A trip down the West Coast of the United States is a bucket list-worthy adventure for the incredible sights, towns, and, best of all, beaches. Beaches along this 1200-mile stretch of land range from remote and rugged stretches in Washington dominated by tower sea stacks and only accessible to hikers to relaxing Southern California beaches perfect for relaxing in the sun or catching a wave or two.
Join us as we journey down the coast, exploring the 19 best beaches to stop and take in the salty sea breeze.
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Cannon Beach is one of the most iconic beaches in the Pacific Northwest, with its expansive stretches of picture-perfect sand, the towering haystack rock providing incredible photo opportunities, and its location in the idyllic beach town of Cannon Beach.
This beach is popular with day trippers from Portland who are looking to trade out the heat of the Willamette Valley for the cool weather synonymous with the Oregon Coast.
Ruby Beach, Washington
Ruby Beach is located on the western side of the Olympic Peninsula and is one of the many incredibly remote beaches along this far northern stretch of the West Coast. The beach is located right off of Highway 101, so it is perfect for day-trippers making their way around the Olympic Peninsula.
Visitors love this beach for its towering sea stacks, cobbled stones, and endless beachcombing opportunities.
Rialto Beach, Washington
Rialto Beach is located just up the coast from Ruby Beach but feels a world apart. The highlight of this incredible Olympic Coast beach is the aptly named Hole-in-the-Wall, which lies approximately a mile north of the parking lot.
Accessible at low tide only, this natural hole in the rocks that jut out into the ocean is a fun place to explore and take photos. The hole perfectly frames the numerous sea stacks that line this stretch of beach.
Glass Beach, California
Glass Beach, located 3 1/2 hours north of San Francisco on the northern California coast, gets its name from the tumbled sea glass that remains from when this area was used as a glass dump years ago. The pounding ocean waves slowly broke up the glass and tumbled it into small, smooth pieces that make for a colorful display on this stretch of beach next to Fort Bragg.
If you choose to visit, please leave the glass on the beach for others to enjoy!
Carmel Beach, California
Carmel Beach lines the waterfront along the wealthy enclave of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. This area has always been popular with the world-class golf course of Pebble Beach just to the north, but it has seen a further surge in visits driven by the mega-popular HBO show Big Little Lies.
This idyllic stretch of sandy beach is a perfect spot to spend a day laying out in the sun. You can also wander the coast and try to spot the filming locations from the show!
La Jolla Beach, California
If you’re looking for a quintessential Southern California beach experience, then it is hard to beat La Jolla Beach! This stretch of sand is popular for families who want to enjoy the sand, surfers, swimmers, and scuba divers exploring the nearby State Marine Reserve.
Bring a bike to tour the Coast Walk Trail and explore the other incredible beaches lining the shores along La Jolla.
Coronado Beach, California
It’s time to head down the coast a few more miles to the center of San Diego and Coronado Beach. This family-friendly beach is framed by the world-famous Hotel del Coronado, which looks out over the expansive Pacific Ocean.
Enjoy the miles of pristine sand to run, swim, and live the quintessential California lifestyle.
Santa Monica Beach, California
Santa Monica Beach is a must-visit Los Angeles attraction, both for the beach and the Santa Monica pier, which stretches out over the ocean. The pier is home to an aquarium, amusement park rides, and touristy shops, perfect for grabbing that beach towel you forgot at the hotel or a souvenir to bring back home.
To explore the north and south, rent an e-bike and cruise down the boardwalks without worrying about breaking a sweat.
Venice Beach, California
Located just south of Santa Monica Beach, Venice Beach is an equally popular Los Angeles beach with its own unique set of must-sees. This area attracts more artists, musicians, and other creative thinkers who add a quirky element to the beach and adjoining boardwalk.
A walk by the Muscle Beach Gym is a must-do. This outdoor workout spot has been home to world-famous bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu, and Lou Ferrigno.
Pfeiffer Beach, California
Pfeiffer Beach is located along the Central California coast in the Big Sur region. While this stretch of road is prone to landslides and can frequently close, it is 100% worth a visit when it is open to the public. Getting to the beach requires a short hike down from the parking lot, but once you’re there, you’ll quickly realize it was worth it.
At low tide, you can check out the popular keyhole rock, a sea stack with a natural tunnel that looks out over the ocean. After heavy rains, the beach sand will sometimes turn a vibrant violet hue, which is an absolute treat to witness.
Moonstone Beach, California
Moonstone Beach is a wild stretch of rocky beach in the small town of Cambria, California, along the Central California coast. While this beach may not be ideal for making sand castles and laying out in the sun, it is perfect for those little adventures looking to explore tide pools, watch for whales, and comb the rocks for agates and jasper that can wash up after heavy storms.
Gold Bluffs Beach, California
Home to one of the best beach camping experiences in the country, Gold Bluffs Beach is located adjacent to the Redwoods State and National Parks in Northern California. This 10-mile stretch of sand is the perfect place to pitch a tent, explore the nearby Fern Canyon, and build forts out of the piles of driftwood that wash up on the beach.
Shi Shi Beach, Washington
Shi Shi Beach is one of the most beautiful and wildest beaches in the world, and getting there is half the fun! Getting to the beach requires an 8-mile roundtrip hike that is doable as a day trip, but staying overnight is the way to go as the sunsets here are otherworldly. Point of Arches, located along the beach, is one of the most photographed sea stacks on the West Coast, and for good reason!
Tunnel Beach, Oregon
Tunnel Beach, located in Oceanside, Oregon, is a beach that is only accessible by walking through a 90-foot-long man-made tunnel through the bluff. This makes the beach feel like a secret adventure even though you’re just on the other side of the bluff from this charming beachside town.
The beach itself is a well-known beachcombing spot for agates, and along the coast to the north, there are numerous natural caves to explore.
Mattole Beach, California
Mattole Beach serves as the gateway to the wild and scenic stretch of Northern California beach known as the Lost Coast. The mountains in this region made it unfeasible to run the Pacific Coast Highway along the beachfront, so it instead detours inland. This has left this stretch of coast nearly uninhabited and makes the 25-mile stretch from Mattole Beach down to Black Sands Beach a backpacking dream.
We love this remote beach for its long sandy stretches waiting to be explored and large driftwood piles to build and play with.
Agate Beach, Oregon
Agate Beach is located in Newport, Oregon, and is known for its stunning supply of naturally occurring agates that can be found by keen-eyed beachcombers. The beach is also popular for clam digging, evening bonfires, and the nearby Yaquina Head Lighthouse.
Oceanside Beach, California
Oceanside Beach harkens to the vibes of the old hippy beach towns that used to dot the California coast. This quaint beachfront town is located just north of San Diego and is the perfect spot to hang out for an hour or a year and take up surfing, espressos on the beach, and fishing off the pier.
Long Beach, Washington
Long Beach, Washington, provides the best uninterrupted stretch of sand on the Washington Coast. One of the peak draws of visitors to the area is the ability to drive cars directly on the beach, which makes it easy to set up a windbreak on this often windy and cool stretch of sand.
Nearby Long Beach has remained one of the last places on the west coast where beachfront properties still remain relatively affordable.
Manzanita Beach, Oregon
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of nearby Cannon Beach, head just down the coast to the sleepy beachfront town of Manzanita Beach. Nehalem Bay State Park covers the spit that extends south of town and provides the perfect opportunity for uninterrupted beach walking, flying a kite, and beachcombing.
