America's Best Beaches, 2016

Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff
hanauma bay is the best beach of 2016

Hanauma Bay
Source: Bigstock

The following table lists the top ten best beaches to visit in the United States for 2016, according to Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, author of America's Best Beaches. In addition, find a list of the previous top-rated beaches in America below.

  Name Location
1. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve Oahu, Hawaii
2. Siesta Beach Sarasota, Florida
3. Kapalua Bay Beach Maui, Hawaii
4. Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach Outer Banks, North Carolina
5. Coast Guard Beach Cape Cod, Massachusetts
6. Grayton Beach State Park Florida panhandle
7. Coronado Beach San Diego, California
8. Coopers Beach Southampton, New York
9. Caladesi Islanb State Park Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
10. Beachwalker Park Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Previous Winners of the Best American Beach Award

(excluded from 2015 list)


Year Name Location
2015 Waimanalo Bay Beach Park Oahu, Hawaii
2014 Duke Kahanamoku Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii
2013 Main Beach East Hampton, New York
2012 Coronado Beach San Diego, California
2011 Siesta Beach Sarasota, Florida
2010 Coopers Beach Southampton, New York
2009 Hanalei Bay Kauai, Hawaii
2008 Caladesi Island State Park Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
2007 Ocracoke Lifeguard Beach Outer Banks, North Carolina
2006 Fleming Beach Park Maui, Hawaii
2005 Fort DeSoto Park North Beach, Florida
2004 Hanauma Bay Oahu, Hawaii
2003 Kaanapali Hawaii
2002 St. Joseph Peninsula State Park Florida
2001 Poipu Beach Park Hawaii
2000 Mauna Kea Beach Hawaii
1999 Wailea Beach Hawaii
1998 Kailua Beach Park Hawaii
1997 Hulopoe Hawaii
1996 Lanikai Beach Hawaii
1995 St. Andrews SRA Florida
1994 Grayton Beach SRA Florida
1993 Hapuna Hawaii
1992 Bahia Honda SRA Florida
1991 Kapalua Bay Beach Hawaii

Released since 1991, 650 major public recreational beaches in the U.S. are rated according to 50 criteria. Source: Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman (aka Dr. Beach), author of America's Best Beaches and professor of environmental studies at Florida International University.

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