 Best Beaches in the U.S.

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Discover the top 10 beaches in the U.S. according to TripAdvisor. The booking site recently released its Travelers’ Choice Awards for beaches. Florida features seven of the winners, Hawaii has two, and Maryland has one.

Siesta Beach Florida

TripAdvisor users selected Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Florida, as the best beach in the United States.

Going to the beach is the classic American vacation. Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Florida, rates as the top beach in the U.S., according to TripAdvisor, the travel planning and booking site.  The top strands win their places on the Travelers’ Choice Awards based on an analysis of the site’s user reviews. Florida dominates the list with seven out of the top 10 beaches. The list offers inspiration for those looking to book spring and summer trips. Be thoughtful, though. Some of the winners draw huge crowds of college students during spring break. TripAdvisor also lists the least expensive months to visit the top strands. Remember too that “least expensive” rarely translates to the best time to visit, often because of cool temperatures or rainy weather. To find your great beach, consider the Travelers’ Choice top picks.

Top 10 Travelers’ Choice Beaches in the U.S.

1. Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Florida: Siesta Key gains fame for its fine white sand that is 99 percent quartz, resulting in sand that stays relatively cool under your feet. Least expensive month to visit: September. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging in September is $214.

2. Ka’anapali Beach, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii: TripAdvisor users like the beach for its daily cliff diving off of Black Rock. That may be fine for watching, but for actually sitting on the beach, I’ve always found Ka’anapali crowded and noisy.  Least expensive month to visit: May. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging then is $376.

3. Saint Pete Beach, Saint Pete Beach, Florida:  Golden sands combined with the availability of parasailing, stand-up paddle boarding and windsurfing make this beach a top choice. Least expensive month to visit: November. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging then is $211.

4. Clearwater Beach, Clearwater, Florida: Situated on a barrier island, white sand Clearwater Beach extends for 2.5 miles. Least expensive month to visit: November. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging then is $186.

5. Beach at Panama City, Panama City, Florida: There are 27-miles of beach that border the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay. Least expensive month to visit: January. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging then is $103.

6. Hollywood Beach, Hollywood, Florida: Along with white sand, the Hollywood Beach features a wide boardwalk, perfect for strolling.  Least expensive month to visit: September. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging then is $172.

7. Pensacola Beach, Pensacola, Florida: Enjoy two beach experiences at one destination by visiting the sands along the Gulf and also along the Sound. Least expensive month to visit: January. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging then is $140.

8. Saint Augustine Beach, Saint Augustine Beach, Florida: TripAdvisor users like the beach’s variety of activities from fishing off the pier to playing in the splash park. Least expensive month to visit: January. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging then is $138.

9. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Honolulu, Hawaii: The nature reserve, a popular Honolulu destination, is known for its snorkeling.  Least expensive month to visit: April. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging then is $307.

10. Ocean City Beach, Ocean City, Maryland: Popular Ocean City Beach features 10-miles of sands, a boardwalk and offers free concerts, movies, beach games or other activities several nights a week in summer. Least expensive month to visit: November. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging then is $109.